You can use your iPhone when typing something on your Apple Watch.
However, getting an input notification for no reason can be annoying. Sadly, this is one of the issues Apple Watch users experience.
If you’re one of them, I’ve got you covered.
Before You Proceed: Restart Your Watch
You might have accidentally initiated a text message or opened a text field on your watch but didn’t finish, leaving the keyboard notification lingering.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Press and hold the Side button until the slider appears.
- Drag the slider to the right or until the screen turns off.
- Wait 20 to 30 seconds to ensure your watch is fully turned off.
- Press the Side button until your watch turns on.
Wait for your Apple Watch to boot up.
1. Refresh the Connection
A bug or error on your iPhone or Apple Watch may have caused the persistent keyboard notification.
You can refresh the connection between devices by unpairing and pairing them back.
- Hold your devices close to each other.
- Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- Access the My Watch tab and tap on All Watches.
- Now, tap the (i) button next to the watch you want to unpair.
- Tap the Unpair Apple Watch option.
- Confirm your action by tapping Unpair (Your Apple Watch Name).
- For GPS/Cellular models, you can choose whether to keep or remove your cellular plan.
- Provide your Apple ID password to disable the Activation Lock.
Wait at least five minutes before pairing your watch again.
Note
Your iPhone automatically creates a backup of your Apple Watch that you can use to restore a new Apple Watch.
2. Turn Off Apple Watch Keyboard Notification
If you still see the input notification on your iPhone, you can disable notifications for the keyboard.
This might be a bug within watchOS that Apple has yet to address.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Now, go to Notifications > Apple Watch Keyboard.
- Disable the Allow Notifications option.
Note
Turning off keyboard notifications means you won’t receive input notifications even when you need the feature.
3. Update Your Device
You can try updating your Apple Watch and iPhone if you still encounter the persistent keyboard notification.
This rules out any errors within the OS that may have caused the problem.
To update your Apple Watch:
- Make sure that your watch is connected to Wi-Fi.
- Now, open the Settings app.
- Go to General > Software Update.
- Tap Install if new software is available.
Note
- Leave your Apple Watch on its charger while updating.
- Don’t restart or turn off your Apple Watch during the update.
- When the update completes, your Apple Watch will automatically restart.
To update your iPhone:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Navigate to General > Software Update.
- If there’s a new iOS version available, tap Download and Install.
- Once the new software is ready, follow the prompts to install the update.
Note
- Your device can restart several times while installing the update.
- Ensure your iPhone has at least 50% battery before installing updates. It’s best to keep your device plugged into the wall charger to avoid interruptions.
- Allow at least 15 minutes for the update to install, especially if it’s a major update (iOS 14 to iOS 15).
To avoid missing future updates, enable automatic updates on your iPhone:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Go to General > Software Update > Automatic Updates.
- Enable Download iOS Updates and Install iOS Updates.
FAQs
How do I turn off keyboard input notifications on Apple Watch?
To turn off keyboard input notifications on your Apple Watch, you need to:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Access the Notifications tab.
- Tap on Apple Watch Keyboard.
- Disable the toggle switch next to Allow Notifications.
How do I get keyboard typing on Apple Watch?
If you use watchOS 8 or later, the keyboard feature is enabled by default. Simply tap on a text field to bring up the keyboard. You can download a third-party keyboard if you have an older Apple Watch.
Does the Apple Watch Series 7 have a keyboard?
Yes. Apple Watch Series 7, Series 8, and Ultra have a keyboard in Messages. Apple Watch SE and Series 6 and earlier do not support the keyboard feature.
Why doesn’t my Apple Watch have a keyboard for texting?
If you can’t see a keyboard on your Apple Watch when texting, you are likely using an earlier version of watchOS or an older watch series. Only the Series 7, 8, and Ultra support keyboard typing in Messages.
Why do I keep getting an Apple Watch keyboard notification?
You keep getting an Apple Watch keyboard input notification because your watch has an open text field. Try to scroll through the apps to check.
