Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iLoveDeveloping

Suspended
Original poster
Sep 24, 2009
596
2,366
Ireland
Hey I just realised today the hand washing timer on my Apple Watch series 6 hasn’t given me an alert or recorded any hand washes since October 28! Probably after an update. Anyone else have this? Any way to fix it? I turned it off rebooted the watch turned it back on, nope. Turn off a bunch of setting and back on again still nothing. Do I have to do the dreaded reinstall!
 
If you are referring to the handwashing alert when you get back home, Apple screwed that up with iOS 15/WatchOS 8 and still haven’t fixed it in iOS 15.2/WatchOS 8.2, because, you know, they are utter crap these days!

Regarding the normal hand washing notifications when you are actually at the sink, they still work for me so unfortunately I can’t help you on that one.
 
Is your microphone working? I had this problem on my S4 and the problem was the mic wasn’t working anymore.
 
If you are referring to the handwashing alert when you get back home, Apple screwed that up with iOS 15/WatchOS 8 and still haven’t fixed it in iOS 15.2/WatchOS 8.2, because, you know, they are utter crap these days!

Regarding the normal hand washing notifications when you are actually at the sink, they still work for me so unfortunately I can’t help you on that one.

Sorry, I should have clarified that! It’s the timer that says you have washed for 20 seconds. It’s just not working at all! Nothing!
 
My Series 5 is on 8.1 and I get the 'time to wash' notification (just did after doing an outdoor walk) and the handwashing timer works fine.

However, you need location access on in the background for it to work correctly. I've also noticed there's some lag before the timer appears, so much in fact that by the time I see the countdown, it's already at '5-4-3-2-1 well done'
 
My Series 5 is on 8.1 and I get the 'time to wash' notification (just did after doing an outdoor walk) and the handwashing timer works fine.

However, you need location access on in the background for it to work correctly. I've also noticed there's some lag before the timer appears, so much in fact that by the time I see the countdown, it's already at '5-4-3-2-1 well done'

Out of interest, what iPhone is that on? I’ve got a 13 pro max and a friend has a 13 pro both with series 6 and series 7 watch and the alert to wash hands when you arrive home doesn’t work on either.
 
Out of interest, what iPhone is that on? I’ve got a 13 pro max and a friend has a 13 pro both with series 6 and series 7 watch and the alert to wash hands when you arrive home doesn’t work on either.
iPhone 6S. iOS 15.1

The notification could be hiding behind your focus mode (work, etc) and it won't vibrate if that's the case. I actually saw it when I returned home from an outdoor walk by pulling it down in notification center to check my notifications.
 
Thanks for confirming.

No it’s an issue where the option to always allow hand washing to use location services is not there.
 
Thanks for confirming.

No it’s an issue where the option to always allow hand washing to use location services is not there.
Go to screen time,content & privacy restrictions, off the location service for all.

wait a couple sec, on back the location service.

go to privacy,location services, handwasing shld appear, change to always allow
 
  • Like
Reactions: StumpyBloke
Go to screen time,content & privacy restrictions, off the location service for all.

wait a couple sec, on back the location service.

go to privacy,location services, handwasing shld appear, change to always allow

Thanks, that appears to have worked. Well, I’ve certainly got the option to always allow hand washing now for the first time since iOS 15 and watch iOS 8 were released.

How did you find that out? Thanks again, you’re a star.
 
The message popped up for me, asking if I wanted to continue using location in background for handwashing activity or only when using the app. This notice appears randomly after some time (days?) and it is annoying.
 
Thanks, that appears to have worked. Well, I’ve certainly got the option to always allow hand washing now for the first time since iOS 15 and watch iOS 8 were released.

How did you find that out? Thanks again, you’re a star.
Trail and error. Took me almost 3 weeks to figure out. As the setting handwashingis there in apple watch. But grey out. So this method is to”refresh” all the location app.

Once you refreshed. It always there
 
  • Like
Reactions: StumpyBloke
The hand washing timer is not accurate and sometimes activated by other totally unrelated sounds. Also I wash my hands thoroughly every time and I don’t need the watch to teach me how to do it every time.
 
Trail and error. Took me almost 3 weeks to figure out. As the setting handwashingis there in apple watch. But grey out. So this method is to”refresh” all the location app.

Once you refreshed. It always there

Only worked the once. I don’t get notifications upon arriving home anymore. The settings are still in place. Just further evidence, not that it’s needed, that Apple software is just absolute crap and getting worse with each release
 
Still doesn’t work in watchOS 8.4 RC. Absolutely nothing has changed. Apple really are utter *****!!

Edit: just to confirm, I am referring to the hand washing reminders when you get back home. They worked perfectly until they released the abortions that are watchOS 8 and iOS 15.
 
Last edited:
Here is why its not working, can’t change reminders to always … Already sent in feedback to fix

3902F95C-7C62-4863-A3B7-0E6E24789884.jpeg
5DABE4E5-F8A3-45C7-BD4E-DA68F4D723B1.jpeg
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.