Resolved Help! Need to find my watch 8

[raylo32]

I lost my watch, perhaps shoveling snow. Its charge status still appears on my 16 Pro but the watch does NOT appear in the "Find My" app. How can I find it? I have already retraced my steps, no luck.

 

[raylo32]

I found it. . But still not sure why it doesn't appear in Find My??

 

[goldmac2006]

I found it. . But still not sure why it doesn't appear in Find My??

Did you ping your Watch from the control center? Is your Apple Watch Series 8 a cellular model?

 

[raylo32]

I don't have the cellular version. But shouldn't it be able to home in via Bluetooth signal strength? It was clearly in range since the battery state of charge was showing on my iPhone.

 

[dotzero123]

Maybe it just wanted to get the dust off . You could call Apple support and see if they can troubleshoot. If it's related to your phone or OS they may be willing to help.

 

[goldmac2006]

I don't have the cellular version. But shouldn't it be able to home in via Bluetooth signal strength? It was clearly in range since the battery state of charge was showing on my iPhone.

😯 One potential issue for you is that it is affecting the accuracy of Find My is the connectivity of your Apple Watch. For your Apple Watch to effectively relay location data to your iPhone using the Find My app, it needs either a Wi-Fi connection or to be within Bluetooth range of your iPhone. This is because the watch uses the GPS receiver to determine its location and then communicates that information to your iPhone via these connections.

However, if you own an Apple Watch Series 6 or later, especially the cellular version, you might notice that your watch continues to provide accurate location information even when your iPhone is not nearby. The cellular model allows the watch to connect independently to the network, ensuring that it can report its location even if your iPhone is out of range, like when you accidentally leave it in your car while making a quick trip into a store or restaurant.

Additionally, with the introduction of the Apple Watch Series 6 and AirTags, devices are equipped with Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. This means that even if your iPhone isn't immediately connected to the watch, it can still provide accurate location information and even display the battery level and last known location of your Apple Watch for a significant period. This enhanced technology ensures better connectivity and location accuracy, making it easier to track your devices more reliably.

Maybe it just wanted to get the dust off . You could call Apple support and see if they can troubleshoot. If it's related to your phone or OS they may be willing to help.

Follow up with AppleCare if all other options are not working for you.

 

[raylo32]

I have never paid much attention to the Find My app but IIRC the watch did appear there once upon a time... so maybe a watch OS update broke it? IDK. And the other funny thing this morning is that Find My shows accurate location for my 16P (at home) while Find My shows my M2 MBA, that is sitting right next to it on the kitchen table, at a neighbor's house across the street. LOL.

 

[raylo32]

Well, somehow my M2 MBA finally found its way home. In spite of never having left it. LOL.

 

[raylo32]

The Watch is working fine and paired with my phone. It just doesn't appear in the Find My. So, what are these "other options"? I don't have Apple Care on anything. I guess I could try doing a factory reset on the watch and the re-pairing it. But I'd hate to just be wasting my time.

😯


Follow up with AppleCare if all other options are not working for you.

 

[NoBoMac]

Maybe try to disable and re-enable Find My Network on Watch, to shake things loose:

Set up Find My on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac - Apple Support

Turn on Find My so that you can find a missing device or item, or find friends.

support.apple.com

Turn on Find My network for Apple Watch​

1. On your Apple Watch, open Settings.
2. Tap your name.
3. Scroll down until you see your Apple Watch.
4. Tap your watch name, then tap Find My Watch.
5. Make sure that Find My network is turned on.

 

[raylo32]

I got this fixed. Apparently I needed to physically sign in to my Apple Account on the watch itself, not just pair it with the phone and app. Who knew?

 

[goldmac2006]

I have never paid much attention to the Find My app but IIRC the watch did appear there once upon a time... so maybe a watch OS update broke it? IDK. And the other funny thing this morning is that Find My shows accurate location for my 16P (at home) while Find My shows my M2 MBA, that is sitting right next to it on the kitchen table, at a neighbor's house across the street. LOL.

Maybe try to disable and re-enable Find My Network on Watch, to shake things loose:

Set up Find My on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac - Apple Support

Turn on Find My so that you can find a missing device or item, or find friends.

support.apple.com

I got this fixed. Apparently I needed to physically sign in to my Apple Account on the watch itself, not just pair it with the phone and app. Who knew?

I would highly recommend following the advice from one of the moderators here. I definitely forgot that you can turn off Find my on your Apple Watch and turn it back on again- my bad. This involves signing in and out of your Apple ID on your iPhone which passes over to the Apple Watch to turn in Activation Lock and Find My.

If you turn off Find My, Find Devices won’t work on your watch and iPhone that is paired with the Apple Watch. ⌚️ but if you turn it on it will reappear in the devices list under your iCloud account.

Thanks for the article, NoBo. Hope you enjoy your day and have a wonderful week!