iPhone and Apple Watch ringing for calls when iPhone is locked

I have a question for you, because I don't know if I'm missing something. For a long time, my phone has been on silent, so only the AW ringing. Today I turned on the sound and was surprised that both the iPhone and the AW ring when the phone was locked. I thought it used to be that when the iPhone was locked, the AW would ring, and when it was unlocked, the sound would come from the iPhone. Could you tell me if I have something wrong with my settings or what's going on? Regarding the SMS sound, it's normal; when the phone is locked, the sound comes from the AW, and when it's unlocked, it comes from the iPhone. Can someone help me change this so that the same rule applies to calls? 🙏


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Call notification sound

Posted on Aug 3, 2025 09:39 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 3, 2025 10:44 AM

Bdaviss wrote:

And can't this be changed? Was it ever like I wrote, or am I completely mistaken?

You can change it by going to the Watch app > Selecting your Watch > Scrolling down to Phone > Tap Custom. You can choose to have calls turned off so they only go to your iPhone. You can do the same for your iPhone so they only go to the Apple Watch. I don’t think it’s ever been like that as default, but there are circumstances in which calls will only go to one device, such as if a device is powered off or has no connection, which you may be referencing.

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 3, 2025 10:44 AM in response to Bdaviss

Bdaviss wrote:

And can't this be changed? Was it ever like I wrote, or am I completely mistaken?

You can change it by going to the Watch app > Selecting your Watch > Scrolling down to Phone > Tap Custom. You can choose to have calls turned off so they only go to your iPhone. You can do the same for your iPhone so they only go to the Apple Watch. I don’t think it’s ever been like that as default, but there are circumstances in which calls will only go to one device, such as if a device is powered off or has no connection, which you may be referencing.

Aug 3, 2025 09:47 AM in response to Bdaviss

You’re right for notifications, but it’s a bit different for calls. For calls they go to both the iPhone and Apple Watch. But you’re correct in that notifications go to either one of the devices, never both at the same time. If iPhone is on, notifications go there. Otherwise if iPhone is off, notifications go to the Apple Watch.

Aug 3, 2025 10:11 AM in response to Zachyy

I'm not sure if I understood you correctly. As for both the AW and iPhone showing that someone's calling, that's fine, but for me, when someone calls, the ringtone comes from both the iPhone and the watch. What's even funnier is that I have a different ringtone set on my phone and a different one on my watch, so regardless of whether my phone is locked or unlocked, both the AW and the iPhone make two different sounds when someone calls. I think it used to be that when the iPhone was locked, the ringtone, so to speak, came from the AW, and when it was unlocked, the ringtone came from the iPhone.

Aug 3, 2025 10:13 AM in response to Bdaviss

Bdaviss wrote:

I'm not sure if I understood you correctly. As for both the AW and iPhone showing that someone's calling, that's fine, but for me, when someone calls, the ringtone comes from both the iPhone and the watch. What's even funnier is that I have a different ringtone set on my phone and a different one on my watch, so regardless of whether my phone is locked or unlocked, both the AW and the iPhone make two different sounds when someone calls. I think it used to be that when the iPhone was locked, the ringtone, so to speak, came from the AW, and when it was unlocked, the ringtone came from the iPhone.

What I meant was that yes, calls will go and ring to both iPhone and Apple Watch.

iPhone and Apple Watch ringing for calls when iPhone is locked

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.