Apple Watch and iPhone.
SkyTimer on Apple Watch follows the same trip as your iPhone, or flies on its own when your iPhone isn’t with you. Here’s how they stay in step, and what to do when they don’t.
One trip, two devices
When your iPhone is with you, it runs the trip and Apple Watch works like a second screen and remote control. Start the trip, switch tanks, or answer a reminder on either one, and the iPhone records it. Your iPhone also does the takeoff and landing detection.
| The trip in progress | Kept in step between iPhone and Apple Watch while they’re connected. |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | Sent from your iPhone to the watch. |
| Settings | Fuel, airport, and detection settings come from your iPhone. The watch has a few of its own, such as Classic Flight Screen. |
| Saved trips | Kept in iCloud, so they appear on all your devices. |
| SkyTimer Plus | Your iPhone tells the watch. Subscribe on iPhone and the watch unlocks too. |
Flying with the watch alone
If your iPhone isn’t in reach when you start a trip on Apple Watch, the watch runs the trip itself, including takeoff and landing detection. When your iPhone comes back in reach, the watch hands the trip over once the iPhone confirms it has it.
If your iPhone was running the trip and goes out of range, the watch shows iPhone Out of Range. It doesn’t take over on its own. Tap Continue on Watch to keep flying from the watch, or Exit Timer to leave the trip on your iPhone.
If you end a trip on the watch while your iPhone is away, the watch waits about 90 seconds for it, then saves the trip itself.
What the messages mean
| SYNCING | You made a change on the watch and it’s waiting for your iPhone to confirm it. |
|---|---|
| Not Confirmed Yet | Your iPhone hasn’t confirmed the change after 30 seconds. The watch updates when it does. |
| Change Not Made | The change didn’t go through, for example because the connection dropped or the trip changed on your iPhone first. The watch shows the iPhone’s trip. Check it and try again. |
| iPhone Out of Range | The watch lost your iPhone during a trip it was running. Bring them together, or tap Continue on Watch. |
| Finalizing on Phone | You ended the trip on the watch and your iPhone is waiting for the meter readings. Finish on the iPhone, or tap Cancel Finalization. |
| Trip Save Failed | Your trip is still there. Tap Retry Save. If it keeps failing, contact support with the code shown. |
Settings
On your iPhone, Settings › Apple Watch shows whether the watch app is installed and reachable, and has a Test Watch Connection button. Keep SkyTimer open on the watch while you test.
To use the SkyTimer 2.5 flight screen with the tank arcs, turn on Classic Flight Screen in SkyTimer’s settings on the watch. On iPhone it’s in Settings › Display.
Something’s wrong
If the watch isn’t showing your flight
Go through these in order.
1Is SkyTimer open on the watch?
Open SkyTimer on Apple Watch. When it opens, it joins the trip running on your iPhone.
2Are your iPhone and watch connected?
Keep them close, with Bluetooth on. When they reconnect, the watch catches up with the trip on its own.
3Does the connection test pass?
On iPhone, go to Settings › Apple Watch and tap Test with SkyTimer open on the watch. If Watch App Installed shows ✗, install SkyTimer on the watch from the Watch app on your iPhone.
4Are both apps up to date?
Settings › Apple Watch shows the watch app’s version. Update SkyTimer on both devices so they match.
5Does the watch show PLUS where your fuel should be?
Fuel tracking on the watch needs SkyTimer Plus, and the watch learns your Plus status from your iPhone. Open SkyTimer on your iPhone so it can tell the watch.
Still stuck? Send a diagnostic log. It includes the watch’s log too.
Questions about Apple Watch
Something else? Send us a message.
Can I fly with only my Apple Watch?
Yes. Start the trip on the watch when your iPhone isn’t in reach, and the watch runs it, including takeoff and landing detection. Your iPhone takes over when it comes back in reach.
Do I need SkyTimer Plus on Apple Watch?
The timers work without it. Fuel tracking, reminders, and automatic takeoff and landing need Plus. Subscribe in SkyTimer on your iPhone and the watch unlocks too.
Can I turn off watch sync?
No. SkyTimer 3 always keeps the watch in step with your iPhone.
Where are watch settings?
Fuel, airport, and detection settings come from your iPhone. On the watch, SkyTimer’s settings include Classic Flight Screen. On iPhone, Settings › Apple Watch has a connection test.