home-assistant / home-assistant/iOS

Apple Watch app appears to always use internal URL instead of external URL / remote connection

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bug ios
Dominant language
Swift
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Description

**iOS device model, version and app version**

Model Name: Apple Watch Series 10 GPS + Cellular
Software Version: 26.5
App version: 2026.4.1

**Home Assistant Core Version**

2026.5.4

**Describe the bug**

The Home Assistant Apple Watch app appears to always use the configured internal URL/local network connection, even when the watch is away from home on a cellular connection.

While away from home, the watch app still displays my home Wi-Fi SSID and fails to connect. At the same time, the iPhone Home Assistant app connects remotely without any issues using the external URL.

This suggests the watch app may not correctly switch from the internal URL to the external URL when outside the local network.

Thanks!

**To Reproduce**

1. Configure both internal and external URLs in the Home Assistant iOS app
2. Ensure remote access works correctly in the iPhone app
3. Leave the local Wi-Fi network
4. Use the Apple Watch on cellular/mobile data
5. Open the Home Assistant watch app
6. Observe that:
* the app still shows the local Wi-Fi SSID
* the connection fails

**Expected behavior**

When the Apple Watch is no longer connected to the local network, the watch app should switch to the configured external URL (or Home Assistant Cloud URL) and connect remotely over cellular.

**Screenshots**

**Additional context**

* iPhone app remote access works correctly
* External URL is configured and reachable
* Internal URL works correctly while at home
* The issue only seems to affect the Apple Watch app
* Tested with a cellular-capable Apple Watch away from home
* The displayed Wi-Fi SSID on the watch appears stale/incorrect while remote

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