Medications app alert bug, anyone else experiencing this issue

[Fatboy71]

A bug I'm noticing in the Medications app. When I'm wearing my Apple Watch, the alert from the Medications app used to sound on my Apple Watch. Since iOS 17, WatchOS 10, I get the sound alert from the Medications app sounding on my iPhone first, and then 15 seconds or so later I get the alert on my Apple Watch.

I was hoping 17.1, WatchOS 10.1 would have fixed it, but it has not.

I was wondering if anyone else is experiencing this issue?

 

[mario-64]

I am yes

 

[Fatboy71]

I am yes

Thanks. I posted this question over on Apple Forums and people on there are experiencing it too.
I'm just wondering now, if it's a new way of how the Medications app alerts you with iOS 17.

The next time I get a medication alert, I will try and "mark as taken" on my iPhone, and I'll see if this stops the alert sounding on the Apple Watch again some 15 seconds or so later. If it does, then it's probably a new way of how the Medications app alerts you with iOS 17.

 

[jedimasterkyle]

Yeah I'm experiencing the same thing. Sometimes I'll get the alert on my iPhone FIRST and then an alert on my Apple Watch. Sometimes, it's the other way around. But there is a definite delay between the two notifications when in theory, I should only get ONE alert or they should go off at the same time.

 

[matrix07]

I don’t think this is a bug.

 

[Al Rukh]

I’ve been experiencing this since iOS 17.0. I thought it was a syncing issue or that the notifications for my watch isn’t mirroring with my iPhone. Played around with settings but to no avail.

 

[Fatboy71]

Yeah I'm experiencing the same thing. Sometimes I'll get the alert on my iPhone FIRST and then an alert on my Apple Watch. Sometimes, it's the other way around. But there is a definite delay between the two notifications when in theory, I should only get ONE alert or they should go off at the same time.

Since iOS 17 I always get the alert sounding on my iPhone first and the 15 seconds or so later the alert sounds on my Apple Watch.

I agree there should only be one alert (which is what it used to be like before iOS 17). Any other app alert (when wearing the Apple Watch) sounds on the Apple Watch only, so that makes me think it's a bug with the Medications app.

 

[Fatboy71]

I don’t think this is a bug.

Any other app alert (when wearing the Apple Watch) sounds on the Apple Watch only, so that makes me think its a bug with the Medications app. Plus the issue has only arisen since iOS 17, which makes me further think it's a bug.

 

[Fatboy71]

I’ve been experiencing this since iOS 17.0. I thought it was a syncing issue or that the notifications for my watch isn’t mirroring with my iPhone. Played around with settings but to no avail.

That was my initial thoughts too when I first experienced this. And like you, I looked in the settings but there was nothing amiss in there.

What I did find earlier today was. I got a medications alert (as usual sounding on my iPhone despite me wearing my Apple Watch). I quickly "marked as taken" on my iPhone and it did not sound 15 seconds or so later on my Apple Watch this time.

I've submitted the issue/bug to Apple via the feedback to see if it gets addressed at some point.

 

[matrix07]

Any other app alert (when wearing the Apple Watch) sounds on the Apple Watch only, so that makes me think its a bug with the Medications app. Plus the issue has only arisen since iOS 17, which makes me further think it's a bug.

iOS 17 is different in 2 regards. It now has critical alert for medication, and it now has Health app on iPad. The notification will now - as I understand - comes from devices itself (from Health on iPhone or iPad or medication app on Apple Watch) so you can set critical alert on each devices individually like say you want critical alert on iPhone and watch but not on iPad for example.

 

[Fatboy71]

iOS 17 is different in 2 regards. It now has critical alert for medication, and it now has Health app on iPad. The notification will now - as I understand - comes from devices itself (from Health on iPhone or iPad or medication app on Apple Watch) so you can set critical alert on each devices individually like say you want critical alert on iPhone and watch but not on iPad for example.

Thanks thats very helpful.

I've just had a look in the Health app on my iPhone and the critical alerts for all the medication I take were switched off (I'm guessing critical alerts are off as default). I've switched them all on and I'll see if this makes any difference to the alerts/where the alerts sound first.

However I couldn't find where I could alter the same for the Apple Watch in either the Watch app or on the Apple Watch itself.

Thanks for the help.

 

[matrix07]

However I couldn't find where I could alter the same for the Apple Watch in either the Watch app or on the Apple Watch itself.

It should ask you to turn it on. I remember thinking it's strange I set it on my phone but the watch still asking me to do it on the watch as well. I thought setting it on iPhone would be enough.

 

[Graham4723]

I've just had a look in the Health app on my iPhone and the critical alerts for all the medication I take were switched off

Where is this setting in the Health App ? Cannot find any such thing in my iPhone 13 (iOS 17.1)

all I see is ….

 

[CooCool]

Yes and it’s been driving me crazy.

 

[Canyda]

Yeah, I've noticed since iOS17 that the alert I get on my watch is no longer (near)perfectly synced to my phone and now comes about 10 seconds later.

 

[Fatboy71]

Where is this setting in the Health App ? Cannot find any such thing in my iPhone 13 (iOS 17.1)

all I see is ….

1: Go in the Health app. Select Browse at the bottom right of the screen.
2: Select Medications.
3: Scroll right to the bottom and select Options.
4: You should now see the Critical Alerts section.

 

[Graham4723]

1: Go in the Health app. Select Browse at the bottom right of the screen.
2: Select Medications.
3: Scroll right to the bottom and select Options.
4: You should now see the Critical Alerts section.

The screenshot I posted earlier is what I see when I follow your instructions….
I don’t understand why ?
iPhone 13mini running ios 17.1.
In addition I don’t see anything different if I look on my iPad Health App.

 

[matrix07]

The screenshot I posted earlier is what I see when I follow your instructions….
I don’t understand why ?
iPhone 13mini running ios 17.1.
In addition I don’t see anything different if I look on my iPad Health App.

It’s that Follow Up Reminder.

if you haven’t set it up it should show up like this

 

[Fatboy71]

The screenshot I posted earlier is what I see when I follow your instructions….
I don’t understand why ?
iPhone 13mini running ios 17.1.
In addition I don’t see anything different if I look on my iPad Health App.

You need to switch on the Follow Up Reminders option. Once you have switched that on, the Critical Alerts option will appear underneath it.

 

[Graham4723]

It’s that Follow Up Reminder.

if you haven’t set it up it should show up like this
View attachment 2303775

Many thanks for both responses…😊

 

[Risco]

Yes, happening to me. Before it used to come on watch first. Very annoying.

 

[hirsthirst]

I too have the delay / duplicate & don’t like it

I’d prefer it similar to Messages, a ting on the wrist that doesn’t then echo on the phone

 

[Fatboy71]

I too have the delay / duplicate & don’t like it

I’d prefer it similar to Messages, a ting on the wrist that doesn’t then echo on the phone

Thanks. Yes I dislike it too.
It used to worked like you said "a ting on the wrist that doesn’t then echo on the phone" before iOS 17.

 

[nburwell]

Chiming in that I also have the same issue. Notification comes through on my iPhone first then 15-20 seconds later, it pings my AW. Hoping maybe iOS 17.2 fixes this? I noticed it happens on both my S7 and S8 AW.

 

[Valmor]

Has anyone been able to fix this? It still happens for me on iOS 17.3 and watchOS 10.3. Medication notifications always go to my iPhone first, and then watch 15 seconds later. Before iOS 17, medication notifications behaved like every other notification: if I wasn't using any devices and wearing my watch, my watch would vibrate. If I was actively using my iPhone, the notification went to my phone instead.