No or Unreliable iMessage Notification Sound - Watch, iMac, iPad

I think I have found a partial answer.

When I have my iPad open, I do not get notifications on my Watch. And I have notifications turned off on the iPad for Messages. I turned notifications on for the iPad. I still don't get notifications on my Watch, but I do on the iPad.

When my iMac is up and operating, I no longer get notifications on my Watch. But I do on the iMac. The problem is that I might be playing music on the iMac and not hear the message. Or, the iMac might be crunching something and I leave it on and walk away. When I am still in the same area, the notification occurs on the iMac, and not on my Watch.

How can I insure that I have notifications occur on the Watch regardless of whether my iPad or iMac are on?

mingoslkd wrote:

Keep in mind, with an Apple Watch, you will get a notification on either the iPhone or watch, not both. The notification you think is being missed on the watch, could be on your iPhone, if it is not locked and/or dimmed.

Thanks. I am aware of that we only get one notification and think it is an unfortunate decision by Apple - not that my opinion does any good.

I am not sure what is happening, but we both have the notification set to go on the watch. If it occurs on the watch, we sometimes do not see it nor hear it.

I just saw a Message from a friend that was sent three days ago. I never saw nor heard a notification.

If this continues, we may have to remove Message notifications from the Watch, which removes some of the advantage of purchasing an Apple Watch.

As for the volume for your Apple Watch when a notification is sent to your watch, this page has how to adjust the volume:

Change the audio and notification settings on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

That page also shows how to set the haptic alert to "Prominent", which may also help.

How to manage Apple Watch Haptic Alerts

1. Open the Settings app. 

2. Scroll down and tap Sounds & Haptics.

3. Turn Haptic Alerts on or off.

Thank you. We have done all of that and have the watch alerts at full volume and a prominent haptic alert, plus repeat once (total of two notifications).

If you're wearing your Apple Watch and you don't feel a tap as you adjust the slider, contact Apple Support. For the best haptic results, the back of your Apple Watch needs skin contact. Use a snug, but comfortable fit. 

Take care!

We have the watches with fairly snug skin contact - almost have to or else the watch does not stay unlocked.

Yesterday, we both installed another Watch software update. Have done the same on our iPads, iPhones and the iMac. We have also rebooted them, which sometimes may (or may not) help.

Thanks again for your help.

To clarify, is this specifically and only Messages? For example, do you consistently receive notifications for 3rd party apps or other apps like Calendar or Mail regardless of your setup?

Everything else seems to work. When I get a phone call, it rings on four devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad and Watch). Emails work across devices. Even Messages appear on all three devices. It is the lack of any notification on occasion.

Regarding your other devices, it is expected for notifications to either show on Apple Watch OR your iPhone, but not both. If your Apple Watch is unlocked and on your wrist, and your iPhone display is off or locked, notifications go to your watch. However, if your iPhone display is on, notifications will come to your iPhone instead.

It does seem to be related to this design decision. We can usually, but not always, hear the watch when notifications occurs. But, am guessing, we receive no notification at all when the iPad and/or Mac is also on. Am thinking that may occur when we have turned down the volume on those devices.

As a result, I frequently miss iMessage alerts as does my wife. We only find out about the iMessage if we look at our device(s).

Thanks. So if we have message notifications enabled on our Watch, and our iPad or Mac is on, the sound notification will occur on the iPad or Mac?

If so, how do we force the notification to occur on the Watch? Yet still be able to respond to Messages on an iPad or Mac?

Having a banner appear, then disappear on a Watch only works if we are looking at it. Same on the iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Yes, I realize that having the sound turned down would prevent us hearing a notification. But that would not be an issue if the sound notification occurred reliably on the Watch.