How to Fix It When an Apple Watch Is Not Getting Texts

Receiving texts on your Apple Watch is convenient. However, occasionally you may not receive text messages on your Apple Watch, or the watch may stop notifying you when a text has arrived. This article explains the causes behind an Apple Watch not getting texts and shares fixes to solve the issue.

Causes for Apple Watch Not Getting Texts

There are several reasons you may not receive texts on your Apple Watch or not receive notifications that you've gotten a message. Focus settings or Airplane Mode may prevent the watch from receiving messages, or there could be a disconnect between your phone and watch.

Additionally, you may not have notifications properly set up, you may not be wearing your watch correctly, or you may not be signed in to your Apple ID on the watch.

Whatever the cause, straightforward fixes will often solve the problem so you can get your texts back on your wrist.

How to Fix an Apple Watch Not Receiving Texts

Try these solutions in the order we've listed them here:

1. Turn off Do Not Disturb on the watch. The Apple Watch supports Focus Mode and allows you to enable Do Not Disturb (you'll see a moon icon on your watch face if it's on). You won't receive texts if Do Not Disturb is toggled on. Press the side button and then tap the moon icon to switch it off.

2. Turn off Airplane Mode on the Apple Watch. Like Do Not Disturb, Airplane Mode on an Apple Watch will stop your watch from receiving texts. Swipe up from the watch face and tap the airplane icon to turn it off.

3. Pair your Apple Watch and iPhone again. This connection is necessary, so you won't receive texts on your watch if the two have lost their connection.

   Before trying to re-pair, check your iPhone-Apple Watch connection.

4. Re-sync your Apple Watch. Your Apple Watch should automatically re-sync with your iPhone if the two devices are nearby. If not, manually resync your watch to start getting texts again.

5. Check if your iPhone is texting normally. If your iPhone text messages aren't sending or you're not receiving messages, your phone may be to blame (i.e., your Apple Watch may not be the problem).

6. Ensure you're signed in to your Apple ID. When you set up your Apple Watch, you were prompted to enter your Apple ID. To see if there's an Apple ID problem, open the Watch app and tap General > Apple ID. Ensure you're signed in to the correct account.

7. Update your Apple Watch and update your iPhone. Pulling in the latest operating system can often fix temporary issues and glitches, assuming the texting problem is a known issue and Apple has already addressed it through an update.

8. Contact Apple Support. If these fixes have failed to work, your Apple Watch may need to be repaired. Contact Apple to arrange the repair or make a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store. 

How to Fix an Apple Watch Not Notifying About Texts

If your Apple Watch receives text messages but doesn't vibrate when the message arrives, you may miss important information. Here are some fixes for when Apple Watch notifications aren't working.

1. Check your Apple Watch notification settings. You may not have set up your Apple Watch and iPhone to share notifications. Or, you may have limited your Apple Watch notifications. Open the Watch app on your phone and go to My Watch > Notifications > Messages, and ensure Mirror my iPhone is selected.  

2. Check that you're wearing the Apple Watch correctly. If it's too loose, you might not receive notifications correctly.

3. Turn off Apple Watch wrist detection. If your watch doesn't detect that you're wearing it, switch off wrist detection to circumvent the sensor.

4. Check other app settings. Check to see if vibration notifications aren't working for every app or just your Messages app. If you're not receiving any vibrations to alert you of notifications, there's a problem with your Notification settings.

5. Disable Cover to Mute. If this feature is on, you may be blocking notifications if you rest your palm on the display. From your watch, go to Settings > Gestures, and turn off Cover to Mute.

6. Restart the Apple Watch. Try restarting your Apple Watch. Sometimes a minor technical glitch can cause the problem.

7. Contact Apple Support. If all these fixes have failed to work, your Apple Watch may need to be repaired by Apple. Contact Apple to arrange the repair or make a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store.