Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Believe me, buddy, I’ve done and tried everything.

It just doesn’t work.

I knew the AW wasn’t for me, but I really wanted it to “just work” and prove me wrong.
It’s worth calling them as it might be something really stupid that is stopping it that nobody on here has picked up
 
Granted I’m not in the UK but as result of this thread I’ve learnt something ….. I’ve now set mine up correctly and it works fine …. However as has been pointed out it’s not immediate but works

What I didn’t realise is the setup is done in the watch and not on the find my app on the phone

from the watch have you tried sending a sound/alert to your phone and does it work ?
 
Granted I’m not in the UK but as result of this thread I’ve learnt something ….. I’ve now set mine up correctly and it works fine …. However as has been pointed out it’s not immediate but works

What I didn’t realise is the setup is done in the watch and not on the find my app on the phone

from the watch have you tried sending a sound/alert to your phone and does it work ?
I just sent an alert to the iPhone, and it worked.

Also received an email, stating so.

Appreciate you trying to help, thanks.
 
I think I’m just going to return the watch.

This was the one feature that I wanted.

Other than that, I can’t see it serving any other purpose.

I suffer with insomnia, so (if it works!) the sleep tracking will only confirm that.

I’m no longer into my fitness, and if I was, I should have got the cellular version.

I still reach for my iPhone when I get a notification.

I see no purpose for this device. I was just sucked into Apple marketing, as are many.

Dare to persuade me otherwise? Are there any killer features of this device that I’m yet to realise?

I’m not a watch wearer in general (I just look at my iPhone) so I was hoping to be wowed by this device.

Some people appear to love it, and even go as far as saying it’s their favourite Apple device.

I just can’t see it.
 
Did you check if „Find my“ is active on both the watch and rhe the phone? Maybe this might be an issue?
 
Granted I’m not in the UK but as result of this thread I’ve learnt something ….. I’ve now set mine up correctly and it works fine …. However as has been pointed out it’s not immediate but works

What I didn’t realise is the setup is done in the watch and not on the find my app on the phone

from the watch have you tried sending a sound/alert to your phone and does it work ?
That's interesting because I didn't have to do any setup at all, either on the iPhone or on the watch - it just works. The Find My app on the iPhone seems to enable it by default if you have a paired watch.
 
Doesn't seem to be working on my S6 either.
Update: It works but you have to get around two blocks from the phone before it notified me..
 
Last edited:
That's interesting because I didn't have to do any setup at all, either on the iPhone or on the watch - it just works. The Find My app on the iPhone seems to enable it by default if you have a paired watch.
I should have been clearer …… when I said setup …. I meant messing with removing my home to test it
 
  • Like
Reactions: mzanker
Find Devices is Apple's own app that comes with the watch.

Just to say that it's working for me with my S7 cellular on EE, but it's not immediate. If I got in the car and drove off I could be a mile away by the time it alerts.
This morning I walk outdoor without my phone and it warns me around 2-300 meters from my home.
 
Just my luck, at the moment.

Literally the one feature I wanted and it’s not working.

There is an update available for the AW, but I’m at my nan’s and she doesn’t have Wi-Fi.

Maybe updating will sort it?

Can I update the AW using cellular data from my iPhone?

What happened to Apple products “just working”?

Thanks for the info.
Call  , they will help you out. I called today for something I couldn't figure out and it was settled in 5mn .
 
Just my luck, at the moment.

Literally the one feature I wanted and it’s not working.

There is an update available for the AW, but I’m at my nan’s and she doesn’t have Wi-Fi.

Maybe updating will sort it?

Can I update the AW using cellular data from my iPhone?

What happened to Apple products “just working”?

Thanks for the info.
You must not have been using them for the last 5-10 years. 😂😂😂
 
How can your watch alert you if you leave your phone behind when your watch isn’t connected to Wiif or cellular?
How hard could it be for the watch to display a set message when it loses all connection? An AirTag is able to tell you it’s location.
 
I had a separation alert when I left my phone in the car and popped into a friends house for a few minutes - I was less than 5m / 20 ft from my phone but got an alert after 2-3 minutes. Now, Faraday effect plus brick walls could easily have meant I lost the Bluetooth connection between the devices. My Watch has LTE but I doubt that is a pre-requisite - the Watch just has to notice it is no longer in comms with your iPhone.

Here’s the (very brief) set up info from Apple Support. I didn’t actively set this up for my devices - it just happened automatically when I upgraded to latest iOS and WatchOS versions.
 
Thanks, bud.

I already removed the two known places, but it still isn’t working.

I have a feeling this feature is only available for AWs with cellular capability.

If that’s the case, it’s useless.
Works fine for me, without fail. I have a GPS-only Series 5, and an iPhone 11 Pro. The watch always alerts me when I leave my phone behind, at home, at work, anywhere, when I am about 100 ft away. Wifi does not need to be enabled.
You must have some setting incorrect.
I don't know how to fix your settings, just letting you know it definitely works if you have it set right, and you don't need cellular or wifi on the watch. Nor do you need a Series 7.
 
To The London Fella... given you haven't posted since Oct, I assume you returned the watch?
I've been following apps/features related to separation alerts for years now. Tried all the apps, played with all the settings, even bought the Tile and other gadgets.
I confirm that the native separation feature is NOT reliable. But I see that you were so hopeful that this would work and that this was the only reason you bought the watch, so my question is: why not consider a non-native app if the Apple app doesn't work?

I'm testing the only 2 viable apps right now (it's been one month): Mobeleash and Phone Buddy. Phone Buddy has a lot more options and REALLY works (yes some false positives). And I still have the Apple feature enabled, so at all times, testing all three:
- Phone Buddy works 100% of the time + false positives
- Mobeleash works 70% of the time + false positives
- Find my Devices (separation feature) works ... hardly ever? It worked twice

Anyway, if this is such a crucial feature for you (and I agree, honestly, that's mainly what I rely on my watch for + now able to put my phone in my bag for less chance of losing and can just peek at email/other notifications on my watch instead)... and if the native app doesn't work, I would try Phone Buddy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Night Spring
It should alert you as soon as you lose connection, as long as it’s not in a safe location.

That way you’ll have a far greater chance of locating it.

Mine doesn’t notify me until I get almost a mile away. Would rather it did it as soon as I get out of my driveway. My WiFi disconnects before I get out of the driveway.

Update: I checked this morning and it actually notifies me at about 2 blocks away, and works pretty much 100% of the time.
 
Last edited:
Sometimes Apple likes to complicate things...
I have a AW7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch. When the Samsung Watch looses BT connection to the phone it notifies me immediately, so usually 15 to 20 meters away from the phone.
A mile away to get a notification that I left my phone behind it's no good, specially if I forgot it on a cafe or something, by the time I go back my phone is probably gone.

PS: Sorry my english but it's not my native language.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.