Symptoms
- No texts, calls, or app alerts show on the watch
- Some app notifications appear but others don't
- Notifications worked before but stopped suddenly
- Watch shows notifications late
Likely causes
- CommonNotification permissions turned off for the app or watchPhone operating systems require explicit permission per app to mirror alerts.
- CommonBluetooth connection dropped or is unstableNotifications can't sync if the watch isn't actively connected.
- CommonDo Not Disturb or Focus mode active on phone or watchThese modes silence notifications on one or both devices by design.
- PossibleCompanion app not running in the backgroundPhones sometimes kill background apps to save battery, breaking sync.
- Less commonWatch software out of dateNotification bugs are occasionally fixed in firmware updates.
What to do
- Check that Do Not Disturb or Focus mode is off on both the phone and the watch.
- Open the companion app and confirm notification permissions are enabled for the apps you want mirrored.
- Confirm the watch shows as connected to the phone via Bluetooth, not just charging.
- On the phone, make sure the companion app is allowed to run in the background and isn't battery-restricted.
- Restart both the phone and the watch to refresh the connection.
- Turn notification mirroring off and back on for one app as a test.
- Update the watch's software if an update is available.
When to call a pro
If notifications stay broken after checking permissions and restarting both devices, a factory reset and re-pair usually resolves it; persistent failure after that suggests a Bluetooth hardware issue worth a manufacturer check.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.