Apple Watch Not Getting Notifications? Fix It

If your Apple Watch isn’t showing notifications, the fix is usually a combination of checking iPhone settings, Watch settings, and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connections. This guide walks through the most common causes and step-by-step solutions to get alerts working again.

Why Notifications Stop Appearing

Your Apple Watch is designed to mirror the notifications that arrive on your iPhone. When a notification is silenced or disabled on the iPhone, it won’t appear on the watch. Additionally, the watch relies on a stable connection to the iPhone (via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) or a cellular connection (on GPS + Cellular models) to receive alerts. If any of these links break, notifications can be delayed or not show up at all.

Check the Basics First

Before diving into advanced settings, verify these simple things:

Wake screen on wrist raise: Go to Settings > Display & Brightness on the watch and ensure “Wake on Wrist Raise” is on. If the screen stays off, you might miss notifications.
Do Not Disturb or Focus mode: Swipe up to the Control Center on the watch and check that the crescent moon icon is not highlighted. Also, check your iPhone’s Focus settings—if a Focus is mirrored to the watch, it will silence alerts.
Silent mode: On the watch, check if the bell icon is crossed out. This only silences sounds, not haptics, but if you also have haptics off, you’ll see nothing.
Battery: If the watch battery is critically low, it may enter Power Reserve mode, which disables all notifications. Charge it above 10%.

Verify Mirroring Settings on iPhone

The most common cause is that the iPhone is set to deliver notifications only to itself, not the watch. Here’s how to check:

Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Tap Notifications.
Under “MIRROR IPHONE ALERTS,” you’ll see a list of apps. If an app is toggled off, notifications for that app will only go to the iPhone, not the watch.
For apps that are toggled on, they mirror your iPhone’s notification settings. If the iPhone’s notification for that app is set to “Deliver Quietly” or is off, the watch won’t show it either.

To fix a specific app, turn on the mirror toggle, and also check the iPhone’s own notification settings for that app (Settings > Notifications > [App]) to ensure “Allow Notifications” is on and the alert style is set to “Alerts” or “Banners.”

Customize Notifications for Individual Apps

If you don’t want to mirror all iPhone alerts, you can set up custom notifications on the watch itself. In the Watch app on iPhone, go to Notifications and scroll down to the “CUSTOM” section. Tap an app there to configure its own settings. For example, you can choose to have the watch show notifications even when the iPhone is locked, or only when the iPhone is unlocked.

Note that some apps (like Messages and Phone) have their own specific settings. For Messages, you can choose to “Mirror iPhone” or “Custom” to get alerts for all messages, even if the iPhone is set to show only certain ones.

Reconnect Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

Your Apple Watch uses Bluetooth to stay connected to your iPhone. If Bluetooth is off on either device, notifications won’t transfer. Try toggling Bluetooth off and on on both the iPhone (Control Center) and the watch (Settings > Bluetooth). Also, ensure that Wi-Fi is enabled on both devices, as the watch can use Wi-Fi to receive notifications when Bluetooth is unavailable.

If you have a GPS + Cellular model, you can also enable Cellular on the watch (Settings > Cellular) so it works independently, but notifications still come through the paired iPhone’s connection.

Restart Both Devices

A simple restart clears many glitches. On the iPhone, hold the side button and volume button (or just side button on older models) to power off. On the Apple Watch, press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears. After both are off, turn them back on and wait for the watch to reconnect.

If that doesn’t work, try unpairing and re-pairing the watch. This is a more drastic step, but it often resolves persistent notification issues. Open the Watch app on iPhone, tap All Watches, tap the info button (i) next to your watch, and choose “Unpair Apple Watch.” Then set it up again as new or restore from a backup.

Update Software

Apple regularly releases updates that fix bugs related to notifications. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update to update iOS. On the watch, go to Settings > General > Software Update (or update via the Watch app on iPhone). Make sure both devices are running the latest versions.

After an update, it’s also worth resetting the watch’s sync data: On the iPhone, go to the Watch app > General > Reset > “Reset Sync Data.” This forces the watch to re-sync with the iPhone, which can resolve notification delivery issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I only get notifications when my iPhone is unlocked?

This is a privacy feature. By default, the watch shows notifications only when the iPhone is locked. When the iPhone is unlocked, notifications appear on the phone instead. To change this for a specific app, go to the Watch app > Notifications > [App] and select “Custom” then “Show Alerts” even when iPhone is unlocked.

Why are my notifications delayed on Apple Watch?

Delays are usually caused by a weak Bluetooth connection or the watch being out of range. Move the iPhone closer or ensure both devices have Wi-Fi enabled. Also, check that Low Power Mode is off on the watch, as it can reduce background updates.

Can I get notifications on my watch without my iPhone nearby?

Yes, if you have a GPS + Cellular model and an active cellular plan, the watch can receive notifications over cellular. For Wi-Fi only models, the watch can use known Wi-Fi networks to receive notifications as long as the iPhone is connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network and is online.

Why do some apps not appear in the Notifications settings on the Watch app?

Only apps that are installed on both the iPhone and the watch, and that support notifications, will appear. If an app is not listed, ensure it is installed on the watch (Watch app > Installed Apps). Some third-party apps may not support watch notifications at all.

I turned on notifications for an app, but I still don’t see them. What else can I do?

Try deleting the app from the watch and reinstalling it. On the iPhone, go to the Watch app, tap the app, and toggle “Show App on Apple Watch” off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. This forces a fresh install. Also, check that the app’s own notification settings (inside the app itself) are enabled.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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