Lock your iPhone, unlock your Apple Watch while wearing it, and ask someone to send a test message. An unlocked iPhone normally gets the alert itself. If the watch still stays quiet, check its Notification Center, connection, Focus, and settings for the app.
01Check whether the alert arrived quietly
Section linkTouch and hold the top of the watch screen, then swipe down to open Notification Center. If the test message is there, the watch received it. The app may deliver alerts quietly or be temporarily muted. If you find a muted alert, swipe left on it, tap More, and choose Unmute if available.
02If several apps are missing, check the connection and Focus
Section linkPress the side button on your Apple Watch to open Control Center. If the watch shows that it is disconnected, bring the iPhone close and check that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on and Airplane Mode is off on the iPhone. Check Airplane Mode on the watch too. Turn off Do Not Disturb for the test if it is active, and make sure the watch is unlocked. If third-party apps are affected, confirm that the paired iPhone has a network connection.
03If only one app is missing, check its watch settings
Section linkOn your iPhone, open the Watch app and go to My Watch → Notifications. For an app set to Mirror my iPhone, check that the app can send alerts in the iPhone notification settings. If the app has Custom options, choose Allow Notifications for an alert on the watch. Send to Notification Center delivers it quietly. For an app that only has a switch under Mirror iPhone Alerts From, turn on its switch.
04Repeat the test with a fresh alert
Section linkSend a new message with the phone locked and the watch unlocked. If several apps still fail and the devices keep disconnecting, restart both devices and check the connection again. If the failure is limited to a single app, note whether a fresh alert appears on the phone, the watch, or neither before contacting the app developer.