Level 1

15 points

"Notify When Left Behind" not working on my iPhone and Apple Watch

"notify when left behind" does not vibrate my watch. It used to work with my old series 4, but it seems like my new series 9 will not. When left behind, I can see the little symbol that my phone is no longer with me, but there's never a notification. I've tested it several times to make sure, and do not feel any vibration, nor do I see any kind of popup. (I have all of my notifications in vibration mode, sound turned off).

Things I've already tried:

I am sharing my location. Under the Find My app, I've tried turning "notify when left behind" off and back on again just to see if I can "jog" it into working again. I even restarted my phone and watch between each step each time. I've done this a few times.

Twice, I've unpaired my apple watch and restored it completely from scratch (not from backup). My phone and watch working together properly in all of the other ways, and I am getting notifications from other apps (messages, alarms, etc).

I'm all out of ideas!

Iphone 13 Mini and Apple Watch Series 9 (non cellular version), both up to date with their OS.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: "Notify When Left Behind" not working

Apple Watch Series 9

Posted on Aug 15, 2025 02:58 PM

28 replies

LD150

Level 10

95,649 points

Aug 25, 2025 12:04 PM in response to 6x6

6x6 wrote:

LD150 wrote:

Are you testing this at home, and is your hone an “exception”? It would be by default.

Hello LD150, I was looking at my own settings and Home is indeed added as an exception but I can’t find a way to remove it (it’s grayed out). Is there a way to remove Home from the exceptions?

I cannot find a way to erase Home, can only erase holiday locations I added because use I always left my ipad there on day trips.

LD150

Level 10

95,649 points

Aug 25, 2025 12:22 PM in response to LD150

Quite honestly if I was still working I would like to know if I left my phone or watch at home! All devices in Find My seem to have slightly different options. Cannot turn Notify when left behind for my gps-only Watch from the phone. But can set it for my phone from my watch, but not at home. Barmy.

brbo

Level 8

38,137 points

Aug 25, 2025 02:53 PM in response to nerdybird

From a reply in the linked thread you kindly provided:

Wondering if you also checked on iPhone just what you have set in Settings > [your name] > Find My

Look under "My location" and if not chosen try setting "This Device and cellular Apple Watches"

nerdybird Author

Level 1

15 points

Aug 25, 2025 04:19 PM in response to LD150

LD150 wrote:

Are you testing this at home, and is your hone an “exception”? It would be by default.

nope, I'm testing it out in the world. I leave it in my car and go into a large store for about 30 minutes. stores large enough that it's definitely well over 1/4 mile.

my home is not set up as an exception (nor are any other locations).

nerdybird Author

Level 1

15 points

Aug 18, 2025 08:55 AM in response to brbo

I already said I tried those things in my original post.

Aug 20, 2025 03:48 PM in response to brbo

I changed to “All Notifications”. Maybe that will change things. I get no alerts on the Watch of separated from my iPhone

nerdybird Author

Level 1

15 points

Aug 20, 2025 04:01 PM in response to Doctorpee

what do you mean by "all notifications", and where do you find that setting?

BobHarris

Level 9

56,495 points

Aug 20, 2025 06:58 PM in response to 6x6

I have a GPS only. So it could be time related, as I take a walk.

But my wife has a cellular Apple Watch, and she gets a left behind notice at more or less the same distance.

nerdybird Author

Level 1

15 points

Aug 21, 2025 09:05 AM in response to Doctorpee

that was already on, but thanks anyway!

LD150

Level 10

95,649 points

Aug 21, 2025 09:18 AM in response to nerdybird

read my post

Aug 25, 2025 09:28 AM in response to nerdybird

My Apple Watch has cell phone service. Still no notifications

LD150

Level 10

95,649 points

Aug 25, 2025 11:20 AM in response to nerdybird

Are you testing this at home, and is your hone an “exception”? It would be by default.

Aug 25, 2025 04:14 PM in response to nerdybird

checked that too and it is on. Everything would indicate it should work but it doesn’t. There is no “Find My” app on my watch face. We need Apple to explain this.

"Notify When Left Behind" not working on my iPhone and Apple Watch