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Tetevo

macrumors member
Original poster
May 21, 2015
43
3
Have a series 2 watchOS 4.0 and I can’t connect to my home WiFi. I’m using different usernames to 5 and 2.4 ghz bands, tried disconnecting and reconnecting to the WiFi, even tried to reset but nada. It connects to my gyms WiFi.
 
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Does your iPhone have a "Known" network connection to both your 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz SSID networks?

Your watch can only connect 2.4 GHz networks. In addition, the watch can only connect to Wi-Fi networks that your iPhone has connect to first. Your watch downloads "Known" networks from your iPhone over Bluetooth.

Dave
 
Does your iPhone have a "Known" network connection to both your 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz SSID networks?

Your watch can only connect 2.4 GHz networks. In addition, the watch can only connect to Wi-Fi networks that your iPhone has connect to first. Your watch downloads "Known" networks from your iPhone over Bluetooth.

Dave
Only to the 2.4
 
There have been a few reports that the Passphrase on the Wi-Fi network has prevented a watch from connecting.

You might want to run a quick test and change the Passphrase to a single word on the 2.4 GHz SSID, connect to is from your iPhone while your watch is connected on Bluetooth. Verify that is works by doing a quick test like opening Google in Safari.

Now on your iPhone disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and on your watch toggle Airplane mode on then off. Your watch should be able to connect to Wi-Fi.

Note: Don't forget to reset the Passphrase to something more complex than a single word.

Dave
 
Done it. Resetting my router fixed the problem. Strange that I have 2 routers, one of them being 2.4 ghz only and a newer dual band one. Resetting both of them got the Apple Watch to connect to both. Don’t know what was causing the problem, thought.
 
Mine still doesn’t work. I’ve tried resetting the router, watch and everything else. I really don’t want to have to go the Apple store for this issue, but it’s really annoying.
 
Mine still doesn’t work. I’ve tried resetting the router, watch and everything else. I really don’t want to have to go the Apple store for this issue, but it’s really annoying.
Try turning off your aw, then forget your network on iPhone, turn off Bluetooth, reconnect to WiFi, turn on Bluetooth and then turn on aw.

Your router is dual band?
 
Try turning off your aw, then forget your network on iPhone, turn off Bluetooth, reconnect to WiFi, turn on Bluetooth and then turn on aw.

Your router is dual band?
Tried this and it still isn’t working. My router is dual band. I’m currently connected to the 2.4 network on my iPhone. I think this watch may be defective. What icon does your watch display when Bluetooth is turned off? Does it show a wifi icon or just the red phone with a slash? My understanding is that the Apple Watch, when connected to wifi, should still be able to communicate to the phone through the wifi network when Bluetooth is out of range or off, correct?
 
When Bluetooth is off the watch Control Panel displays the Blue Wi-Fi Icon in the top left. Yes your watch should work fine on Wi-Fi and when on the same Wi-Fi, your watch can connect to your iPhone and fully function.

As a test, you might want to change the passphrase on your Router network settings for the 2.4 GHz network to a single word and have your iPhone connect first and then try the watch. Also what type of Wi-Fi security settings are you using?

Dave
 
When Bluetooth is off the watch Control Panel displays the Blue Wi-Fi Icon in the top left. Yes your watch should work fine on Wi-Fi and when on the same Wi-Fi, your watch can connect to your iPhone and fully function.

As a test, you might want to change the passphrase on your Router network settings for the 2.4 GHz network to a single word and have your iPhone connect first and then try the watch. Also what type of Wi-Fi security settings are you using?

Dave
When bluetooth is off it just shows the red phone icon. I have never had this watch show a wifi icon. My series 0 connected to wifi with no issues. Yesterday I disabled the security on the wifi network thinking that was the problem and still no luck. When I log into my router it shows all devices connected to the network, but the watch is not listed. The security type on the router is WPA2-PSK (AES). I'm on the latest 4.1 beta for the AW and latest 11.1 beta for the phone, but this issue was present on the latest official releases before i updated to the betas. I just got off the phone with Apple support and they couldn't figure it out. He had me repeat all the steps I tried on my own to no avail..
I may just have to send in for service once the official 4.1 and 11.1 come out (hopefully this week or early next week).
 
Last edited:
Also use different names for the two bands.

And the aw doesn’t need to be connected to the same WiFi to be fully functional, any WiFi as long as iPhone is on somewhere and have WiFi or cellular signal.

And try to connect the Apple Watch to other WiFi’s, gym, work.. mine was not working at home but was on my gym.
 
Actually for "full function" it does need to be on Bluetooth or on the same Wi-Fi network as the iPhone. You might be forgetting some of the features of being near your iPhone using Continuity.

When you are on the same Wi-Fi network. You can use Continuity to move seamlessly between your watch with Handoff, Universal Clipboard, iPhone Cellular calls (watch connects to iPhone to make Cellular) saving battery by not using LTE.

Note: When your watch is connected to a remote Wi-Fi system to utilize Wi-Fi Calling, Cellular is required to be enabled on the watch (powers eSIM) again another battery hit.

Dave
 
Actually for "full function" it does need to be on Bluetooth or on the same Wi-Fi network as the iPhone. You might be forgetting some of the features of being near your iPhone using Continuity.

When you are on the same Wi-Fi network. You can use Continuity to move seamlessly between your watch with Handoff, Universal Clipboard, iPhone Cellular calls (watch connects to iPhone to make Cellular) saving battery by not using LTE.

Note: When your watch is connected to a remote Wi-Fi system to utilize Wi-Fi Calling, Cellular is required to be enabled on the watch (powers eSIM) again another battery hit.

Dave
thanks for the input, but we’re discussing the series 2 watch.
 
Same things apply to your Series 3 except the "Note".

Dave
[doublepost=1509413415][/doublepost]OK so it does not appear to be your Wi-Fi. Have you tried another Wi-Fi network?

If it does not work on another Wi-Fi network, I have to vole it is time for service.

Dave
 
Sa
Same things apply to your Series 3 except the "Note".

Dave
[doublepost=1509413415][/doublepost]OK so it does not appear to be your Wi-Fi. Have you tried another Wi-Fi network?

If it does not work on another Wi-Fi network, I have to vole it is time for service.

Dave
Same.
[doublepost=1509488131][/doublepost]
Actually for "full function" it does need to be on Bluetooth or on the same Wi-Fi network as the iPhone. You might be forgetting some of the features of being near your iPhone using Continuity.

When you are on the same Wi-Fi network. You can use Continuity to move seamlessly between your watch with Handoff, Universal Clipboard, iPhone Cellular calls (watch connects to iPhone to make Cellular) saving battery by not using LTE.

Note: When your watch is connected to a remote Wi-Fi system to utilize Wi-Fi Calling, Cellular is required to be enabled on the watch (powers eSIM) again another battery hit.

Dave
So if I use the 5 ghz WiFi on iPhone and 2.4 on aw can I use those functions?
 
Yes even when using 2 different SSID Wi-Fi network names. The restriction here is that both your iPhone and watch have to be in the same TCP/IP subnet (address space). An example would be that you have a single router / access point that has both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz radios using the same or even different SSIDs. It works just fine.

I have my watch connected to my internet router that hosts a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. My iPhone is connected to an access point that hosts a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network with a different SSID. My access point is plugged directly into the back of the router. The router provides all device address assignment so all devices are on the same TCP/IP subnet (address space).

For example: If I turn off Bluetooth on my iPhone, my watch uses the Wi-F connection to connect to my iPhone and make cell calls. You can easily verify this by starting a call on the watch, you should see the call when you look at your iPhone. It would be an iPhone Cellular call if your iPhone is connected to your carrier network.

Dave
 
I bought an iPhone X, sold my old 6 plus, forgot to pair both devices and had to also reset aw.

Now the wireless internet is not working on the Apple Watch, tried to reset the router twice, but no luck this time :(
 
You have to connect you iPhone X to your 2.4 GHz network, your watch needs to be within Bluetooth range to download the Wi-Fi connection information.

More information on what exactly have are trying would be more helpful then just "Help!".

Dave
 
You have to connect you iPhone X to your 2.4 GHz network, your watch needs to be within Bluetooth range to download the Wi-Fi connection information.

More information on what exactly have are trying would be more helpful then just "Help!".

Dave
Already tried that, no success.
 
Does "no success" mean that your iPhone X is connected to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network, and you have a connection record under your Wi-Fi Settings on your iPhone X?

If yes, then can your iPhone X open a Safari session and connect to for example Google.com?

For some users they have had to "Forget" both the 5 GHz and the 2.4 GHz networks and start again by connecting to the 2.4 GHz network from their iPhone. Don't bother with the 5 GHz until you get the watch working on the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.

Also have you updated your watch to 4.1 which will show the Wi-Fi SSID when connected in the watch's Control Center?

Dave
 
Does "no success" mean that your iPhone X is connected to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network, and you have a connection record under your Wi-Fi Settings on your iPhone X?

If yes, then can your iPhone X open a Safari session and connect to for example Google.com?

For some users they have had to "Forget" both the 5 GHz and the 2.4 GHz networks and start again by connecting to the 2.4 GHz network from their iPhone. Don't bother with the 5 GHz until you get the watch working on the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.

Also have you updated your watch to 4.1 which will show the Wi-Fi SSID when connected in the watch's Control Center?

Dave
It’s connected and can connect to google and if I turn Bluetooth off the watch only shows red disconnect icon. Watch is updated forgot both networks already.
 
OK, that only leaves the very rare issue with the Wi-Fi passphrase being an issue. I have only seen it twice. Start by changing your Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz passphrase to a single word. Connect your iPhone with Bluetooth active to your watch and see if you can then connect your watch.

Make sure to toggle Airplane mode on / off on your watch to refresh the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings. Your watch should connect.

Additional debug info: What are you using for a Wi-Fi router or Access Point?

Dave
 
OK, that only leaves the very rare issue with the Wi-Fi passphrase being an issue. I have only seen it twice. Start by changing your Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz passphrase to a single word. Connect your iPhone with Bluetooth active to your watch and see if you can then connect your watch.

Make sure to toggle Airplane mode on / off on your watch to refresh the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings. Your watch should connect.

Additional debug info: What are you using for a Wi-Fi router or Access Point?

Dave
Tried that, internet provider router with 2,4 and 5 ghz, before I had the iPhone X, had to reset the router to make the aw work with the wireless, but now reseted twice, but the watch won’t connect.
 
I was having a similar issue after upgrading to iPhone X and a new Apple Watch 3 LTE. The watch wasn't connecting to WiFi. My iPhone X was using the password info stored in iCloud and I never had to re-join the network upon setting up my new iPhone (restored from the backup of my iPhone 7+). I had to forget the network and re-join. Now the watch is connecting to WiFi fine

I read somewhere that you have to be wearing the watch when joining the network for the first time for iCloud to pass the WiFi info over to the watch.
 
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