If you can’t send or receive messages on your Apple Watch - Apple Support (2024)

FAQs

Why can't I send or receive Messages on Apple Watch? ›

Check your iMessage settings

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages and make sure that iMessage is turned on. Then tap Send & Receive and make sure that you're using the same Apple ID that your Apple Watch is using. If you aren't signed in, sign in to iMessage with your Apple ID.

Make sure your Apple Watch can connect to your iPhone, mobile data or Wi-Fi. To send and receive SMS/MMS from cellular models of Apple Watch, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but your iPhone doesn't need to be nearby.

Stay connected when you're away from your phone.

Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 cellular models with an active service plan allow you to make calls, send texts, and so much more — all without your iPhone.

Create a message

Open the Mail app on your Apple Watch. at the top left of the Mailboxes screen, and at the bottom right of other screens. Tap Add Contact to add a recipient, tap From to choose an account to send from, tap Add Subject to create a subject line, then tap Create Message.

If your Apple Watch is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular

With a Wi-Fi or cellular connection, your Apple Watch can do the following things, even if your iPhone isn't with you. Make and answer phone calls. Send and receive messages. Use Siri to get directions, send iMessages, and more.

Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Tap My Watch, then tap Notifications. Tap the app (for example, Messages), tap Custom, then choose an option.

Apple Watch Mirroring allows you to see and control your Apple Watch screen from your paired iPhone. You can use touch or assistive features like Voice Control, Switch Control, and more on your iPhone to interact with Apple Watch.

To use Scribble on Apple Watch models that support the QWERTY and QuickPath keyboard, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, then tap Scribble. To use predictive text, tap a finished or unfinished word to highlight it, then turn the Digital Crown to see suggested words.

If Do Not Disturb is active on your Apple Watch, you won't receive notifications. Fixing this is as simple as toggling DND off. Turn off Airplane Mode. This feature prevents your device from reaching the internet, which could explain why alerts aren't showing up on your Apple Watch.

In the Messages app on Apple Watch, read incoming text messages, then reply using dictation, Scribble, emoji, or a prepared response; type a reply using the QWERTY and QuickPath keyboard (on supported models only, not available in all languages); or switch to your iPhone to type a response.

Do texts stay on Apple Watch? ›

How Long Do Messages Stay on the Apple Watch? All messages will be deleted automatically after 30 days, unless we delete them manually. This is an unchangeable setting.

You might see a phone number assigned to your Apple Watch that differs from the phone number assigned to your iPhone. The number shown for your Apple Watch is for your carrier's billing or tracking purposes only; your iPhone and Apple Watch share the same number.

Open the Phone app on your Apple Watch. Tap Contacts, then turn the Digital Crown to scroll. Tap the contact you want to call, then tap the phone button. Tap FaceTime Audio to start a FaceTime audio call, or tap a phone number.

Customize alerts

You can also be alerted when an important message arrives when you're wearing your Apple Watch, but away from your iPhone. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Mail, then turn on Email Notifications below When Not Connected to iPhone.

If you have an Apple Watch running watchOS 8 or later, the built-in keyboard is available by default. Go to any app that lets you enter text and tap the text field. Tap the 123 icon on the keyboard to switch from letters to numbers. Tap Done or Cancel to close the keyboard.

Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone and pair it with your Android smartwatch. Swipe down from the home screen on your smartwatch and tap Settings. Scroll down, tap Notifications, and ensure notifications are activated on your smartwatch.

Try turning airplane mode on and off or turning your iPhone on and off again. Resetting your phone might solve the issue. Log into a Wi-Fi network to send a message. You can do this by going to Settings, then Wi-Fi to see if there's a free Wi-Fi network in your area.

Generally, the Apple Watch cellular stops working when there's a coverage issue, you run out of data on your plan, a mode is activated that turns off cellular connectivity, or a deeper issue related to your carrier or device hardware.

You can turn on an app's notifications if you want to see them again: Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, then tap the My Watch tab. Tap Notifications. Scroll down to the list of installed apps, then turn on the app that you want to receive notifications from.