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Fantastical 3 no longer syncs with my Apple watch
- Thread starter dalericg
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Just updating. Downloaded the update. App started working right away. Just for the record, I never started the trial. I was gonna wait for them to fix it.
Well it finally started working. I had to remove it from my S5 - three times. I removed the app from my iPhone XS Max - twice. Many trial and errors. Many shut downs and restarts of both devices.
Initially I thought they wanted me to create an account so I tried that - didn’t work. I finally used my Apple ID to sign in. I still got the red circlring arrows on my watch.
Then this morning there was an update for Fantastical3 on my phone. I assume this was a bug fix. It did not say that but I checked what I had on the phone first and it showed it was Fantastical3 - just being sure after all the deletes and reinstalls.
The update seems to have fixed the problem - once I got signed in using my Apple ID. The watch app had initial issues communicatIng with the phone. That was a new error but it seems to be working now.
I have loved Fantastical ever since it first came out. I will not pay for the premium version. I don’t need the “extras” and I hate paying continuous fees for any apps. I would be happy with the original app as the upgrades did not give me anything I needed. I am already forced to pay for the full Adobe CC suite each year. That I can understand but a calendar app? No.
Lisa
Initially I thought they wanted me to create an account so I tried that - didn’t work. I finally used my Apple ID to sign in. I still got the red circlring arrows on my watch.
Then this morning there was an update for Fantastical3 on my phone. I assume this was a bug fix. It did not say that but I checked what I had on the phone first and it showed it was Fantastical3 - just being sure after all the deletes and reinstalls.
The update seems to have fixed the problem - once I got signed in using my Apple ID. The watch app had initial issues communicatIng with the phone. That was a new error but it seems to be working now.
I have loved Fantastical ever since it first came out. I will not pay for the premium version. I don’t need the “extras” and I hate paying continuous fees for any apps. I would be happy with the original app as the upgrades did not give me anything I needed. I am already forced to pay for the full Adobe CC suite each year. That I can understand but a calendar app? No.
Lisa
I am just refusing to store anything on 3rd party servers God and Thor and Zeus know where... This is part of their privacy policy:
Where are my events, tasks, and contacts stored?
In general, your events, reminders, and contacts are stored on your device and are not sent anywhere else (see exceptions below). Your account’s password is stored securely on your device using the Keychain.
Already on my 3rd day of using Calendar 366 that works out of a box, doesn't need any of this BS to work with Watch and invite people and I am happy camper...
Where are my events, tasks, and contacts stored?
In general, your events, reminders, and contacts are stored on your device and are not sent anywhere else (see exceptions below). Your account’s password is stored securely on your device using the Keychain.
- Event and task data synced to your Apple Watch is stored on Flexibits servers. This data is end-to-end encrypted and we are unable to access it.
- If you create a meeting proposal in Fantastical, the proposal is stored on Flexibits servers so that the invitees can respond to the proposal.
Already on my 3rd day of using Calendar 366 that works out of a box, doesn't need any of this BS to work with Watch and invite people and I am happy camper...
anyone have F3 working with WatchOS 4?
I got an auto-update to F3 on my iPhone and this caused the previously-working Fantastical app and complication to disappear from my original gen Watch (OS 4.2.3). Now the F3 app doesn't even show up in the Watch app on my phone, and that means I can't even install F3 onto the watch nor install its complication.
yes, I heard F3 newly requires a free account to sync to watch, however shouldn't I at least be able to see / install the app onto the watch like before, regardless? (have F3 v3.0.2 already). I suspect an incompatibility between F3 and older WatchOS that they've overlooked. not happy they broke functionality that worked fine before. I've emailed support but still no reply 4 days later
I got an auto-update to F3 on my iPhone and this caused the previously-working Fantastical app and complication to disappear from my original gen Watch (OS 4.2.3). Now the F3 app doesn't even show up in the Watch app on my phone, and that means I can't even install F3 onto the watch nor install its complication.
yes, I heard F3 newly requires a free account to sync to watch, however shouldn't I at least be able to see / install the app onto the watch like before, regardless? (have F3 v3.0.2 already). I suspect an incompatibility between F3 and older WatchOS that they've overlooked. not happy they broke functionality that worked fine before. I've emailed support but still no reply 4 days later
I started using Watch Calendar for the Apple Watch for $1.99. It offers a full month calendar.
apps.apple.com
I like this better than either the stock app or Fantastical.
Watch Calendar - Monthly
Integration features: - full integration with your phone's calendars and reminders - select which calendars and reminders you want to see on your watch - set calendar priorities for complications when there's conflict between appointments on different calendars - mark reminders as done on your...
apps.apple.com
I like this better than either the stock app or Fantastical.
Fantastical 3 series is a FU mess all around, IMHO. Now I regret buying it at all (Mac, iPhone, iPad Pro, Watch 3). It keeps nagging me to try the trial, even though I said no, the Watch app is FUBAR and I'm not enjoying any improvements over previous versions, just increased complexity, a Watch app forcing me to create a Flexbits account, and a worse UX. Now I'm thinking about cutting my losses and just going back to the Apple apps. They are probably good enough for my needs. 
to answer my own question, Flexibits support finally replied and now I find out that WatchOS 6 is apparently required! so I can't even re-install the app or complication on my watch, which runs on OS 4, max. I can't even start complaining about the new subscription business model or "free account" requirement, because I don't even have what I started with before the update.
There was no warning of this before the v3 update, no chance to skip the update if you knew you'd completely lose a feature like Watch support. Nor is there any such hardware requirement info on their site. This all in spite of promises that with Fantastical 3 "all your features from Fantastical 2 are automatically available... You do not need to do anything special to receive these features..." . But that statement is simply not true. Sure maybe I'm a minority case but I'm still a customer who purchased v2 on multiple platforms, and without warning I no longer have all my v2 features.
Furthermore they say there's no way to revert back to the last version of Fantastical 2. They broke it, but this was entirely avoidable if they split off Fantastical 3 as a separate new app, or gave proper info prior to release. Or kept available a "legacy" version of thev2 app for download.
What a mess of an update, very poorly handled, very poor treatment of existing customers.
I got the iPhone update to 3.0.3 and the Watch app still doesn't work (Series 3 with OS 6.1.2). Like I said, the whole thing is just a FU mess, and I am close to deleting the apps from all my devices. Another problem is since the update it seems Fantastical has duplicated a family calendar and now I have to deal with fixing/merging them.
It is working on my s5. I just tried on my s3 and it kept telling me I needed to connect my phone several times. Made sure OS was up to date and rebooted the s3. After reboot, got the spinning red arrows for about 20 seconds and it loaded and I could see my calendar.
I have the middle complication set to Fantastical. It does not show my upcoming events for the day anymore. See attached screenshot.
I have to tap on the complication, let it load, and then press the crown to go back to the main screen, and then wait for it to display the next calendar entry. Sometimes it doesn't. Bummmmmmmer
I have to tap on the complication, let it load, and then press the crown to go back to the main screen, and then wait for it to display the next calendar entry. Sometimes it doesn't. Bummmmmmmer
Attachments
Where do you think your iCloud account is stored? On a third party server.
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I finally got it working on the Watch. If it had been my wife, or numerous friends I know, they never would have it working. I’m a software engineer and I found this a total PITA to deal with (although I’m admittedly old and curmudgeonly now LOL). I’m still thinking about returning to the Apple apps. I’m unenthusiastic about the subscription, UX changes and increased complexity. I want things no more complex than necessary. That’s the approach I take to software I write.
There is slight difference between Apple and Flexibits IMO in that area, don't you think? When I start to use iCloud (being sharing calendars with my family etc) I agree to terms and conditions and I am aware that this is 3rd party server. When I decide to use Google calendar - the same. This is only case I know that using calendar app that basically DISPLAYS what's stored on 3rd party servers requires account and additional info sent to 4th party (in that case) server. With sketchy explanation why. Enough is enough really...
I have been using Fantastical for many years on my iPhone and Apple Watch with no issues. My verion on the iPhone shows Version 3.0.3 (1083). I never created an account or agreed to pay for their stupid subscription. However, 2 days ago I noticed my Apple Watch no longer displays my Fantastical calendar. It shows a red start and says "Not logged in". The app on the phone works fine without logging in but the one on the watch is dead. I tried to create an account and it only takes me to a page asking me to select my subscription option. Any thoughts? I will not pay a cent to them since I purchased the software years ago and expect it to work. I don't need any of the new bells and whistles. I wish Apple only made their Calendar a bit more user friendly and then companies like Flexibits would disappear.
Thank you so much. It now works. Fingers crossed they won't eliminate the option to not subrcribe.
I updated it two days ago and so far it is still working. It shows Version 3.0.7 (1097) currently. I am using it on an S5 watch and an iPhone Xs Max. iOS is up to date on both.
I know how frustrating it is when it does not work as it happened to me a few updates back. I have no suggestion. The time it happened to me I tried uninstall, reinstall, reset of both devices and unpairing then pairing the watch. Nothing worked until they put out an update.
This is frustrating from a company that now wants us to subscribe for extra features that I really don’t need. I have loved this app since it first came out. I would hate to jump to a new one.
I do seem to remember that I could scroll through my week on my watch. Now all I get is the current day. I would love that feature.
Lisa
I know how frustrating it is when it does not work as it happened to me a few updates back. I have no suggestion. The time it happened to me I tried uninstall, reinstall, reset of both devices and unpairing then pairing the watch. Nothing worked until they put out an update.
This is frustrating from a company that now wants us to subscribe for extra features that I really don’t need. I have loved this app since it first came out. I would hate to jump to a new one.
I do seem to remember that I could scroll through my week on my watch. Now all I get is the current day. I would love that feature.
Lisa