Apple Watch Cellular Capabilities

[IGWT15]

I continue to receive conflicting information regarding Apple Watches with cellular capabilities, and I would appreciate some clarification.

If I purchase an Apple Watch with cellular service with my carrier, will I be able to send and receive text messages and make and receive phone calls directly from the watch if my iPhone is turned off, left behind, or has no battery?

I understand there may be certain limitations depending on the cellular plan and setup, but I would like to confirm whether the watch can function independently of the iPhone for these basic communication features.

 

[doogm]

If I purchase an Apple Watch with cellular service with my carrier, will I be able to send and receive text messages and make and receive phone calls directly from the watch if my iPhone is turned off, left behind, or has no battery?

If the phone is not powered on and not connected to internet service of some kind, no, the watch cannot receive text (sms, mms, or rcs) messages sent to the phone's number.

See footnote 2 on this page: https://support.apple.com/en-us/108300

2. To receive SMS, MMS, or push notifications from third-party apps on your cellular Apple Watch, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but it doesn't need to be nearby. You also need to be signed in to iMessage on your iPhone to use Messages on your watch.

 

[CharlesShaw]

If the phone is not powered on and not connected to internet service of some kind, no, the watch cannot receive text (sms, mms, or rcs) messages sent to the phone's number.

See footnote 2 on this page: https://support.apple.com/en-us/108300

Oh wow. I never knew that the iPhone had to be powered and connected somewhere. Just tested it and the SMS did not arrive on my cellular watch until I powered the iPhone back up.

Good to know in advance that I'd have to rely only on calls (with SMS users) in an emergency if my iPhone was off or destroyed.

 

[shakopeemn]

I've never been impressed with the AW apps (cellular or not) overall. IMO the AW apps need to be independent of an iphone. With cellular the true pro is gaining the ability to make / take / call 911 anywhere.

 

[318iphone]

Prob not what you were asking but you CAN send/receive iMessages (because you have a cellular data connection) just not true SMS…

 

[arc of the universe]

If the phone is not powered on and not connected to internet service of some kind, no, the watch cannot receive text (sms, mms, or rcs) messages sent to the phone's number.

See footnote 2 on this page: https://support.apple.com/en-us/108300

the footnote you quote says:
quote
2. To receive SMS, MMS, or push notifications from third-party apps on your cellular Apple Watch, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but it doesn't need to be nearby. You also need to be signed in to iMessage on your iPhone to use Messages on your watch.
unquote

Messages is not third party. can you send and receive SMS using Messages even if iPhone is powered off and not in any way connected to the internet ?

 

[doogm]

the footnote you quote says:
quote
2. To receive SMS, MMS, or push notifications from third-party apps on your cellular Apple Watch, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but it doesn't need to be nearby. You also need to be signed in to iMessage on your iPhone to use Messages on your watch.
unquote

Messages is not third party. can you send and receive SMS using Messages even if iPhone is powered off and not in any way connected to the internet ?

To send and receive SMS, the iPhone must be powered on somewhere and connected to an internet service, either WiFi or cellular. The third party is referencing push messages to the watch when you are away from the phone, not third-party messaging apps.

So, to read that footnote another way, to receive push message from third-party apps, or to send and receive SMS/MMS (plus I assume RCS) messages on the cellular watch, the paired iPhone must be powered on.

By the way, according to Apple, it's also true for the Ultra 3 with satellite connectivity - to send SMS messages using satellite, the paired iPhone must be powered on and connected somewhere away from your watch. See https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/use-satellite-features-apd9fc7da3b0/watchos

 

[4sallypat]

To send and receive SMS, the iPhone must be powered on somewhere and connected to an internet service, either WiFi or cellular. The third party is referencing push messages to the watch when you are away from the phone, not third-party messaging apps.

So, to read that footnote another way, to receive push message from third-party apps, or to send and receive SMS/MMS (plus I assume RCS) messages on the cellular watch, the paired iPhone must be powered on.

By the way, according to Apple, it's also true for the Ultra 3 with satellite connectivity - to send SMS messages using satellite, the paired iPhone must be powered on and connected somewhere away from your watch. See https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/use-satellite-features-apd9fc7da3b0/watchos

That was very helpful and I learned something new!

So if the paired iPhone is off/dead battery/destroyed then an cellular AW can only message via iMessage ? Can it still make / take calls ?

 

[doogm]

So if the paired iPhone is off/dead battery/destroyed then an cellular AW can only message via iMessage ?

Correct. I would think that third party messaging apps may also work, if you one installed on the watch, but you may not get any push notifications of replies.

Can it still make / take calls ?

I've never tried, but it should work. It can definitely make calls to emergency services (e.g., 911 in the US), even without cellular service turned on.

 

[Howard2k]

I lost my phone and it shut itself off.

I was able to make and receive calls and send/receive iMessages, but SMS did not come in.