Apple Watch won't show in device list on Xcode after 10.4 upgrade

Developer Tools & Services Xcode
cmmmmmmmmmm OP
Created Mar ’24
Replies 23
Boosts 12
Views 5.8k
Participants 18

Hello,

The Apple Watch's connectivity to Xcode has always been finicky. Sometimes it would start doing "transport errors" and you'd have to repair the watch/phone to xcode to resolve it. Now after the 10.4 upgrade, it seems that there are cases where the watch doesn't even show in the device list. Here's what I've observed:

  • The watch will connect the first time you launch xcode(after 10.4 install or a new restore).
  • If you unpair the watch, it will never show in the device list again. This is despite any remediation efforts, such as unpairing the phone from xcode, restarting the watch/phone, and clearing trusted devices.
  • Erasing the watch and restoring it will allow it to connect again to xcode, but only if you never unpair it. If you unpair the watch, it will repeat the behavior of not showing in the device list again.

So, the only solution is to erase/restore the watch to get it to show in the device list on xcode. Every single time.

Again, this is new behavior for Watch OS 10.4

Replies  23
Boosts  12
Views  5.8k
Participants  18
cmmmmmmmmmm OP
Mar ’24

Checking the console, it says the watch is waiting to accept the Trust dialogue box click. It's not showing up on my watch screen! This is new in 10.4!! Please fix!!!

0
Visiono OP
Mar ’24

I am also unable to see the apple watch in xcode's devices. I have tried everything to resolve this but so far no luck.

0
dmorneault OP
Mar ’24

I also cannot connect my watch to Xcode after updating to watchOS 10.4, Rebooted clean install, nothing helps. Feedback filed - FB13688287

1
cmmmmmmmmmm OP
Mar ’24

I submitted feedback as well for this.

0
Visiono OP
Mar ’24

My current workaround is to use XCode Cloud and use Testflight (internal Testing). This way I can build my app, install via testflight, and test it on the apple watch.

It is not perfect, but it will work well with the watch and you can test on device.

Hope Apple is addressing this soon!

0
cmmmmmmmmmm OP
Mar ’24

This might be fixed now. I updated to IOS 17.4.1, and updated xcode to 15.3, and now the watch is in the device list again. I dare not unpair it to test. But hopefully optimistic.

0
enquora OP
Mar ’24

Not resolved on this machine with watchOS 10.4, iOS 17.4.1, Xcode 15.3, macOS 14.4.

Watch was originally in run destinations list but removed, along with three iOS devices (including the paired iPhone), while attempting to resolve connection issues with all. iOS connection issues resolved by temporarily disabling VPN - see TN3158.

Watch no longer appears as candidate in run destinations management window (after manually removing in preparation to re-add).

Next beta releases of Xcode and OSs are uncharacteristically slow appearing - presume Apple is scrambling to fix what is not a small problem.

@eskimo has several threads communicating problem, but no mention of the Watch connection issue - suspect it is related but its own issue.

TestFlight appears the best workaround until this is resolved.

1
zahid-58 OP
Mar ’24

I am currently working on an app development for my Apple Watch in connection with my bachelor thesis, and currently I cannot do anything to test and develop my app. Keep getting an error like Transport error or connecting, preparing forever. In rare cases, the connection works and I can build my app on the watch. But on the 2nd attempt, the connection is no longer there. My Apple Watch is not provided with a code to unlock.

Restarting Mac, iPhone, Apple Watch and Xcode only help in rare cases. It can't be that I have to restart my devices again and again. VPN is also not active. Unfortunately, I have no idea why all this is happening. I've just done a clean installation of Xcode, erased the Watch and so on, but it's impossible that the Watch is showing again in Xcode. Please fix this Apple ASAP..

Apple Watch Series 9: watchOS 10.4

iPhone 15 pro: IOS 17.4.1

MacBook Pro M1 Pro: Sonoma 14.4

Xcode: 15.3

0
guenthereder OP
Apr ’24

I have the same issue, could not test watch app via Xcode, removed watch and device list no longer shows the watch neither was a popup on my watch.

Devices: MacBook Pro M1 Pro 14.4.1 Xcode 15.3 iPhone 15 Pro 17.4.1 Apple Watch 10.4

1
dbelcastro OP
Apr ’24

Also submitted a feedback ticket: FB13713179

Has anyone figured out a workaround besides the Xcode Cloud + Testflght approach?

0
dmorneault OP
Apr ’24

This does not appear to be fixed in watchOS 10.5, at least my watch is not appearing in Xcode after upgrading. I did get the Trust prompt on my watch which is an improvement.

0
bobcine OP
Apr ’24

Also on MacBook Pro M1 Pro 14.4.1, XCode 15.3, iPhone 14 Pro 17.4.1, Apple Watch 10.4. Also have tried all resets, restores, clean install of watchOS 3x and I cannot get XCode to see the watch at all.

In Devices and Simulators, I can only see iPhone. No Apple Watch is even present.

In my macOS Console, I can see the Device listed, but I cannot read any messages due to Warning Symbol. I suspect it is waiting for "Trust This Computer" prompt which never shows up on Apple Watch.

0
bishnudev OP
Apr ’24

Tried everything, from resetting the apple watch twice, removing and installing xcode, removing trusted devices from iphone and watch and repeating the whole process but it didn't help. all devices are up to date.

1
antonmedstorta OP
Apr ’24

I have the same issue. Cannot even see the watch listed when I use xcrun devicectl list devices in the Terminal. Tried unpairing the Watch from my iPhone and pairing it again, cleaning out all sorts of caches, turning on and off developer mode. watchOS 10.4, Xcode 15.3 (15.2 doesn't work either).

0
enquora OP
Apr ’24

Xcode 15.4 beta 1 and WatchOS 10.5 betas do not fix.

0
Apple Watch won't show in device list on Xcode after 10.4 upgrade
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