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derena
User level: Level 1 (10 points)

Apple Watch Phone app Favorites missing contact names

I am using an Apple Watch Series 9 (watchOS 27.0 and on iPhone iOS 27.0). When I open the phone app on my Apple Watch, the names of my “Favorite Contacts” are missing. The favorites are displayed only as phone numbers.


All of my other contacts are displayed correctly, and the names also appear correctly in “Recent Calls”. The issue only affects the “Favorites” section.


I have already tried the following:

  • Restarting both my iPhone and Apple Watch
  • Unpairing and pairing the Apple Watch again
  • Turning iCloud Contacts off and back on
  • Resetting the sync data


Unfortunately, none of these steps have resolved the issue. Since contacts are displayed correctly everywhere else, I suspect this may be a bug specifically affecting Favorites on the Apple Watch.


Has anyone experienced the same issue or found a solution?


Posted on Sep 28, 2026 2:32 AM

10 replies

IdrisSeabright
User level: Level 10 (201,695 points)

Oct 27, 2026 9:39 AM in response to noremacniai

noremacniai wrote:
Obviously a software bug which will hopefully be resolved in the next update.

While bugs don't always get fixed in the time frame we would like, this time they have been. watchOS 27.2 seems to have resolved this issue.

MarcZM
User level: Level 1 (8 points)

Oct 27, 2026 9:58 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Yes! 27.2 fixes the problem! 😊

Thanks for you comments.

IdrisSeabright
User level: Level 10 (201,695 points)

Oct 8, 2026 8:32 AM in response to MarcZM

MarcZM wrote:
Hi! Please, ¿Is there any update on that topic? I’m having the same issue with Apple Watch Ultra 4 paired with iPhone 16 Pro Max.. Favorite contacts does not appear with the names. Also some of the contacts of the agenda.

It does not appear to have changed. You can let Apple know that it's important to you here:


Product Feedback - Apple


Lambi91
User level: Level 1 (8 points)

Sep 30, 2026 2:28 AM in response to Iliche

And so it is with me after installing ios 27..

IdrisSeabright
User level: Level 10 (201,695 points)

Oct 6, 2026 1:38 PM in response to emreoez

emreoez wrote:
Any news on that?

Apple doesn't post here with information. Nor do they read here for feedback. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:


Product Feedback - Apple




MarcZM
User level: Level 1 (8 points)

Oct 7, 2026 10:34 PM in response to derena

Hi! Please, ¿Is there any update on that topic? I’m having the same issue with Apple Watch Ultra 4 paired with iPhone 16 Pro Max.. Favorite contacts does not appear with the names. Also some of the contacts of the agenda.

MarcZM
User level: Level 1 (8 points)

Oct 15, 2026 11:27 PM in response to emreoez

Apple Support isn't providing any solution, they say it's an isolated issue. The only option is to wait... which doesn't seem like a very logical solution when you've just spent hundreds of Euros on a new device. I see all the issues appears using iPhone 16PM, could be anything related with the phone?

Iliche
User level: Level 1 (14 points)

Sep 28, 2026 7:45 AM in response to derena

Have the same issue on Ultra 3 + iPhone 16 PM. Only Favourite section has this trouble.

emreoez
User level: Level 1 (12 points)

Oct 6, 2026 11:30 AM in response to Iliche

Any news on that?

noremacniai
User level: Level 1 (0 points)

Oct 25, 2026 2:52 AM in response to derena

Obviously a software bug which will hopefully be resolved in the next update.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256366403