With iOS 16 and watchOS 9, you can control your Apple Watch with Your iPhone. Thanks to a much larger and more responsive screen, the Apple Watch Mirroring feature enables you to perform several actions more conveniently. Though this Accessibility feature is primarily designed for people with physical and motor disabilities, anyone can make the best use of it to use the paired iWatch with the desired comfort. Sadly, some users have reported that they can’t control Apple Watch with iPhone. If the issue is troubling you as well, we have got you got covered with some very effective tips and tricks.
Can’t Control Apple Watch with Your iPhone? Here is the Fix
Before going for viable fixes, let’s find out the culprits that are preventing Apple Watch Mirroring from working properly.
Possible Reasons Why Apple Watch Mirroring is Not Working on Your iPhone and Apple Watch
There are multiple reasons why Apple Watch Mirroring is not working properly. Hence, it’s better to point out each one of the culprits so that you will have a better idea about the tips required to fix each one of them.
- Device incompatibility
- OS incompatibility
- Software bug
- Wrong configuration
- Lack of proper understanding of how the gestures work
Having taken each of the usual suspects into account, we have talked about the tips to resolve the issue. That said, let’s try out the viable tips to fix the Apple Watch Mirroring not working problem!
Is Your iPhone Compatible with Apple Watch Mirroring?
The very first thing that you should do before going for ways to troubleshoot the issue is to ensure that your iPhone is compatible with Apple Watch Mirroring. Have a look at the devices that support this noted Accessibility feature!
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone X
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone SE 2
- iPhone SE 3
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
Do note that your iPhone must have iOS 16 or later installed to be able to control the Apple Watch using Apple Watch Mirroring feature.
Is Your Apple Watch Compatible with Apple Watch Mirroring?
At the very beginning, you should also ensure that your Apple Watch supports Apple Watch Mirroring. Take a look at the list of watch models that are onboard!
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch Series 8
- Apple Watch SE 2 (2022)
- Apple Watch Ultra
Once you have taken care of the requirements, it’s time to get started with the workable tips.
1. Force Reset Both Your iPhone and Apple Watch
Force reset is like a go-to troubleshooter for fixing common watchOS or iOS issues. Therefore, it’s wise to give it a try.
- On your iPhone: Press and quickly release the volume up button. Then, press and quickly release the volume down button. After that, hold down the side button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
- On your Apple Watch: Hold down both the side button and the Digital Crown until the Apple logo shows up on the screen.
2. Disable/Enable Apple Watch Mirroring
If the hard reset has not worked in fixing the Apple Watch Mirroring not working issue, try turning this Accessibility feature off/on.
- Go to the Settings app on your supported iPhone running iOS 16 or later -> Accessibility -> Apple Watch Mirroring. After that, turn off the toggle.
- Then, restart your iPhone and the connected Apple Watch.
- Next, head over to the Accessibility setting and then turn on Apple Watch Mirroring.
- Now, your Apple Watch will appear on your paired iPhone. Additionally, you should also see a blue outline around your watch face confirming that mirroring is enabled.
- Now, try to control your Apple Watch by tapping and swiping on the watch image that shows on your iPhone. For instance, you can tap on the side button and then swipe the Digital Crown to scroll through the apps that are in the Dock.
3. Update Your Apple Watch and iPhone
As already stated above, a software bug could also be behind the issue. If you haven’t updated your iPhone and Apple Watch for a while, there is a good chance that the problem could very well be due to a bug.
- On your iPhone: Open the Settings app -> General -> Software Update and then update the software.
- On Apple Watch: Launch the Settings app -> General -> Software Update and then update the software.
4. Erase Your Apple Watch and Set It Up Again
If nothing has worked in resolving the Apple Watch Mirroring not working problem, completely erase your Apple Watch and set it up from the scratch. Concerned about losing all your media and data? As watchOS automatically creates a backup during the unpairing process, you shouldn’t bother about losing any media or data.
- Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch -> General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings.
- After you have successfully erased your Apple Watch, launch the Watch app on your iPhone and then pair the Apple Watch by following the instructions.
Apple Watch Mirroring Not Working Between iPhone and Apple Watch – Resolved!
That’s all about fixing the “Can’t control Apple Watch using iPhone” issue. I hope Apple Watch Mirroring is back on track now. Would you like to share your feedback and the tips that have come to your rescue?
