The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →In September 2023, some Apple Watch users found that Weather complications showed blank data or “— —” even though the Weather app itself still displayed weather normally. The reports involved watchOS 10.0 and 10.0.1. Apple’s two suggested remedies both reset Weather-related location permissions, but start with the narrower option before using the broader reset.
What was broken?
The problem affected the Weather information displayed directly on some watch faces. Conditions, temperature and precipitation complications could show no data, commonly appearing as two dashes. Tapping the complication could still open the Weather app and show current conditions.
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That distinction matters. If the app works but the complication is blank, the likely problem is with complication refreshing or location-permission state rather than a complete Weather-service outage. This is an interpretation of the reported symptoms, not a confirmed root cause from Apple.
Contemporary reports associated the issue with watchOS 10.0 and 10.0.1 and described it as affecting a significant number of users, but not every Apple Watch owner. The available reporting identifies affected software versions rather than a definitive list of watch models. Check your own version under Settings > General > Software Update on the watch, or in the Watch app under General > Software Update on the iPhone. (Contemporary report)
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Apple’s user guide confirms that Weather data and complications depend on Location Services, and that available complication types vary by watch face and software. (Apple Watch user guide; Weather complications guide)
Fix 1: refresh Weather’s location permission
This is the least disruptive option because it changes permission for Weather rather than resetting privacy settings for every app.
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- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
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- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
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- On the paired iPhone, open Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security, then Location Services.
- Scroll down and tap Weather.
- Choose Never.
- Change the setting back to the permission you used previously—typically While Using the App or Widgets, or the equivalent label shown on your iPhone.
- Return to the watch face and wait for the complication to repopulate.
Permission labels can differ slightly between iOS versions. The important step is to revoke Weather’s location access temporarily, then restore it. Apple documents Weather’s use of Location Services and the app-specific permission path in its privacy guidance. (Apple: Location Services and privacy)
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Fix 2: reset Location & Privacy
If changing Weather’s permission does not help, Apple’s second recommendation is a broader settings reset:
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- Open Settings on the iPhone.
- Tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- Choose Reset Location & Privacy.
- Enter the iPhone passcode if prompted.
- Grant location and privacy permissions again when apps request them.
- Check the Weather complication on the Apple Watch.
This does not erase your photos, apps or other iPhone content. However, it clears previously granted location and privacy permissions. Apps that depend on location may stop working fully until you open them and approve their requests again. That broader impact is why this should be the second step, not the first. (Apple’s explanation of the reset)
Before using the broader reset
Try these lower-risk checks first:
- Confirm that Location Services is enabled on the iPhone and Apple Watch.
- Make sure the iPhone has an internet connection and the watch is connected to the iPhone or a usable network.
- Restart both devices.
- Install the latest compatible iOS and watchOS updates.
- Remove the Weather complication from the face and add it again.
- Test the same complication on another watch face.
The remove-and-re-add step is general troubleshooting, not one of Apple’s two documented remedies.
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- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Unofficial workaround: change the time format
Contemporary user reports said that switching between 12-hour and 24-hour time helped some people. It was not one of Apple’s two official fixes, so treat it as an optional, reversible workaround rather than a guaranteed solution.
In the watchOS 10-era Watch app interface:
- Open the Watch app on the iPhone.
- Tap Clock.
- Toggle 24-Hour Time.
- Wait for the watch to synchronize, then check the complication.
- Restore your preferred setting if necessary.
The exact menu presentation may vary with later iOS and watchOS releases. (Source of the user-reported workaround)
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- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Use the symptoms to choose the next step
| What you see | What to try |
|---|---|
| The Weather app works, but the complication is blank | Refresh Weather’s location permission, then restart and update both devices. |
| The Weather app also lacks local weather | Check Location Services, internet connectivity and the watch’s connection to the iPhone. |
| Only one watch face is affected | Confirm it uses Apple’s Weather complication, check that the slot supports the selected metric, and try removing and re-adding it. |
| Several location-based apps stop working after the reset | Open each app and regrant the location permission it needs. |
| The issue continues across faces and current software | Contact Apple Support after documenting the watchOS and iOS versions and the troubleshooting steps already attempted. |
Did watchOS 10.1 fix the problem?
Apple’s watchOS 10.1 release notes mention a fix for cities failing to synchronize between the iPhone and Apple Watch in Weather. They do not explicitly identify that change as a fix for every blank Weather-complication report. It is therefore inaccurate to claim that watchOS 10.1 definitively resolved the exact problem described in September 2023. (Apple’s watchOS 10 release notes)
If you still encounter similar symptoms, update both devices to the latest compatible software available for them. The original reports are historical; the available evidence does not establish that the same defect remains widespread in 2026.
Quick Recap
The practical order to follow
- Verify Location Services and connectivity.
- Temporarily set Weather’s location permission to Never, then restore it.
- Restart and update the iPhone and Apple Watch.
- Try another face or re-add the complication.
- Use Reset Location & Privacy only if the narrower fix fails, then reauthorize apps.
- Contact Apple Support if the complication remains blank across faces and current software.
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