For as great as the Apple Watch is, one of its best features is also one of the most annoying things about it: its size. It helps make it way more convenient to use and wear, but whenever you take it off, it becomes so easy to lose it. A lot of devices have the means to ping them via other devices, but can you ping your Apple Watch?
Thankfully, Apple Watches can be pinged using the iPhone “Find My” app. You just need to go to the Devices tab in the app, tap your specific Apple Watch in the list, and then tap Play Sound. If your Apple Watch has power, it should play a noise when you ping it.
If you need help figuring out how you can ping the watch, or why the watch is not responding when you ping it, read on below.
Can You Ping your Apple Watch?
The good news for Apple users is that the Apple Watch can be pinged using your iPhone. All you need to do is use the “Find My” app on your iPhone, and select the specific Apple Watch you are trying to ping. If the Apple Watch is working properly and is powered on, you will hear a sound if it is nearby.
If it is not, you can also find out the last known location of the device, which can be used to track it down. The only issue you may face is if the Apple Watch is unpaired, the Apple Watch is not powered, or if there is an issue with one or both of the devices involved.
How to pair Apple Watch with iPhone
In order to be able to ping the Apple Watch in the first place with the “Find My” app, you need to first make sure that the Apple Watch is connected to the app, which also requires that you pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone. An Apple Watch Series 3 or later with watchOS 8 can pair up with an iPhone 6s or later, with iOS 15 or later. To actually begin the pairing process, bring your iPhone near the Apple Watch while it is turned on (which is done by holding the side button until the Apple logo shows up). Eventually, your iPhone should show an Apple Watch pairing screen show up. Press Continue, and your Apple Watch should now be paired with your iPhone.
An alternative solution to pairing your Apple Watch with your iPhone would be to open up the Apple Watch App on your iPhone. When you do, select Pair New Watch, and then tap Set Up for Myself. After doing this, the Apple Watch App will prompt you to put Apple Watch in the app’s viewfinder. Tap Set Up Apple Watch, and then follow the instructions shown on both the iPhone and Apple Watch to finish the setup. If you want to unpair your Apple Watch, you have to open the Apple Watch App, tap My Watch, and then tap All Watches at the top of the screen. Tap the information symbol (visualized by an ‘i’ in a circle) next to the Apple Watch you want to unpair, and tap Unpair Apple Watch.
Can I locate my Apple Watch if it was stolen?
If your Apple Watch is stolen, Find My has the potential to locate it. Your Apple Watch, much like your iPhone, sends a signal that shows its position, meaning that you can track down its location with a certain degree of reliability. The only downside is that, if your Apple Watch is not connected to Wi-Fi, or cellular service, or if the Apple Watch is not paired with your iPhone. Otherwise, you will not be able to see your Apple Watch on the map.
Can I ping the Apple Watch if it is turned off?
If your Apple Watch died, or is manually turned off, the device will not be able to track or ping the Apple Watch. Finding a dead Apple Watch can be really frustrating, but the good news is that Apple has a system set in place to help you better locate it. The way this works is that you can set it so that when the battery of the Apple Watch is low, it will send a signal to the Find My app. In doing so, you now have a good idea of where it might be. It is not a perfect solution, but it is better than having no solution whatsoever, right?
How to address an unresponsive Apple Watch
Sometimes, your Apple Watch may have difficulties responding to attempts to ping it. If this is the case, the first and simplest attempt to fix this would be to restart your Apple Watch and iPhone, and then attempt to ping it again. If that does not work, make sure that both devices have the most up-to-date version.
Can the Apple Watch ping other devices?
While the size of the Apple Watch makes it easier to lose, the benefit is that you don’t have to worry about it getting lost if it’s attached to your body. On the other hand, your iPhone, despite being bigger, is still easy to lose. Thankfully, your Apple Watch can be used to ping it in reverse. To do this, swipe up on your Apple Watch to bring up the Control Center, and then tap the Ping iPhone button. “Pinging iPhone” will pop up on your Apple Watch, and if your iPhone is able to connect and is powered, it should respond to the ping with sound.
What do I do if my Apple Watch strap broke?
One reason your Apple Watch has gone missing is if your strap breaks and the device falls off altogether. If this happens, you should get the Apple Watch repaired. If it is under warranty, it should be free.
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