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Hayakuro

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 7, 2014
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I recently purchased an Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular to replace my aging series 0. While it is an improvement in many ways, I have noticed what is either a bug or intentional change on Apple's part: the watch now rings with sound and haptics for all phone calls even when I am not wearing it. Previously, with the series 0, the watch would not produce sound or haptic alerts for any notifications or calls when locked.

Both the phone and watch are fully updated (not running betas), and I have not activated cellular service on the watch yet. Wrist detection is enabled and the watch is appropriately detecting when it is removed from my wrist and locking. I would prefer not to disable call ringing altogether, as I want the watch to ring when I am wearing it. I would like to find some way to prevent the ringing when locked.

Has anyone experienced this or have any ideas how to possibly fix it?
 
Short answer: Yes, it is working as Apple "designed" it and you can't really change it.

I have a Series 3 with LTE service active and I can confirm that this is the normal behavior. It works exactly the same when Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or even LTE connections for both your watch and your iPhone.

This is also the way the Apple Continuity works for other devices like your iPad if you have continuity configured on your iPhone. The "design" is for all devices to ring and you can choose which device to answer the incoming call.

Since it is consistent across the Apple device ecosystem, don't expect Apple to change it any time soon.

Dave
 
My LTE watch rang yesterday evening, too. My watch was also off my wrist and my phone was locked. (I'm on betas for both the watch and phone.) I didn't know what was ringing as the sound wasn't my normal ring tone. I was going to ask about it, but you beat me to the punch.

I will say that if it is a permanent thing, I truly like this feature. It could help prevent missing a phone call.
 
I both like and dislike this feature. Like it so I don’t miss calls but Both my iPad and watch are WiFi only and if I have all three of them with me at the same time the ringing can be a bit much.
 
Short answer: Yes, it is working as Apple "designed" it and you can't really change it.

I have a Series 3 with LTE service active and I can confirm that this is the normal behavior. It works exactly the same when Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or even LTE connections for both your watch and your iPhone.

This is also the way the Apple Continuity works for other devices like your iPad if you have continuity configured on your iPhone. The "design" is for all devices to ring and you can choose which device to answer the incoming call.

Since it is consistent across the Apple device ecosystem, don't expect Apple to change it any time soon.

Dave

I honestly don't know if its normal behavior. My watch has done this sometimes when charging, but not all the time. It does not do this at all when off wrist and not charging. If the behavior was consistent, I would say this is now a normal feature, but since at least for me it is very inconsistent, I don't know what to believe.
 
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I both like and dislike this feature. Like it so I don’t miss calls but Both my iPad and watch are WiFi only and if I have all three of them with me at the same time the ringing can be a bit much.
I agree 100% even with volume down on all devices and it really does make people look at you a little closer when all the devices "ring".

Dave
 
I honestly don't know if its normal behavior. My watch has done this sometimes when charging, but not all the time. It does not do this at all when off wrist and not charging. If the behavior was consistent, I would say this is now a normal feature, but since at least for me it is very inconsistent, I don't know what to believe.
Testing, testing, testing. Hey @bradbomb it would help to know what version/model of watch and what level of watchOS.

In my case, I have a Series 3 at watchOS 4.2.2 with LTE and Wi-Fi enabled. As I indicated above, my experience was as of today testing the different combinations of watch connectivity off wrist locked/unlocked, testing while charging as well as on wrist locked/unlocked.

In my case: If my watch has connectivity to the iPhone or is on Wi-Fi or LTE, it will start ringing slightly after the paired iPhone starts ringing with an incoming call.

ETA: I have wrist detection on and a passcode set.

Dave
 
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So I was curious (never really considered this “feature” or how it worked) and did my own round of testing.

I have the WATCH S2 Aluminum running 4.2.2, iPhone 6s running 11.2.5, and iPad Air 2 running 11.2.5 all with WiFi calling on. For about a half hour, I used as many combinations of different settings on and off I could think of with the watch (wrist detection, silent, haptics, on and off wrist, on and off charger, locked and unlocked).

With all my different combination of watch settings, my WATCH will only ring while it is unlocked, regardless if it’s on or off wrist, on or off the charger. If the watch is locked, it was silent with no incoming call notification.

Because I have wrist detection always on, my WATCH will only ring when it’s both on my wrist and unlocked. Perhaps this is a Series 3 thing?
 
Thanks everyone for the replies and testing with your own watches! It is nice to get some extra data since this was something I couldn't find any info about on Apple Support.

@dave006 While I had hoped there might be a setting somewhere I was missing to disable the ringing while locked, I'm still glad to know that this appears to be normal behavior. I am quite relieved I didn't go through the hassle of a device wipe and re-setup! It does make sense that calls would go through on the Series 3 even when locked since it now has cellular and is more of an "independent" device.

@justiny That was my experience with the Series 0 as well, which is why I was surprised when I heard my Series 3 tapping on my desk across the room when a call came in. My other suspicion was that it was a watchOS 4.1+ thing since that update came out right at the time I switched to the Series 3, but that can't be the case if your Series 2 behaves differently.
 
Testing, testing, testing. Hey @bradbomb it would help to know what version/model of watch and what level of watchOS.

In my case, I have a Series 3 at watchOS 4.2.2 with LTE and Wi-Fi enabled. As I indicated above, my experience was as of today testing the different combinations of watch connectivity off wrist locked/unlocked, testing while charging as well as on wrist locked/unlocked.

In my case: If my watch has connectivity to the iPhone or is on Wi-Fi or LTE, it will start ringing slightly after the paired iPhone starts ringing with an incoming call.

ETA: I have wrist detection on and a passcode set.

Dave


Series 3 SS w/LTE and Wi-Fi enabled. I haven't done extensive testing (because it doesn't bother me either way), I was just telling you I know its inconsistent based on my memory. I do have wrist detection on and a passcode set. I rarely unlock my watch off wrist. It just sits there charging if not on my wrist
 
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I just tested it with Series 3 LTE watch. Tested it in non LTE mode. It rings both on and off the wrist. I actually like it as it still gives you the option to answer the phone if your devices are in another room. Also noticed when I answered the phone off the wrist I didn't have to enter my password. I think this is a good feature.

If your concerned of excess noise when it's not on your wrist just mute the watch or put it in Theatre mode when it's off the wrist. Very easy.
 
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I both like and dislike this feature. Like it so I don’t miss calls but Both my iPad and watch are WiFi only and if I have all three of them with me at the same time the ringing can be a bit much.

I really like it. Today I receive important call when I’m showering. I just grabbed my watch on the counter (I always take my watch off when shower), accept call & start talking. I didn’t have to wear it just lift it to my mouth and response. The sound I heard from the other side is clear & the person at the other side who’s very old & im sure doesn’t have good ears can hear me just fine. S3 LTE here.
I’m always receive call from my watch on my AirPods now I know I don’t have to. I would recommend taking your watch off to make a call rather than lifting your wrist to your mouth. More convenient for a long conversation.
 
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Just tested my AW3 and it did not ring while off-wrist and charging. I tried turning Handoff off and on in the General settings of my iPhone and it had no effect. Oddly my Macbook also rang even when Handoff was turned off on the iPhone.
There is also a Handoff setting in the Watch app on the iPhone but again this did not have an effect.
The other thing you could try is turning wifi off on the iPhone.
 
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