There could be several reasons why your Apple Watch is not vibrating when you receive text messages. One possibility is that the Do Not Disturb feature is turned on. When this feature is enabled, your Apple Watch will not vibrate or make any sound for incoming notifications, including text messages. To check if Do Not Disturb is turned on, swipe up on your Apple Watch face to access the Control Center. If you see a crescent moon icon, it means Do Not Disturb is enabled. Simply tap on the moon icon to turn it off.
Another reason for the lack of vibration could be outdated software. If you haven’t updated your Apple Watch or iPhone in a while, the connection between the two devices may fail, resulting in the Apple Watch not vibrating for text messages. It is important to keep both devices updated to the latest software for the best compatibility and performance. To update your Apple Watch, ensure that it is connected to Wi-Fi and has at least 50% battery life. Then, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to the My Watch tab, and select General > Software Update. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install any available updates.
It is also worth checking your notification settings on both your iPhone and Apple Watch. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and scroll down to the Messages app. Make sure that the “Allow Notifications” option is enabled and that you have selected the desired alert style (e.g., banners, alerts, or none). On your Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to the My Watch tab, and select Notifications. Ensure that the “Mirror iPhone” option is enabled for the Messages app. This will ensure that the notification settings on your Apple Watch match those on your iPhone.
If you have checked all of the above settings and your Apple Watch is still not vibrating for text messages, there may be a hardware issue. In such cases, it is recommended to contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for further assistance. They can help diagnose any potential hardware problems and provide appropriate solutions.
In my personal experience, I have encountered situations where my Apple Watch was not vibrating for text messages. One time, I had accidentally turned on the Do Not Disturb feature without realizing it. After checking the Control Center and disabling Do Not Disturb, the vibration for text messages resumed. Another time, my Apple Watch was not vibrating due to a software issue. I had not updated my devices for a while, and after installing the latest software updates, the vibration functionality was restored. These experiences highlight the importance of checking both settings and software updates to resolve such issues.