I pay for cellular service on my AppleWatch Ultra 2, and if my iPhone is off or in airplane mode, the watch will not place or receive calls, but it absolutely should. I switched carriers from TMobile to ATT and I’m having the same problem. Moreover, friends that I work with are also having this problem. I’ve called Apple and they blame the cellular companies while the cellular companies blame Apple. Can anyone help?
Apple Watch Ultra 2, watchOS 10
I had the same problem. Or so I thought.
I think I just needed to learn how the watch works normally. I had to turn my phone off entirely to force the watch to finally find a LTE signal. But. My expectations of this tech were probably beyond what is currently possible. I thought it would seamlessly turn off the connection to my phone and continue on its own signal even tho the phone was near. It won’t. Airplane mode wasn’t enough to force it. It was still aware that the phone was there. Once I turned the phone off it was able to pick up a signal pretty quickly. If you use the LTE like that however, your battery life will be more like 6 hours. It’s very power hungry that way. the apple article on this topic was a big help. Somebody posted it below. Set up cellular on Apple Watch - Apple Support
Thanks everybody.
alan.
I had the same problem. Or so I thought.
I think I just needed to learn how the watch works normally. I had to turn my phone off entirely to force the watch to finally find a LTE signal. But. My expectations of this tech were probably beyond what is currently possible. I thought it would seamlessly turn off the connection to my phone and continue on its own signal even tho the phone was near. It won’t. Airplane mode wasn’t enough to force it. It was still aware that the phone was there. Once I turned the phone off it was able to pick up a signal pretty quickly. If you use the LTE like that however, your battery life will be more like 6 hours. It’s very power hungry that way. the apple article on this topic was a big help. Somebody posted it below. Set up cellular on Apple Watch - Apple Support
Thanks everybody.
alan.
Update: When I turn off Bluetooth and WiFi on the AppleWatch Ultra 2, it does finally connect to cellular and I can place/receive calls with the iPhone off. I just don’t understand why I have to turn off WiFi and Bluetooth to get it to do something it should automatically do. This must be a software glitch and Apple needs to fix it ASAP.
I’ve followed all the steps given by Apple support, and I’ve followed all the steps given by my mobile servicer. The cellular still doesn’t work without the iPhone being on and nearby. Apple blames cell servicer and the cell servicer blames Apple. I’m returning my AppleWatch Ultra 2 to the Apple Store tomorrow until they get this figured out.
It’s so wrong that Apple leaves customers hanging like this. It’s such an expensive device. Why is it too much to expect it to work? I have to make a special trip to the Apple Store tomorrow just to here someone run me through the same gamut of tests and meanwhile I haven’t had proper cell service on my watch shone I’ve owned it. Who is refunding the money I spend on that subscription?? Apple has become pretty terrible.
Only you can see and touch your devices, so you have to be our remote hands and eyes. Please use Apple's support document as a checklist and reference for what you should see.
Set up cellular on Apple Watch - Apple Support
Post back with details when you have identified which step fails.
My Apple Watch nine does not connect to Verizon cellular. The app doesn’t work and Verizon is unable to connect to my watch either. They’re still working on the problem. I don’t know what this means. Is it a problem with the Watch or the phone company the Apple instructions are worthless.
This is perfect. You are right totally didn’t understand how the device worked. As soon as it could no longer sense the phone it switched over instantaneously.
This actually makes a ton of sense as it will be more efficient to use wifi or the phone but if needed it can be full cellular.
Thank you - you saved me some time on hold with the carrier and Apple.
Cellular Not Working AppleWatch Ultra
