WatchBlocks WikiMultiplayer troubleshooting
Start with the status shown in the multiplayer screen. Connecting, checking compatibility, waiting for host approval, transferring the world, and entering the game are separate stages, so the right fix depends on where progress stopped.
The 60-second check
- Confirm every player is using the current WatchBlocks version.
- For LAN, place the host and guests on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Allow Local Network access for WatchBlocks in device Settings.
- For Game Center, confirm each player is signed in before opening multiplayer.
- Leave any previous session completely, wait for it to close, then host or join once.
LAN host does not appear
The host must open a playable world and start hosting. Guests should then open the multiplayer browser and wait for the LAN host list to refresh.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No LAN hosts found | Different networks, local-network permission, or hosting has not started. | Use the same Wi-Fi, enable Local Network access, and restart hosting from the world’s pause menu. |
| Host appears and disappears | Weak Wi-Fi or the host device is moving between networks. | Keep both devices on one stable access point and keep the host reachable. |
| Connection starts but fails | The advertised session changed or an older host entry is still visible. | Stop hosting, wait for the listing to disappear, then start a fresh session. |
Game Center problems
- Sign in first: online play cannot begin while the local Game Center player is unauthenticated.
- Friends are missing: check Game Center friend permissions in Settings.
- Already searching: do not repeatedly press Host or Join. Let the active search finish or close it.
- Game Center is closing: wait for the close message before starting another session. If WatchBlocks explicitly asks for a restart, close and reopen the game before playing online again.
Apple Watch cannot find or join
Keep the paired iPhone reachable. Nearby LAN games on Apple Watch use the paired iPhone as a relay, and the watch, phone, and host work best on the same Wi-Fi network. Without Wi-Fi, the connection can fall back to a slower Bluetooth path and may lag.
- Open WatchBlocks on the paired iPhone and confirm the phone can see the host.
- Keep Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled on both watch and phone.
- If the watch list is stale, leave the multiplayer screen and open it again after the phone has refreshed nearby games.
Waiting, approval, and world transfer
- Waiting for host
- The join request was sent. The host must approve it before the world is transferred.
- Checking compatibility
- The devices are negotiating the session and world format. Update any device that is running a different release.
- Receiving world
- Keep both games open and the network stable while the host snapshot is received and verified.
- World identity mismatch
- The advertised world no longer matches the host’s active world. Leave the listing, let the host restart hosting, and join the fresh session.
Lag and disconnects
The host owns the authoritative world state, so the host’s connection and device matter most. LAN guests may attempt to reconnect automatically after a short interruption. Keep the game open during that attempt. If reconnection fails, leave the failed session and join the newly advertised host.