Cannot install 3rd Party Apps After Re-Pairing

[spacemnspiff]

The issue is that I cannot install 3rd party apps on a S7 Watch. This happened after I purchased a new iPhone and transferred all the data from the old iPhone to the new one. During the process of transfer Apple Watch did not pair on the new iPhone. So I had to unpair from the old iPhone and re-pair with the new iPhone. Everything works on the iPhone except for 3rd party app installation on the Watch from the Watch app on the iPhone. These are apps that I have purchased before, so I should be able to download them. When I press install on the Watch app on the iPhone, it sets off approval double click on the Watch, after the double click, the Watch App Store the screen says processing and then goes back to Watch face without installing.

I have unpaired and paired the Watch 4 times with the new iPhone, some tries set as new Watch and some restored from backup, but the same result. Looks like the App Store on the watch and the iPhone are not able to transfer app purchases from iPhone to the Watch App Store.

Everything worked fine with the old iPhone and paired S7 Watch.

Another thing to note is that I had to update the iPhone and the Watch to the latest OS before pairing.

Any ideas or thoughts, I brought this to Apple Support for the new iPhone, they are stumped too. The last option is to restore the iPhone as new and then start over, which will be a huge time sink because I will have to transfer all the photos on some device and lose my workout data from WorkOutDoors app.

 

[Howard2k]

But of a Hail Mary but you could sign out of your AppleID on the phone, restart both devices, then sign in and try again.

 

[yoak]

I have the exact same problem on my AW5. I got a replacement 13pro as I broke my old one. I’ve tried everything I can think of. Unpaired, restored from backup. Then unpaired and even set it up as new. The phone talks to the watch. When I try to install an app from my phone, the AW5 asks me to double tap to install it, then it say “processing” and suddenly quits the process.
I restarted the phone and watch and both are up to date software wise.

 

[yoak]

But of a Hail Mary but you could sign out of your AppleID on the phone, restart both devices, then sign in and try again.

I tried this too now. No luck🙈

 

[yoak]

A few apps were installed automatically it seems, like Strava, Shazam and 3 more. Its very frustrating

Tried to delete the Watch app on the iPhone, and reinstall it. Still no luck

 

[spacemnspiff]

Thanks for the replies. Glad to hear that there is another person with similar issue.

@yoak Few apps install, Apple apps and some apps that seem to have been purchased/authorized in the Watch App Store do install. I don't know if having two different App Stores, in iPhone and the Watch is causing this issue.

I too was thinking of resetting the iPhone as the last resort, but that is a painful process for me. Looks like it didn't resolve the issue for @yoak, so less motivation to try that.

I have a ticket with Apple Support - maybe @yoak can also submit a ticket for the issue with them, so that it gets the attention it deserves. My case number is 102058240085, you can reference it when you contact them.

 

[yoak]

My ticket 20000083750222

 

[BriceApp]

I don’t know if it is related or not, but I have been experiencing 3rd party app updates fine on iPhone but I have to go into the app directory on the watch and tap the app to get it to update, it won’t do it automatically. If I look in the watch app before doing the manual trick, the app just has a spinning wheel. This occurred on iOS16/wOS9, and is still occurring on iOS17/wOS10 beta 4.

I have a feedback in for the issue: FB12249986

 

[spikeymike]

Ran into the same exact issue when we moved my wife from 8 Plus to my old 12 Pro.

3rd party apps would not install from the iPhone Watch app.

What ended up working for us, which was a major pain in the butt, was deleting the specific 3rd party apps from the iPhone completely and re-downloading them from the App Store.

After doing that the apps would successfully install back onto the watch.

Note deleting the offending apps from iPhone also deletes data associated with that app.

 

[yoak]

Thanks for the input. I will try with an app that don't have any data of interest to me. It would be a real pain if I have to delete WorkOutDoors as it has all my training sessions from the last 2 years. Same app the OP was talking about. (The app is the only reason I have an AppleWatch)

 

[yoak]

Ran into the same exact issue when we moved my wife from 8 Plus to my old 12 Pro.

3rd party apps would not install from the iPhone Watch app.

What ended up working for us, which was a major pain in the butt, was deleting the specific 3rd party apps from the iPhone completely and re-downloading them from the App Store.

After doing that the apps would successfully install back onto the watch.

Note deleting the offending apps from iPhone also deletes data associated with that app.

THE HERO OF THE MOMENT!!
Thank you so much (just wished I didn't waste all yesterday unpairing and re pairing my watch 6 times yesterday😅) This worked perfectly (at least with the 3 apps I tried it with so far).
A bit embarrassing that it didn't even cross my mind yesterday. Just have to figure out a way to save my log from the WorkOutDoors app now, and I'm all set

 

[cfc]

Thanks for the input. I will try with an app that don't have any data of interest to me. It would be a real pain if I have to delete WorkOutDoors as it has all my training sessions from the last 2 years. Same app the OP was talking about. (The app is the only reason I have an AppleWatch)

When the Watch app on the iPhone fails to install the watch app then it is worth trying the App Store on the watch. It sometimes implies that you will have to pay again but if you go ahead then it should say that you have already bought the app and can download it again for free.

If that doesn't work and you want to uninstall the WorkOutDoors iPhone app (as a last resort!) then you could copy the data in the app to a computer, and then copy it back later by using Apple's File Sharing mechanism:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201301 (Windows)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210598 (MacOS)

It is a good idea to backup the data occasionally anyway.

 

[spikeymike]

THE HERO OF THE MOMENT!!
Thank you so much (just wished I didn't waste all yesterday unpairing and re pairing my watch 6 times yesterday😅) This worked perfectly (at least with the 3 apps I tried it with so far).

I did the same with wife's watch. Unpaired and paired like 3-4 times. It was a pain.

 

[yoak]

I just got off from an hour and half call with Apple support. They called literally 5 minutes after I found the solution here. I told him that this worked, but he still wanted to run thru lots of different scenarios. Didn't fix it. Then he ran a bunch of diagnostics on my phone and I did a software update again to see If that solved the issue. It didn't, so now he will send all the diagnostics to the ingeniers (how the h... do one spell that?) and they will look into it. Also asked in the Workoutdoors thread if there is a way to save the data before deleting the app.
EDIT: Saw that CFC had replied already. Thanks al lot for the quick reply.
I tried to download the app directly from the watch, but it didn't work (for any of the apps for that matter).
I will download the data, thanks again for a great app and support

 

[yoak]

When the Watch app on the iPhone fails to install the watch app then it is worth trying the App Store on the watch. It sometimes implies that you will have to pay again but if you go ahead then it should say that you have already bought the app and can download it again for free.

If that doesn't work and you want to uninstall the WorkOutDoors iPhone app (as a last resort!) then you could copy the data in the app to a computer, and then copy it back later by using Apple's File Sharing mechanism:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201301 (Windows)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210598 (MacOS)

It is a good idea to backup the data occasionally anyway.

How do I transfer the files from the phone app to my Mac? I didn't find any files in the File app on my phone

 

[spacemnspiff]

When the Watch app on the iPhone fails to install the watch app then it is worth trying the App Store on the watch. It sometimes implies that you will have to pay again but if you go ahead then it should say that you have already bought the app and can download it again for free.

If that doesn't work and you want to uninstall the WorkOutDoors iPhone app (as a last resort!) then you could copy the data in the app to a computer, and then copy it back later by using Apple's File Sharing mechanism:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201301 (Windows)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210598 (MacOS)

It is a good idea to backup the data occasionally anyway.

For WorkOutDoors app, which files or folders should I copy over, I am thinking Schedules, Settings and Workouts? Is that correct?

How do I transfer the files from the phone app to my Mac? I didn't find any files in the File app on my phone

Use the Apple support links in the post and that worked on my Mac.

 

[yoak]

Thanks.
Yesterday those links didn't work for me. Today they do. Weird. Will try now

 

[cfc]

For WorkOutDoors app, which files or folders should I copy over, I am thinking Schedules, Settings and Workouts? Is that correct?

View attachment 2241445


Use the Apple support links in the post and that worked on my Mac.

Yes, those are the most important directories. The Config.stg file is useful too.

 

[spacemnspiff]

Yes, those are the most important directories. The Config.stg file is useful too.

Thanks so much for the responses and support. I was able to get my workouts restored, but the config.stg did not restore my workout screen configurations. But that’s a minor inconvenience and easier to deal with.

 

[cfc]

Thanks so much for the responses and support. I was able to get my workouts restored, but the config.stg did not restore my workout screen configurations. But that’s a minor inconvenience and easier to deal with.

Sorry, I should have mentioned that the screen configurations are in the Profiles directory.

 

[spacemnspiff]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that the screen configurations are in the Profiles directory.

No worries. Thanks for the help.