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

If you see an alert or red exclamation point, or you can’t get messages, learn what to do.

If you see a red exclamation point

If you see a red exclamation pointexclamation point 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 Center

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

To open Control Center, press the side button. Tap the highlighted Do Not Disturb and Airplane Mode icons to turn off the settings.

Apple Watch showing Do Not Disturb and Airplane Mode turned on in Control Center

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.

Apple Watch showing Wi-Fi button in Control Center

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.

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

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 signed in

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

iPhone showing Apple Account screen indicating that the user is signed in to Apple Account

Check your iMessage settings

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Messages and make sure that iMessage is turned on.

Then tap Send & Receive and make sure that you're using the same Apple Account that your Apple Watch is using.

If you aren't signed in, sign in to iMessage with your Apple Account.

Sign out of iMessage

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

iPhone showing iMessage settings screen

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

Sign in to iMessage again

Tap Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > Use your Apple Account 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

Learn how to use Messages on Apple Watch.

Published Date: