Apple Watch network requests timing out on Wi-Fi

[robertherber]

For the last week or so I've noticed my Apple Watch (series 6) is not able to connect to the internet over my home Wi-Fi. It shows that it's connected to the Wi-Fi but all network requests time out after around one minute. Wi-Fi works as expected on all my other devices.

However if I disconnect my phone from the Wi-Fi the requests start succeeding on my Apple Watch again. I suppose it's switching to mobile data through my paired iPhone.

Anyone experienced anything similar?

 

[waw74]

Have you rebooted your watch, phone, and router/wifi gear?

is bluetooth turned on? on both the watch and phone

if the watch is showing wifi connection, then it's not connected to your phone. The watch only powers on the wifi radio when it can't find your phone over bluetooth. The same goes for cellular, that's not powered on until it can't find wifi. This is for battery life.

if your watch was connected to wifi, then changing anything on the phone shouldn't affect it.

If bluetooth is off on your phone, it's possible the watch and phone are talking to each other over your home network. and something is getting lost in that data pathway. By removing your phone from the wifi network, (and since the watch and phone aren't connected) The watch may then talk to the services directly. (not quite sure if it does this or not)

 

[robertherber]

It seems to be working now. I think it might have been related to an "Update iCloud" prompt in the Settings app on the Watch - but not 100% sure. I had to press it without the wi-fi (obviously) - and after that I'm yet to see the issue again.