If you can’t send or receive messages on your Apple Watch

If you see an alert or red exclamation mark, or you can’t get messages, find out what to do.

If you see a red exclamation mark

If you see a red exclamation markexclamation mark or "not delivered" next to a message, tap the alert to try sending the message again. If the message still won’t send, try the steps below.

If you can’t send or receive messages

After each step, try to send or receive a message on your Apple Watch again.

Check Control Centre

If you see the Do Not Disturb or Aeroplane Mode icons on your watch face, you need to turn the settings off in Control Centre.

To open Control Centre, press the side button (for watchOS 9 or earlier, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up). Tap the highlighted Do Not Disturb and Aeroplane Mode icons to turn off the settings.

watchos-10-series-8-control-centre-do-not-disturb-airplane-mode-steps

Check your connection

Make sure that your Apple Watch can connect to your iPhone, cellular 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.

Even if your iPhone isn’t connected or powered on, you can send and receive iMessages on your Apple Watch when your Apple Watch is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular.

Find out how your Apple Watch makes connections and get help if your devices disconnect.

watchos-10-series-8-control-centre-steps

Try sending a message from your iPhone

If your iPhone can’t send or receive messages, try to fix messages on your iPhone.

Make sure that you have signed in

On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, tap the My Watch tab, then tap General > Apple ID.

ios-17-watchos-10-iphone-14-pro-watch-my-watch-settings-general-apple-id

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 haven’t signed in, sign in to iMessage with your Apple ID.

ios-17-iphone-14-pro-settings-messages

Sign out of iMessage

Tap Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Tap your Apple ID, then tap Sign Out.

Then tap Settings > Messages. Turn iMessage off, then turn it back on

ios-17-iphone-14-pro-settings-messages-imessage

Sign in to iMessage again

Tap Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > Use your Apple ID for iMessage, then sign in.

Restart your Apple Watch and iPhone

Here’s how to restart your Apple Watch and restart your iPhone.

Check for updates

Here’s how to update your Apple Watch and update your iPhone.

Contact us

Before you contact us, unpair your Apple Watch, then pair it again If you still can't send or receive messages, contact Apple Support.

Learn more

Find out how to use Messages on Apple Watch.

Published Date: