Apple Watch: app is not downloading over WiFi

[pocketcasts]

Issue

A user is unable to get the Watch app to download over wifi when iPhone is in airplane mode. They have the most recent iOS and Watch versions (iPhone 12 and Apple Watch 6). They have tried signing out of the phone app, then back in, restarting the Watch, and left charging > 20 minutes.

Some additional information from this user:

I have a new watch now, still doesn’t work.

I am trying to use W as play source (I use this while running and not carrying a phone.).

The phone is in airplane mode when I try direct download to watch.

Podcasts will load to watch when phone is on, albeit quite slowly. I presume that is through Bluetooth.

This is a feature that used to work and that I used regularly. I find it’s disappearance frustrating.

[rviljoen]

Couple of notes:

• Putting the phone in airplane mode does not disable Bluetooth on the phone
• Switching off Bluetooth via control centre does not disconnect the watch either
• You have to go to Settings->Bluetooth and toggle it off there to disconnect the watch. Alternatively, you can switch off Bluetooth on the watch directly under Settings->Bluetooth (scroll to bottom)

Once done, user can confirm that watch is connected via WiFi by looking at the watch control centre and looking for the WiFi icon. Downloads should be much quicker over WiFi. I use this method often and can confirm that it is still working in latest versions of WatchOS (9.3) and Pocket Casts (7.30).