WatchKit SDK not retrieving data from NSUserDefaults

+standardUserDefaults returns an NSUserDefaults object that only saves information for the current process.

If you want to create an NSUserDefaults object that shares data between your iOS app and one of its extensions, then you'll need to set up an app group container and use that as the basis for sharing information.

From the linked documentation:

After you enable app groups, an app extension and its containing app can both use the NSUserDefaults API to share access to user preferences. To enable this sharing, use the initWithSuiteName: method to instantiate a new NSUserDefaults object, passing in the identifier of the shared group. For example, a Share extension might update the user’s most recently used sharing account, using code like this:

// Create and share access to an NSUserDefaults object.NSUserDefaults *mySharedDefaults = [[NSUserDefaults alloc] initWithSuiteName:@"group.com.example.domain.MyShareExtension"];// Use the shared user defaults object to update the user's account.[mySharedDefaults setObject:theAccountName forKey:@"lastAccountName"];

NOTE: With watch OS2 you can no longer use shared group containers.

IMPORTANT

With watch OS2 you can no longer use shared group containers. You need to use this stack overflow answer.

"For OS2 - you will need to use the WatchConnectivity frameworks and implement the WCSessionDelegate."