When tech giant Apple launched the Apple Watch in 2015, some analysts said it might flop. After all, it came with a hefty starting price tag of $350, making many folks disinterested.
That has since changed, with some even saying the Apple Watch has saved their lives, literally. In May 2023 alone, it made headlines as its Fall Detection feature saved two people.
But as incredible as this smartwatch is, it’s not perfect, and it can malfunction from time to time. One such common problem you may encounter is your Apple Watch not vibrating.
Fortunately, this issue is, for the most part, easy to resolve. We’ve shared the steps you can take and try yourself before taking it to a repair pro, so read on.
Adjust the Fit
If you aren’t wearing your Apple watch correctly, its sensors won’t work, either. These sensors require skin contact with your wrist. So, ensure your bands are snug and not too loose or tight.
Also, keep in mind that you must be wearing your Apple Watch for it to receive notifications. You must also ensure your iPhone has its screen locked so that alerts get sent to your Watch. You can only receive notifications on either device, not both.
Check the Haptics Setting of Your Watch
“Haptics” is the fancy term for the pulse or vibration setting of your Apple Watch. If this is off, your Watch won’t produce taps or pulses.
To check your Haptics setting, launch the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Then, scroll down and select Sounds & Haptics. Toggle the slide for Haptic Alerts to the On position (the switch should turn green).
When enabled, the Haptic Alerts setting should show two options: Default and Prominent. The chief difference is that the latter’s pulses and taps feel stronger.
If, at this point, you’re not wearing your Watch, put it on before you tweak your Haptics setting. Then, tap the Prominent option under Haptic Alerts. You should feel a pulse or a tap as soon as you do.
Confirm Devices Aren’t on Airplane Mode
One of the most common Apple Watch problems is that it sometimes fails to sync with other Apple devices. In some cases, this is due to the other device being on Airplane Mode.
Airplane Mode switches all radios off, including your mobile data service and Wi-Fi. So, any SMS, MMS, chat messages, and calls will not come through your iPhone. Since it won’t receive any of these, it won’t have anything to reroute to your Apple Watch.
To check if you have Airplane Mode turned on, look at the upper right-hand corner of your iPhone screen. If there’s an icon of an airplane there, then its Airplane Mode is on. To turn it off, swipe down from the same corner to bring up the Control Center screen.
On the upper left-most side of the Control Center is the Airplane Mode button, which should be orange now. Tap it to turn it off, and then lock your phone. You should now receive SMS, MMS, chat, and call notifications on your Apple Watch.
Check if You Have Focus Enabled
Focus is a nifty feature that lets you turn off all notifications. This allows you to reduce distractions when you work, sleep, or drive.
You can also customize it to allow only specific alerts to your Apple devices. For instance, you can set it only to notify you if you get texts or calls from particular people and apps.
So, if you have a Focus turned on, your devices, including your Apple Watch, may not vibrate.
To see if you have a Focus enabled on your Watch, press its side button. This should bring up the Control Center.
If there’s no Focus turned on, you should see a “Do Not Disturb” button on the Control Center. If there’s one enabled, you might see labels like “Personal,” “Sleep,” or “Work.” Tap that mode to turn it off.
Then, have someone text or call you to test if your Apple Watch now vibrates. With Focus now turned off, it should.
Restart Your Apple Watch
If your Apple Watch still doesn’t vibrate, restart it and your iPhone. There could just be a glitch that a software reboot can address. Once they’re back on, ask someone to text you to see if you’ll now feel your Watch vibrate.
Ensure You Have the Latest Software
If the problem persists after doing all the above, it may be due to an outdated Apple Watch software (watchOS) or iOS. Glitches and incompatibilities can occur if one runs on an older OS version.
If your Apple Watch is on watchOS version 6 or later, you can directly check it for available OS updates. First, ensure you have it connected to a stable Wi-Fi. Then, launch the Settings app, tap General, and finally, select Software Update.
If there’s an available update, it should show up on the screen. Tap the Install icon and follow the on-screen directions to download and install it on your Watch.
To check if your iPhone is on the latest iOS, plug it into a power outlet and connect it to your Wi-Fi. Then, launch the Settings app on your phone, go to General, and select Software Update.
If an update appears on the list, your phone is on an older OS version. Tap the software update’s Install Now or Download and Install option.
After installing the updates, test your Apple Watch to see if it now vibrates. If it still doesn’t, it may already be a sign that you need Apple Watch repair services.
You can contact Apple Support if your device is still under warranty. If not, take it to a reliable Apple repair technician.
Get That Apple Watch Not Vibrating Fixed Today
Hopefully, one of the DIY steps we shared for an Apple Watch not vibrating will make yours pulse again.
But if all else fails, don’t worry, as our team of expert technicians here at Fruit Fixed has your back. We’ve been delivering quality repairs for Apple and Android devices since 2011.
So, ring us up or drop us a line! One of our seven centers throughout the Richmond area will be happy to help fix your Apple Watch.
