Can’t set up cellular for Apple Watch for my kid

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Level 1

14 points

Can’t set up cellular for Apple Watch for my kid

I have been going around in circles for over a week with this. I have an Apple Watch Series 7 (cellular + GPS) that I am trying to set up for my daughter. I have paired it to my iPhone (which is on Mint), and I have a plan and eSIM from T-Mobile for the watch. I set the watch up for my daughter, paired to my iPhone but there is no option to set up the cellular plan for her. In the watch app, “set up cellular” is grayed out. I have updated both my phone and the watch and set it up for a family member (these are the trouble shooting steps that I have found). I have spent hours on the phone and chats with various technical support and no one can fix this. I searched the IMEI number to confirm it is unlocked and not flagged, the tech support people have done the same. What is the issue here?

Posted on Jul 2, 2025 04:52 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

JennyRC76 Author

Level 1

14 points

Jul 2, 2025 01:12 PM in response to KiltedTim

SOLVED!! The fix is to turn off cellular data on your phone and then the standalone plan can activate on the watch!!

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Answer 2

KiltedTim

Level 10

221,094 points

Jul 2, 2025 04:58 AM in response to JennyRC76

The issue is, you can't do that unless the watch and your phone are on the same carrier and the carrier supports Apple Watch family setup.

Set up Apple Watch for a family member - Apple Support

Cellular service for the kid's watch is tied to your cellular plan. It is not linked to the same number as your phone as it would be if it were your watch, but it is under the same service agreement.

Mint does not support the watch at all. If you want your kit to use a cellular watch, you will have to switch your cellular service to a carrier that supports it.

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Answer 3

KiltedTim

Level 10

221,094 points

Jul 2, 2025 06:27 AM in response to JennyRC76

Yeah... in theory, that's true. In practice, not so much. Largely because the people at the carriers aren't phenomenally bright.

You will find it far less painful to set up if you are actually using the carrier that you want the watch on.

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Answer 4

JennyRC76 Author

Level 1

14 points

Jul 2, 2025 07:23 PM in response to KiltedTim

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 5

JennyRC76 Author

Level 1

14 points

Jul 2, 2025 05:41 AM in response to KiltedTim

I have been assured by both Apple and mint and T-Mobile that that is not the case. I should be able to set up a standalone watch plan on a different carrier than my cellular plan.

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