Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Device left behind
- Thread starter Ninjaman
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Not sure what you’re asking for here.
WatchOS 8 is available for series 3 and above. Invariably I’ve personally found that with a new version of WatchOS you do need to update the phone first before you can do the watch.
The watch will show as being turned on in the phone option. I just found that out a few minutes ago. I am guessing that is because the watch is tied to the phone.
Same here. I wonder if the watch has to be a newer model maybe. I have the Series 4.
I have the S4 as well..... but someone said even their S6 didn't work. Gotta believe Apple disabled this until an update
I think it's probably disabled for a reason, mostly because folks at Apple probably think it's unlikely you'll leave your watch behind because it's literally strapped to your wrist? 🤔
In the "Find My" app, tap on devices and then tap on your phone. It should say that your watch is enabled if it isn't too old.
Well I took a walk about 1/2 mile from my house leaving my iPhone inside and I got nothing on my watch. All I saw was the red striked out iPhone icon at the top of the watch face but no notification.
anyone else?
edit: took a 4 mile drive and still no notification on my watch.
anyone else?
edit: took a 4 mile drive and still no notification on my watch.
Last edited:
Mine was automatically setup to "Notify Me, Except At: Home". If yours was the same, then when your iPhone is at home, you're not going to be notified. Take that drive with your iPhone with you. Park. Go for a walk without your iPhone and see if it notifies your watch. I'm hoping it works that way.
I tried an app called Phone Buddy which offers the same function, but more features (like not notifying when on certain WIFI networks like home and work WIFI) but it was very inconsistent.
I wonder what the distance is that one is supposed to be notified when you "leave behind" your iPhone?
I've turned off Home as a location that doesnt alert me and when i popped out with the dog earlier just onto the street i got an alert on my watch as i walked out of the garage to say i'd left my phone behind me. Probably about 30ft away from my phone for it to alert on my watch.
I may not turn Home back on as ideally i would like it to remind me if i head out without my phone as much as leaving it somewhere else to be honest. Just need to see how it works if i leave my phone downstairs and head upstairs and they lose connection as that may get slightly annoying.
I may not turn Home back on as ideally i would like it to remind me if i head out without my phone as much as leaving it somewhere else to be honest. Just need to see how it works if i leave my phone downstairs and head upstairs and they lose connection as that may get slightly annoying.
Or if your doing some things outside. I think it’s more than just Bluetooth. Hoping the Wi-Fi plays a part in the distance algorithm
The AirPods Pro need their firmware update (which also includes the other Find My features + Conversation Boost) before they support the feature. Apple has already confirmed its coming later this fall.
This is both very interesting and annoying. I’ve been searching all the literature I could find including Apple’s and this fact is never mentioned, on and off for 3 days. I thank you for the post (a lot). It would be nice to have this mentioned somewhere. Everything, including apples book on iOS 15 Phone talks about turning it on under find my, devices, watch. When you select watch under notifications - Notify When Left Behind - not supported” and is grayed out. So off one goes to find out why, not knowing that if you select phone, which says “this phone” “with you” also says “enabled for your Apple Watch”.
Again Apple_Robert thank you.