Direct answer
Notifications normally go to iPhone when it is unlocked and to Apple Watch when the phone is locked and the watch is worn/unlocked. Focus, app mirroring and connection state can change routing.
What this covers
- The observed symptom matches this record
- Customer-accessible settings, connections and external components
- Diagnosis before reset, deletion or component replacement
What it does not cover
- ×A model-specific error code with a different documented meaning
- ×Internal electrical, battery-cell, gas, refrigeration or sealed-component repair
- ×A guarantee that every model exposes the same control label
Capture the exact symptom
ReversibleLock the iPhone, wear/unlock the watch and send a test while checking Focus and connection icons.
Run the smallest isolation test
ReversibleVerify the app’s iPhone notification permission and Watch notification mirror/custom setting.
Correct only the proven cause
ReversibleReconnect/restart both devices and correct the one Focus or app rule that blocks the alert.
Verify before changing anything else
ReversibleTest with phone locked and unlocked so expected routing is clear.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Visible sources support the visible claims. Home Product Support records the publisher, the fact used and the review date; community reports can suggest an issue but do not become a published fact on their own.
Exact questions
Common follow-ups
What should I check before resetting anything?+
Lock the iPhone, wear/unlock the watch and send a test while checking Focus and connection icons.
What is the safest isolation test?+
Verify the app’s iPhone notification permission and Watch notification mirror/custom setting.
When should I stop troubleshooting?+
Do not unpair first; unpairing can remove unsynced data and requires backup/restoration.
Answer for the exact device and software version shown above.