Apple Watch pairing error

[JonathanB]

Hi everyone,

We've moved everything relating to Apple Watch pairing issues to this new conversation and will be providing all future updates as edits to this post, so that you won't need to go searching through the comments for these.

I appreciate these pairing errors must be very frustrating, especially for those of you that have been running into issues for several weeks now. Technical specialists are continuing to look into this, however based on what they've seen so far, this does not seem to be one overall fault that we can apply a blanket fix to.

With this in mind, please make sure you have followed the advice on the private message we've sent to each of you, this will ensure that your individual case has been escalated. We've originally sent these messages out a couple of weeks ago, so I'll double check that everyone that has commented has received these. You can find your community messages by clicking on your avatar in the top right of any page, then on "Messages".

Finally, please ensure you are following the Community House Rules when posting on the community, particularly points 8 and 13.

The private message mentioned above will put you in touch with a team that you can raise a complaint with should you wish to do so, any comments that share details of individual Three employees will be removed from the community.

JonathanB

---

**Update 26/10/2022**

Hi everyone,

We really appreciate your patience whilst we've been working on this issue. I can't imagine how frustrating it is to not be able to take full advantage of your Apple watches.

As I mentioned last week above, the errors do not seem to be one overall fault that can be fixed immediately for everyone. We do need a specialist team to do some work in the background on your accounts. With this in mind, I'd advise the following:

• Make sure you've taken any action we've recommended on private messages to your community account. If you're experiencing these issues and we don't already know, please reply on this post so we can reach out.
• Do not repeatedly attempt unpairing and pairing, this may be interfering with the work done in the background. Please wait for a Three representative to contact you and advise before you unpair and pair again.

We've seen some great progress towards getting this sorted in the last few days, I'm hopeful that it won't be too much longer till this issue is fully resolved for everyone.

JonathanB

---

**Update 17/11/2022**

 Hi everyone,

We’re really sorry that there’s been a considerable delay between updates on the errors with Apple watch pairing. As we’ve mentioned previously there is more than one error involved and specialist teams are working hard to address the root causes of these.

I assure you that all comments about this issue are read, and all feedback given is being escalated on a daily basis.

Whilst we’re working on this, we’d be grateful if you can do the following:

• If you’re new to this thread, please either private message me, or add a reply, and I’ll direct you to a team that can help further.
• If I’ve already sent you this information, please ensure you have spoken to that team.
• Please only unpair and re-pair your watch if directed to by one of our support teams as part of the troubleshooting and investigation of your issue.

I’ll provide another update soon.

Thanks,
JonathanB

---

**Update 02/12/2022**

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your continued patience. We’ve seen some great progress towards resolving these issues since the last update. As I’ve mentioned previously there is more than one error involved, and for many of you, your bill cycle will also affect when you can successfully re-pair the service.

Here’s some general steps that should help with common scenarios we’re seeing.

• Ensure that you’ve registered for My3, without a registered online account and password set, the pairing will fail.
• There are some instances where special characters at the start of My3 passwords have resulted in an error. We recommend that you have a strong password that is a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters but avoid beginning the password with characters like /!”£$|\. My3 supports these, but it seems to be causing an issue when this info is passed onto the smartwatch pairing system.
• If you’ve changed your priceplan, upgraded, or are instructed to wait for your bill cycle to complete, you should wait till the day after your new bill cycle starts to attempt pairing. So for example, if your allowances refresh on the 1st, wait till the 2nd.
• Although individual smartwatches can be unpaired from your account, cancelling or removing the add on completely will delay being able to reinstate the service till the following bill cycle.
• As mentioned before, don’t repeatedly unpair and re-pair, the failed requests may cause further issues on your account that delay this being solved.
• I’m continuing to regularly check for anyone new on the thread, just send a reply or private message me, and I’ll link you in with a support team that can help get your specific error looked into and make sure you get the best advice.

Thanks,
JonathanB

---

**Update 11/01/2023**

Hi Everyone,

As well as the steps on the last update, we're finding it helps to clear your temporary data from your iPhone before attempting pairing.

You can do this in Settings, Safari, Clear History & Website Data.

In case anyone is having trouble finding their private messages, click on your avatar image in the top right of any community page, then "Messages". If you've posted on this thread, then you should have a message waiting from me with a link to a support team that will help.

Thanks,
JonathanB

[hamid786uk]

@gbailey141 - So the moderators are not radio silent after all, just seem to be ignoring us all on this chat forum.  I have noticed some comments on a duplicate chat forum and responses from Thursday last week.

clearly, we are no longer important. 

[moostone]

Well I used to be with three for many many years and was always good but moved away as there was no Apple Watch support but my contract was up so decided to come back and I wish I hadn’t I was with EE, my watch and subsequent new ones were never a problem at all, but after the merry go round of support chats and doing as others have with re boots, the un pairing so many times, all I ended up with is a phone with me all the time and the E53305 error when I try to pair..

after reading this thread it looks like I may be without a fully cellular watch for some to come..

[moostone]

Well my billing date has passed and I’m now back to “ there a problem” message so looks like it’s not improving so time to get comfortable and cAll support again 🥺

[hamid786uk]

Hs anyone had much communication from Moderators on this forum or Three UK.  They have gone completely radio silence on me now 😆 

[Ashasg03]

Last response was 26/10 looks like they given up hope too

[Gary]

Please help I called a few times but to still not be paired I’ve talk to Apple as said it was there issue but I’m told after going through everything it’s not a.fault with them I spoke to three again and they said the same problem solving steps again and I’m sorry I still can’t pIr E53305 again and now it just says there’s a problem and close all on a three logo page can anyone please help my pairing is active on my account and it’s been over a week now 

[Marteymcfly73]

Gary,

I sincerely hope Three help you on this but if you check through these posts, apart from Mez who seemed to strike it lucky, you’ll be waiting some time I’m afraid.

the issue is indeed carrier end and not Apple. Their customer support team advise that they cannot run diagnostics on something that is not actually active on the Watch. The fact it will say no sim plan and not connected shows this.

I am due my final call back after several weeks of nonsense this Friday where no doubt I will have to unpair and re pair my Watch for a 5th time only for it not to work and I’ll then subsequently cancel the add on.

if for whatever reason a miracle occurs I will update all on here as to what happened.

cheers

[Ashasg03]

Nearly 2 months later and same waffle from three, absolute joke. If this isn't sorted my next billing cycle 25/11 I will be leaving 

[Clever-Trevor]

I too having this problem - despite trying - I get the ‘already paired’ error & am totally stuck! ( I did also try an O2 sim & works fine to add on their network - so is something with Three. The pain for me is it was working until I updated ( renewed ) my contract & the watch add-on was removed & now cannot get it restored - h-e-l-p 

[SteveH]

Hi - I am struggling to get my watch onto cellular - It was stuck showing activating, and I have been told to unpair it and rest it, and I am now getting the E53305 error (already have a paired device), so if anyone can help as I am struggling with Three support.