Don’t have cellular

I don’t have the cellular option on my watch app. What do I do?

Apple Watch Series 8, watchOS 9

Posted on May 20, 2023 10:03 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 20, 2023 12:24 PM

There are 2 versions of the Watch, one is GPS that requires being paired to an iPhone for calls and uses the iPhone cellular information and the other is the GPS + Cellular option, where the Watch has its own Cellular settings and number. This requires a separate cellular plan from your carrier. Here is some more information about the difference and settings option.

About Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 20, 2023 12:24 PM in response to hab1ba

There are 2 versions of the Watch, one is GPS that requires being paired to an iPhone for calls and uses the iPhone cellular information and the other is the GPS + Cellular option, where the Watch has its own Cellular settings and number. This requires a separate cellular plan from your carrier. Here is some more information about the difference and settings option.

About Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

May 20, 2023 01:34 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

The other quick confirmation that the Apple Watch supports cellular: The Digital Crown has a red ring (or full red center on Series 3).


Additional to the suggestion from Mac Jim ID, please see Identify your Apple Watch - Apple Support to find your model number and identify your watch capability.


Also be aware Apple Watch is not fully international for cellular functions. In particular, a watch purchased in North America is not compatible with cellular networks in the rest of the world (or vice versa) because different radio frequencies are used in different regions. See Apple Watch - Carriers - Apple for more details of which node3l works in which region.

May 23, 2023 03:37 PM in response to hab1ba

hab1ba wrote:

I have GPS Cellular and I need help to get my Apple Watch to have its own Cellular not connected to my iPhone. Anywhere it says to go to the Watch App and press Cellular but I do not have that option even when I search it.

If you indeed have a Cellular Apple Watch, then you have 3 options


A) treat it like a GPS Apple Watch and depend on the iPhone for cellular calls (least expensive as no extra cellular costs).


B) Pair the Apple Watch to your iPhone, and share your iPhone's phone number. This requires a cellular carrier that supports the Apple Watch, and generally adds $10 U.S. to your iPhone bill.


C) You use the Apple Watch Family Plan, where your Apple Watch is controlled by an iPhone owned by a family member and the Apple Watch has limited functionality, because it does not have its own iPhone to share services with.

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Don’t have cellular

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