The Apple Watch and iPhone get along just nicely. Everything about the new Apple Watch and iPhone experience is effortless, from the easy connecting to the clear notifications to the automated music syncing. In addition, there are several Apple Watch difficulties, including the ill-fated iPhone contacts not syncing error, malfunctioning software update, and an unpleasant “No iPhone connection error” that has remained since the watch’s birth. If your Apple Watch is experiencing a problem connecting to your iPhone, many possible solutions can help.
Fixes for Apple Watch’s “No iPhone Connection” Error
Most Apple Watch connectivity troubles are caused by faulty Bluetooth or a weak Wi-Fi or cellular network. Occasionally, you can’t establish a steady connection between the two devices due to various software issues. These are the usual suspects, so we’ll investigate and see if we can repair them.
Understanding the Status Icon on the Apple Watch and iPhone
Let’s begin by examining the Apple Watch’s connection status icon. You may find the Connected status icon in Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of your iPhone screen.
- A green iPhone icon:Â If you see a green iPhone icon, your Apple Watch is linked to the iOS device you’ve associated with it.
- A red icon that looks like an iPhone: Your watchOS device will show a red icon of an iPhone if it’s no longer connected to your iPhone. It will help if you keep your iPhone close at hand. The wristwatch will have problems connecting to the iOS smartphone if the associated iPhone is a long-distance away.
- A Blue Wi-Fi symbol: Seeing a blue Wi-Fi sign indicates that you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network on your smartwatch. The first button on the control panel of a GPS-only Apple Watch is the Wi-Fi icon (highlighted in blue).
- The green cellular button: When you have a cellular connection, the cellular button glows green.
When your cellular plan is active, but your Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, the cellular button turns white.
How to Fix Apple Watch’s No iPhone Connection Error
1. Toggle Airplane Mode on/off
You can fix random network problems with a simple switch to airplane mode. Considering its simplicity, it’s best to give it a whirl before pursuing more complex solutions.
From the bottom of the watch face, swipe up to open the control panel. To activate Airplane mode, press and hold the little Airplane mode button. Wait a few minutes, then switch off Airplane mode. In many circumstances, simply turning on Airplane mode can solve most problems.
You may access the control center by swiping down from the top right corner of your iPhone with your Face ID. Swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone with Touch ID to open the control centre. As the last step, turn on your iPhone’s Airplane mode and then turn it back off again.
2. On/Off Switch for Wireless (Bluetooth/Cellular)
For those who’ve had no luck with the Airplane mode fix, you may also try turning off and on your Bluetooth, cell phone, and Wi-Fi connections. Apple Watch communicates with the attached iPhone through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. A cellular connection is required for a smartwatch to stay connected to your phone.
When the iPhone is nearby, the Apple Watch uses Bluetooth to stay linked to it to conserve power. When Bluetooth isn’t accessible, the smartwatch connects to the iPhone via Wi-Fi or cellular network. These three essential toggles, which I’m proposing you turn on or off, can help you get rid of odd glitches that may have occurred.
Turn off your iPhone’s Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular networks under the Settings app. Start your iPhone again right now. Turn on these toggles once your iOS device has restarted. You can now see if your Apple Watch is connected to the iPhone by sliding up from the bottom of the watch face. That means you’re ready to go.
While you’re here, check to see if your iPhone’s Bluetooth is working correctly as well.
3. Bring Your Apple Watch and Phone Back to Life.
I’m sure you expected this troubleshooting guide to include a reference to a “force restart” or “hard reset,” weren’t you? There’s no chance you’ll miss out on this one, given how reliable the force restart has always been, especially when dealing with a variety of challenges.
Restart your Apple Watch with a hard reboot.
Hold down the Side and Digital Crown buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
iPhones must be restarted or hard Reset.
iPhone 8 and subsequent (including the iPhone X) hard Reset: In a matter of seconds, press the volume up button and release it. You’ll then want to lower the volume. After that, hold down the side button until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen and then release it.
To hard reset iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold down the volume down button, together with both of your phone’s side buttons, until you see an Apple logo appear, and then release both buttons.
To force restart iPhone 6s or earlier: Hold down the home and power buttons at the same time until the screen goes black and the Apple logo icon appears to restart an iPhone 6s or earlier.
4. Reset the Network Configuration
Resetting the network settings on your Apple Watch may help you reconnect if you’re still having problems. Often, resetting the network settings to their factory defaults solves network-related issues. Because of this, we’ll give this tried-and-true approach a shot as well.
It is important to remember that all network settings, including Wi-Fi passwords, will be erased. Prepare yourself for the slight pain that is about to come your way. Navigate to the Settings app and tap on the Reset Network Settings option under the General tab.
To check if the connection to your Apple Watch has been restored after resetting the network settings on your iPhone, go to the control centre of your Apple Watch.
5. Change Your iPhone’s Carrier Settings.
Service providers release updates regularly to address network problems and enhance performance. Because Apple Watch also uses your iPhone’s cellular network, check sure the carrier settings on your iPhone are up to date. If the problem persists, check your carrier or cellular network settings to see if they need to be updated.
Go to Settings -> General -> About in the iPhone’s Settings app. If an update is available, you may now see a notification asking you to change your carrier settings. To confirm the action, select Update from the menu that appears.
6. To keep up with the times, here are Your iPhone and Apple Watch.
Bugs in software are just as much to blame for a wide range of problems. There’s a silver lining to this: Apple frequently upgrades watchOS to fix bugs and improve performance. In other words, a simple software update can help you avoid problems and enhance efficiency. To ensure that the wearable device (or any other device) runs well, never miss a software update.
- Take a look at the General section of your iPhone’s settings. Afterward, select the option to update your software. Install the latest version of iOS on your linked iPhone, and you’re done.
- On your iPhone, open the Watch app and go to General. After that, select Check for Updates in the left-hand menu. Download and install the most recent watchOS on your Apple Watch.
- You may now update watchOS directly from the Apple Watch with watchOS 6 or later. To do so, click the Settings app -> General -> Software Updates to do so. Install the most recent watchOS.
7. Repair Your Apple Watch Using Your Phone if All Else Fails.
If none of the preceding options have worked to fix your Apple Watch’s connection troubles, it’s time to resort to the most extreme solution. And by “nuclear solution,” I mean wiping the Apple Watch clean of all data and settings before repairing it on an iPhone.
Do you fear that the information on your Apple Watch will be lost? Before the wristwatch erases all of your data, it automatically backs everything up. In addition, the iPhone allows you to back up your data while it is being repaired.
- Go to General in the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Select Reset by swiping down from the top of the screen. After that, click on the Erase Everything button. You’ll be asked if you’re sure you want to delete everything from your smartwatch.
- Resetting the Watch app on your iPhone can also be done by going to the Watch app and selecting General > Reset. Afterward, select Erase All Content and Settings and confirm.
Repair your Apple Watch and iPhone after erasing the wearable device. To fix your iPhone, bring it close to your Apple Watch and follow the on-screen instructions.
The issue with No iPhone Connection on Apple Watch: How to Fix It
Hopefully, you were able to get your Apple Watch to connect again. Restarting the smartwatch or resetting the network settings on the iPhone usually takes care of this issue. So, it appears that you have finally prevailed over this problem. Having said that, which of these methods did you find most effective in resolving your issue with an unreachable iPhone? Let us know what you think about the space provided here.