Cannot set the cellular provider for an Apple watch using 'family mode'

Ok...

Found this link from Truphoe / BetterRoaming.

https://www.betterroaming.com/support/watches/apple/issues-with-set-up/

Bascially you need to have this initiated via the iPhone, by using the Truphone portal to create a notification that is received on the phone, and can trigger the Set Up Mobile routine.

Have your EID ready [General->About] or see this https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=FkYdMtw7Evc&vl=pl

This will use the web-intiated notification to connect to watch and start the 'sending' of eSim plan to watch. In my case, I actually did a transfer of eSim. But it will work once you purchase the eSim plan similarly.

Absolute waste of a Saturday afternoon, but son (and wife!!) will be happy. Failure here was not an option. ;)

Welcome back tall_john,

We appreciate the additional information. To clarify, when attempting to complete cellular setup, did you tap "Not Now" and contact the carrier to set up your cellular plan directly? This is mentioned in: Set up Apple Watch for a family member - Apple Support

"Set up cellular and Wi-Fi

If your iPhone cellular provider supports Family Setup, you can add the watch to your plan during this step.

If your carrier doesn't support Family Setup, or you'd like to use a different carrier, select Not Now.* You can choose an alternative carrier from this list of supported carriers and contact them directly to set up your cellular plan. 

Next, choose whether to share your current Wi-Fi network with the Apple Watch.

* Some corporate cellular plans don't support Family Setup."

If so, and the carrier you've selected is unable to assist, we'd suggest reaching out to Apple directly for additional support assistance using: Get Support

Have a lovely week!

Same issue for me [Telstra mobile / trying to use Truphone for child's eSim Family Sharing watch].

The maddening part of this is I did this successfully about 14mths ago.

Just had replacement Apple watch -> trying to set up again and getting this same issue. Greyed Out "Set Up mobile plan". Have tried once from watch back-up, once from set-up watch as new, removing my phones sim [sever the link to Telstra in a way]. Nothing works.

This is a joke.

Hi there

looks like your case is same with me. I am trying to use Betterroming for the watch. But my phone carrier is Xfinity Mobile, “Set up cellular “ is greyed out.

I can’t do anything with it. May I know how you make Betterroming working on your watch? Thank you!

Greetings tall_john,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities, it's great to have you here.

For this issue, we want to recommend that you double check that your carrier is one of the supported carriers listed here for Apple Watch coverage: Apple Watch - Carriers - Apple. This will ensure that all of our bases are covered and that you have a compatible wireless carrier. If your carrier is indeed listed there, it's possible that some cellular plans won't allow Family Setup on this Apple Watch. To double check if that may be the case here, you would want to reach out to your carrier and confirm that your plan doesn't prevent you from completing this setup.

Thank you for being a part of the community here. We hope this information helps!

Best wishes.

Same here… bought two Apple Watch SEs (2nd Gen) [GPS + Cellular] for my son and daughter. A separate cellular provider was set up fine for one watch, but it’s not working for the other. I was given the option to set up cell provider at first, which I did. It then gave me the option to Set Up Cellular again which only reverts to my provider - no longer a separate provider. The software is up to date, and I’ve paired and unpaired the watch three times, and am still no longer given the option to set up with a separate provider. Please help.

any luck? having the same issue.

Same here. Apple watch ultra 2

I didn't see "setup cellular plan" in initial setup and the button is greyed out on the iphone app.

If it says Mobile instead of Cellular, did you buy a UK watch for use in a different country?

Same here... i bought a apple watch series 9 GPS + Cellular for my daughter, and the Greyed Out "Set Up mobile plan"

any solution here?