Troubleshooting & FAQ

Something not working? Start here. Most issues are quick fixes.

Can’t Connect to Home Assistant

Check the basics first:

Your URL should match exactly what you type in your browser — including http:// vs https:// and the port number
Your iPhone needs to be on the same Wi-Fi as your HA server for local connections
Try the IP address directly if homeassistant.local doesn’t work (e.g., http://192.168.1.100:8123)
Make sure port 8123 isn’t blocked by a firewall
Using Nabu Casa? Make sure your subscription is active and remote UI is enabled

SSL errors? Self-signed certificates need to be trusted on your iPhone first: Settings > General > About > Certificate Trust Settings.

“Auth failed” on watch? Your access token is invalid or expired. Open the iPhone app and paste a new one from Home Assistant.

Watch Not Connecting Directly

The watch needs to be on the same Wi-Fi as HA (or use Nabu Casa). Check that Server Mode is set to Auto or Local. Some networks isolate devices on different VLANs — make sure the watch can actually reach your HA server.

If direct connection isn’t available, the watch falls back to iPhone relay automatically.

Connection Keeps Dropping

Weak Wi-Fi is the usual culprit. Move closer to your router or add a mesh node. If you see frequent reconnects, bump up the Delta Timeout in Settings (try 35s or 45s).

The connection dot on the watch tells you what’s happening: green = good, orange = degraded, red = offline.

Tiles Not Updating or Showing “Unavailable”

Not updating? Check the connection dot is green. Try closing and reopening the watch app. Make sure the entity still exists in HA.

“Unavailable”? That’s Home Assistant saying the physical device is offline or the integration needs reloading. Fix it on the HA side.

Layout Not Syncing

Open the iPhone app — syncing happens when it’s active. Make sure your watch and phone are connected (check the Watch app). Toggling any setting forces a sync.

Watch App Feels Slow

Split big pages — Pages with 20+ tiles are heavy. Use multiple smaller pages.
Lower camera refresh — Camera tiles use the most resources.
Ease up on animations — Lots of continuous animations on one page adds up.
Restart the app — Long sessions can accumulate memory pressure.

Can’t Find an Entity

Make sure it exists and isn’t hidden or disabled in Home Assistant. Pull down to refresh the entity list. Try browsing by domain instead of searching.

Gestures Not Working

Motion gestures — Check sensitivity isn’t Off. Start with High to confirm it works, then lower it. Make deliberate, quick wrist twists. Only works when the app is active.

Hand gestures — Requires Series 9, Ultra 2, or newer. Make sure the action isn’t set to Disabled.

Complications Showing Stale Data

Complications refresh on a schedule (default 15 minutes). Tap one to force a live update. watchOS limits how often they can actually refresh — that’s an Apple restriction, not us.

Control Center widgets not showing? Requires watchOS 26+. Swipe up → scroll down → Edit to add them.

Camera Issues

Black or won’t load? Check the camera works in HA directly. Try switching Stream Mode to Polling. Cameras work best on Wi-Fi.

Choppy? Use a slower refresh rate (3–5 seconds) and try Polling mode. Check your Wi-Fi signal.

FAQ

Does it need internet? Not for local connections. If your phone and HA are on the same network, no internet needed.

Can I use it without my iPhone nearby? Yes — if your watch has Wi-Fi or cellular and can reach HA directly or through Nabu Casa.

Does it drain watch battery? Normal use has minimal impact. Fast camera refresh, lots of animations, and high gesture sensitivity use more.

How many devices can I add? No limit, but 20+ tiles per page gets cramped. Spread them across pages.

Is my data sent anywhere? No. The app talks directly to your HA server. Anonymous analytics (PostHog) can be opted out of. See Privacy Policy.

What watches are supported? Any Apple Watch on watchOS 10+. Hand gestures need Series 9/Ultra 2+. Action Button is Ultra-only. Control Center widgets need watchOS 26+.

Can I use Siri? Yes — toggle devices, run scenes, set brightness, check states, and more. See Siri Shortcuts.

Can I back up my layout? Yes — export to a file, sync with iCloud, or share with family. See Backup & Restore.

Does it work with Nabu Casa? Yes. Enter your Nabu Casa remote URL as the server address. Make sure your subscription is active and remote UI is enabled.

Can I send voice announcements? Yes — use TTS quick actions for pre-set messages or Voice Broadcast to record and play live audio on your speakers.

Can I control devices based on my room? Yes — set up a room sensor and WristAssistant can auto-switch pages as you walk between rooms, or use Compass Control to point at a device and twist to toggle it.