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multispoke

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 1, 2018
22
3
Ireland
Got a new Series 3 Nike + for Christmas. On setting the watch up I elected to do the 4.2 update. Unfortunately the WIFI will not work. I did follow all the recommended checks and ensured that the WiFi was 2.4GHz. Selected the Forgot network and reset it back up again with the bluetooth on. Restarted the watch and even resorted to un pairing it and setting it back up again. I tried my brother-in-laws Series 1 watch and that works fine so it is definitely to do with the 4.2 update or maybe there is a fault in the watch. Before doing the update I never tested it on 4.0
The steps that I followed were on the link below...
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8144818

I have the option of sending the watch back in for 'repair' so that the watch can be reverted back to the baseline 4.0 or should I simply wait until 4.3 comes out. Is anyone else having this issue ? Is there anything that I can try ? Appreciate any inputs. Many thanks in advance.

P.S. Series 3 model that I have does not have Cellular so it is the non-LTE model.
 

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
Wifi connects and works very well for me (AW3 GPS WatchOS 4.2).

IMG_3371.PNG

There is A LOT to suggest trying. However before sending it back I would recommend calling tech support so they can step you through any iCloud settings and such.

For me it "took a minute", I assume this is because it needed to download my wifi passwords from keychain via the iPhone. Took even longer for wifi calling to start working. When I got around to trying to diagnosing the issue it had resolved itself.
 

dave006

macrumors 68040
Jul 3, 2008
3,921
1,119
Just West of East
It might well be the watch or about a dozen other things. First does your Wi-Fi network at home block "unknown" MAC addresses from connecting? You might need to add your Watch's MAC to the access list.

Next up is how are you testing the watch's Wi-Fi. Are you putting your iPhone in Airplane mode or using the iPhone Control panel or the Settings App to manage Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings?

I would suggest using the Settings app on your iPhone to disable Bluetooth, it may take as long as 50 seconds for your watch to switch to Wi-Fi. Also have you tried your iPhone / watch on another Wi-Fi network?

Dave
 

multispoke

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 1, 2018
22
3
Ireland
Many thanks to cynics & dave for your replies. WiFi is working now :) but it has taken many hours to get it resolved.

Switching to Airplane mode did not give WiFi capability - so this could be a fault ?
Did manage to turn off the bluetooth setting on the iPhone at Settings at the 'top' level. Quick option at the main screen on the iPhone did not turn off the Apple watch bluetooth connection.

To clarify my setup

Iphone 7 with IOS 11.2.1 (15C153)
Cisco router EPC3925 supplied by Virgin Media - broadband provider - this is placed in the Kitchen (middle of the house)
Airport Express 802.11n (2nd Generation) - in the Lounge at the front of the house

What I wanted to do was use the Extender (Airport) to connect the Apple Watch to the Phone via WiFi when it was outside the bluetooth range. Problem I had was that it was NOT going into WiFi mode.

I did a test in another house with a 2.4GHz router from a different Broadband supplier and it did FAIL on the Series 3 non-LTE whilst my brother-in-law's Apple Series 1 would work.

Returned home and then proceeded to unpair the watch from my iPhone7 and re-pair it to my wife's iPhone 6S. It was now WORKING !! She had NOT upgraded to 11.2.1 and was on a slightly earlier version.

So I backed up the iPhone 7 to iTunes.
Reset the iPhone 7 erasing all Content and Settings.
Setup up a new iPhone 7 (not using the restore option)

Apple watch was reset - Erasing Apple watch content and Settings
Paired the Apple watch to the iPhone 7
Wifi symbol WORKED.
NOTE: This only happens when the iPhone is switched off (for both the iPhone 7 & 6S). This does NOT happen when the Apple Watch is put in Airplane mode.

Next I restored the backup off iTunes to the iPhone 7
When I paired the iPhone 7 to the Apple watch I had to go through the whole re-pairing exercise again.
WiFi did NOT work like previously !!
So I did the Forget Network of the AIRPORT and reset it back up again.
Powered the iPhone 7 off and the WiFi symbol re-apperared !!!!

The setup of the iPhone 7 was all done using the Airport Express and NOT the Cisco Router.

On a previous occasion I had done a similar exercise using the Cisco router - got the WiFi working off the AIRPORT but when I reset the WIFI setting on the iPhone 7 for the Cisco router I then lost WiFI capability on the Apple watch for both the AIRPORT and the CISCO !!! At the moment I only have the WiFi capability on the AIRPORT.

For the time being it is fine. If the phone is left in the Kitchen I still have a WiFi connection to the Apple Watch since it is out of bluetooth range but NOT the other way around.

Hopefully Apple will look at a better way of troubleshooting WiFi problems. The issue that I had appears to be an iPhone problem as opposed to it being an issue with the Apple Watch. Issue may well be with IOS 11.2.1 on the iPhone where IOS 4.2 has not been properly tested with it.
 

multispoke

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 1, 2018
22
3
Ireland
WiFI not working again !

Checked my wife's 6S and the OS is 11.0.3 which is different to the current 11.2.1 on the my iPhone 7.
Re-pairing her iPhone 6s with the Apple Watch Series 3 with the 4.2 update - the WiFi works perfectly.
Not prepared to go through another FULL reset of the iPhone 7 to get it temporarily working.
Did try just doing a Network reset but it made no difference.

Could anyone confirm if they have an iPhone 7 with the latest OS update of 11.2.1 and an Apple watch with the 4.2 on a non-LTE Series 3 that has WiFi working when Bluetooth is disabled or if it's out of range ?
 

multispoke

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 1, 2018
22
3
Ireland
For anyone experiencing Wifi connectivity similar to the above

The culprit is LOOKOUT application. Delete the application and all is solved !!!

I got it from here
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8144818?start=15&tstart=0

On the limited tests that I have done the WiFI works on both the Cisco Modem (router) and the Airport Express - so effectively in 'both' parts of the house. Apple Watch does not appear to be clever enough to switch between the 2 routers but at least it is working :) :)
 

xraydoc

Contributor
Oct 9, 2005
11,005
5,475
192.168.1.1
For anyone experiencing Wifi connectivity similar to the above

The culprit is LOOKOUT application. Delete the application and all is solved !!!

I got it from here
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8144818?start=15&tstart=0

On the limited tests that I have done the WiFI works on both the Cisco Modem (router) and the Airport Express - so effectively in 'both' parts of the house. Apple Watch does not appear to be clever enough to switch between the 2 routers but at least it is working :) :)
Glad you got it sorted out.
 

multispoke

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 1, 2018
22
3
Ireland
I have reported this problem to LOOKOUT and they have requested the URLs.
Hopefully they'll come back with a fix. It would appear to be a combination of using 11.2.1 on the iPhone, 4.2 on the AW3 and their app.

Have also asked for the re-instatement of a proximity alert for the application similar to the app used for LUGLOC. This has a toggle allowing you have the alarm switched on or off if the device moves outside 100m.
 
Last edited:

multispoke

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 1, 2018
22
3
Ireland
Have had no update from Lookout on their app and how it has interfered with the WiFI on the Apple Watch.

Did the very recent 11.2.2 update on the iPhone 7 and re-tested it.

Re-installed Lookout and lost the WiFI capability. It initially stayed working and then it stopped the following day.
So deleted the Lookout app and did the Forget the network and re-entered it and the WIFI stated working again on the Apple watch.

This problem is very easy to re-create so Lookout at this stage should publish an update. At the very least Apple should not include the Lookout app as part of the installation setup until the WIFI problem on the Apple watch is fixed.
 
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