Can't do Wifi calling. AT&T. Apple Watch 3 LTE

[OBirder]

oh well. Hopefully a fix is in the works.

Wi-Fi calling with AT&T seem only to kick in when there is no or low signal.

To simulate this:

On the phone settings -> Cellular turn on Wi-Fi calling. Then turn off Cellular data.

Wait a little bit and the phone should switch to AT&T Wi-Fi calling.

After that go to the Watch App -> Phone

Now the Wi-Fi Calling slider is visible and can be turned on.

Turn your Cellular data back on.

Hope this will work for you.

 

[nippyjun]

Wi-Fi calling with AT&T seem only to kick in when there is no or low signal.

To simulate this:

On the phone settings -> Cellular turn on Wi-Fi calling. Then turn off Cellular data.

Wait a little bit and the phone should switch to AT&T Wi-Fi calling.

After that go to the Watch App -> Phone

Now the Wi-Fi Calling slider is visible and can be turned on.

Turn your Cellular data back on.

Hope this will work for you.

That didn't work for me. The wifi slider didn't appear. Does yours disappear again when you turn cellular data back on, or does it remain visible? And does wifi calling actually work for you?

 

[OBirder]

That didn't work for me. The wifi slider didn't appear. Does yours disappear again when you turn cellular data back on, or does it remain visible? And does wifi calling actually work for you?

It does disappear again when I turned cellular back on.

Interesting, I was able to repeat it with the Series 0, but not with the S3 LTE. So the setup stills seems to be buggy.

However I put phone in airplane mode, turned off airplane mode on the watch. The watch connected to WiFi and I was able to make a call.

 

[deadworlds]

It does disappear again when I turned cellular back on.

Interesting, I was able to repeat it with the Series 0, but not with the S3 LTE. So the setup stills seems to be buggy.

However I put phone in airplane mode, turned off airplane mode on the watch. The watch connected to WiFi and I was able to make a call.

How many calls? I’ve been able to place WiFi calls for a brief moment after switching on the feature. But after a few calls my watch fails to make anymore.

 

[JennyG1000]

I am having the same problem, with LTE watch on ATT. So has anybody got this working?
Did reset of network, new pairing etc. No luck. Chatted with ATT and Apple, the techs seem to know less than what is on the thread. So frustrating.

 

[deadworlds]

I am having the same problem, with LTE watch on ATT. So has anybody got this working?
Did reset of network, new pairing etc. No luck. Chatted with ATT and Apple, the techs seem to know less than what is on the thread. So frustrating.

No, I’m waiting to hear back from Apple engineer. Spoke to a customer support rep yesterday, engineering hasn’t gotten back to them yet.

Like I stated in my post a page or 2 back, Apple is aware of WiFi calling issue on watch. It would help them figure it out if more customer service reps would transfer you to a senior advisor so they could collect data on the issue.

 

[JennyG1000]

No, I’m waiting to hear back from Apple engineer. Spoke to a customer support rep yesterday, engineering hasn’t gotten back to them yet.

Like I stated in my post a page or 2 back, Apple is aware of WiFi calling issue on watch. It would help them figure it out if more customer service reps would transfer you to a senior advisor so they could collect data on the issue.

Will do push for that next time I talk to them. I got disconnected 3 times on chat with them today.
Btw, is email supposed to be working either over lte or wifi away from the phone?
I understand that not native apps like FB messanger do not work

 

[Rayfire]

No, I’m waiting to hear back from Apple engineer. Spoke to a customer support rep yesterday, engineering hasn’t gotten back to them yet.

Like I stated in my post a page or 2 back, Apple is aware of WiFi calling issue on watch. It would help them figure it out if more customer service reps would transfer you to a senior advisor so they could collect data on the issue.

I just talked to a senior advisor and they referred me to go meet a genius at an Apple store. I hope they don't ask me to swap the watch since I'm afraid it might ruin the whole setup process again with my carrier (I already have LTE working fine).

 

[deadworlds]

I just talked to a senior advisor and they referred me to go meet a genius at an Apple store. I hope they don't ask me to swap the watch since I'm afraid it might ruin the whole setup process again with my carrier (I already have LTE working fine).

Wow that’s an interesting response. I wonder why the person I had had me collect watch data. I would not go to the Genius Bar.

 

[coolio93]

This problem doesn’t seem to be limited to the lte model. I have the non cellular model and I’m also not able to make WiFi calls. I used to be able to do this on my series 2 watch. I’ve tried everything including resetting both the watch and my phone and still I’m not able to get the Apple Watch listed under “calls on other devices” nor am I able to make WiFi calls when my iPhone is not nearby :-/

 

[Rayfire]

Wow that’s an interesting response. I wonder why the person I had had me collect watch data. I would not go to the Genius Bar.

Yea he said I did everything that he would do (unpair then pair, set up as a new watch, use the backup, power cycle watch and phone). If they ever ask for a replacement watch, I'd prolly ask someone to test the wifi calling on it first before transferring the ownership of the watch to my own cellular plan.

 

[Senfinger]

I spent over 5 hours on calls between Apple and ATT, pulled my plan several times, added and removed and deleted backups so many times I lost count LOL. Hence them thinking it was hardware based since nothing changed my issues App, Wifi, LTE etc. Mine should be here in the next week or two. Cant wait to test and hoping for positive outcome.
More interested in my watch than the X hehehe Good Luck and I feel pretty confident the carrier thing will be a mute point for you now as ATT at least has the setup ironed out now. Keep us updated deadworlds-
Also, as with all AWs; stores don't carry replacements- so you have two options send it in for tech and fix or return within your 14 days and order new online. I did the later = )

 

[deadworlds]

Yea he said I did everything that he would do (unpair then pair, set up as a new watch, use the backup, power cycle watch and phone). If they ever ask for a replacement watch, I'd prolly ask someone to test the wifi calling on it first before transferring the ownership of the watch to my own cellular plan.

What did they say when you told them the watch wasn’t making WiFi calls? At first they told me the watch couldn’t make WiFi calls, but then I referred them to apples own documentation stating that it’s possible. That’s when they finally started contacting engineering.

https://help.apple.com/watch/#/apd2fe746e86?cid=acs::applesearch

 

[Rayfire]

What did they say when you told them the watch wasn’t making WiFi calls? At first they told me the watch couldn’t make WiFi calls, but then I referee them to apples own documentation stating that it’s possible. That’s when they finally started contacting engineering.

https://help.apple.com/watch/#/apd2fe746e86?cid=acs::applesearch

He put me on hold and then asked to set up an appointment for the Genius bar. I was expecting they'd get more info from me but now I'm not sure what the Genius bar will do so we'll see tomorrow.

 

[nippyjun]

He put me on hold and then asked to set up an appointment for the Genius bar. I was expecting they'd get more info from me but now I'm not sure what the Genius bar will do so we'll see tomorrow.

Probably a waste of time.

 

[JennyG1000]

Ok, so they also set me up with a Genius Bar app. Have little hope with that.
So I went and removed cellular plan off the watch, and wifi toggle bar showed up, and making calls over wifi worked. Once I added back the cellular plan it is gone and wifi calling does not work with cellular plan toggled off.

 

[deadworlds]

Ok, so they also set me up with a Genius Bar app. Have little hope with that.
So I went and removed cellular plan off the watch, and wifi toggle bar showed up, and making calls over wifi worked. Once I added back the cellular plan it is gone and wifi calling does not work with cellular plan toggled off.

Yep that’s the same on my end. I’m pretty sure it’s definitely a carrier issue.

 

[dave006]

Well I finally had time to setup my Watch and I see the exact same behavior that is being reported here. For the record, I have AT&T.

Wi-Fi calling on the Watch does work and I now understand why and how!

It only works when Cellular is "enabled" on the Watch while the Watch is connected to Wi-Fi. If Cellular is off on the Watch, Wi-Fi calls fail immediately. Checking the Watch Control Panel, the Blue Wi-Fi icon has 4 bars of signal.

Now on the iPhone, Wi-Fi Calling is enabled and works, Wi-Fi Calling on Other Devices is enabled. As we now know, the LTE Watch does don't show up in the iClould list. On the Watch app, Wi-Fi Calling is not listed.

The reason it works is that it requires Cellular to be enabled on the Watch is because only when Cellular is enabled on the watch the eSIM is active! Wi-Fi calling requires a Cellular device to exchange information with the Carrier network even on Wi-Fi and that information is stored on the eSIM for the Watch!

Dave

 

[deadworlds]

Well I finally had time to setup my Watch and I see the exact same behavior that is being reported here. For the record, I have AT&T.

Wi-Fi calling on the Watch does work and I now understand why and how!

It only works when Cellular is "enabled" on the Watch while the Watch is connected to Wi-Fi. If Cellular is off on the Watch, Wi-Fi calls fail immediately. Checking the Watch Control Panel, the Blue Wi-Fi icon has 4 bars of signal.

Now on the iPhone, Wi-Fi Calling is enabled and works, Wi-Fi Calling on Other Devices is enabled. As we now know, the LTE Watch does don't show up in the iClould list. On the Watch app, Wi-Fi Calling is not listed.

The reason it works is that it requires Cellular to be enabled on the Watch is because only when Cellular is enabled on the watch the eSIM is active! Wi-Fi calling requires a Cellular device to exchange information with the Carrier network even on Wi-Fi and that information is stored on the eSIM for the Watch!

Dave

This sounds like a plausible explanation of what is happening. Whenever I made wifi calls while culluar was on the calls would go through, but I thought that maybe it was using the cellular network to make those calls.

 

[ZipZap]

Based upon this thread I dont have an option to Activate WIFI Calling as seen below. I experimented but I could not get the watch to call over WIFI when cellular was turned off and the watch had no connection to my iPhone.

The picture below is also odd because the phone does not show the carrier nor does it indicate it is on WIFI calling (upper left corner).

The reason that I keep asking about a setting to manage Wi-Fi Calling for the Watch. Apple indicates the following information concerning set up and using Wi-Fi Calling on the Watch.

Enable Wi-Fi calling on iPhone. On iPhone, go to Settings > Phone and turn on both Wi-Fi Calling and Calls on Other Devices.

Enable Wi-Fi calling on Apple Watch. Open the Apple Watch app on iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Phone, then turn on Wi-Fi Calls. If you don’t see the setting, make sure you enabled Wi-Fi calling on iPhone.

[doublepost=1507366698][/doublepost]

Wi-Fi calling with AT&T seem only to kick in when there is no or low signal.

To simulate this:

On the phone settings -> Cellular turn on Wi-Fi calling. Then turn off Cellular data.

Wait a little bit and the phone should switch to AT&T Wi-Fi calling.

After that go to the Watch App -> Phone

Now the Wi-Fi Calling slider is visible and can be turned on.

Turn your Cellular data back on.

Hope this will work for you.

Did not work for me either
[doublepost=1507367351][/doublepost]

Well I finally had time to setup my Watch and I see the exact same behavior that is being reported here. For the record, I have AT&T.

Wi-Fi calling on the Watch does work and I now understand why and how!

It only works when Cellular is "enabled" on the Watch while the Watch is connected to Wi-Fi. If Cellular is off on the Watch, Wi-Fi calls fail immediately. Checking the Watch Control Panel, the Blue Wi-Fi icon has 4 bars of signal.

Now on the iPhone, Wi-Fi Calling is enabled and works, Wi-Fi Calling on Other Devices is enabled. As we now know, the LTE Watch does don't show up in the iClould list. On the Watch app, Wi-Fi Calling is not listed.

The reason it works is that it requires Cellular to be enabled on the Watch is because only when Cellular is enabled on the watch the eSIM is active! Wi-Fi calling requires a Cellular device to exchange information with the Carrier network even on Wi-Fi and that information is stored on the eSIM for the Watch!

Dave

My watch shows up in the iCloud list.
[doublepost=1507367665][/doublepost]

Update Oct 4th:
I have removed the cellular plan from the watch again, using the watch app on phone.
Out of curiosity I went into the watch app -> Phone and saw that the wifi calling toggle had appear and was on. Attempting to make a wifi call on watch still failed at this point.
I then randomly browsed the cellular setting on the watch app, i didn't change anything.
Went back to the watch and tried once more to place a wifi call, 2 calls went through. So at this point watch has no cellular plan installed, connected to wifi and at first calls didn't work but then a few minutes late they worked. Im not sure what is going on or how this is useful but I thought I would document my findings.


Next im going to install a Cellular plan back on the watch and see what happens..

So activating the cellular took about 5 tries, kept asking for SSN and then telling me they didn't have an account under that SSN. Some times it would make it to the agreements but would freeze on last one. Finally switched to wifi on phone and I was able to active.

Once activated the Wifi Calling on watch app is gone again.

I was able to make 4 wifi calls again, and checking on my.t-mobile.com shows the 4 wifi calls I made, originating from iphone number. On 5th try I got "call failed" no more wifi calls worked. So I guess this means that there is definitely a carrier issue here.

Someone else mentioned this and it clearly indicates that a Cell Plan added to the watch disables WIFI calling. This has to be a carrier issue.

 

[ZipZap]

I found this interesting:

 

[JennyG1000]

So in area of poor reception or no cellular reception (cell plan on) with the phone off, AW would make a call? I have a very poor reception in my work office and will see if this works on Monday before going to apple store.

 

[dave006]

This sounds like a plausible explanation of what is happening. Whenever I made wifi calls while culluar was on the calls would go through, but I thought that maybe it was using the cellular network to make those calls.

Well to know if you are on Wi-Fi vs Cellular, check the Control Center on the Watch just before dialing. Mine shows 4 Blue Bars in the top left status field.

I also checked my account and AT&T has not even seen my Watch yet. It is still a gray generic device with no calls or data usage. Just a new number.

I still can't explain the fact of the very confusing Apple documentation and how it describes how the Wi-Fi calling function works or even the pre-reqs.

Dave

 

[deadworlds]

Well to know if you are on Wi-Fi vs Cellular, check the Control Center on the Watch just before dialing. Mine shows 4 Blue Bars in the top left status field.

I also checked my account and AT&T has not even seen my Watch yet. It is still a gray generic device with no calls or data usage. Just a new number.

I still can't explain the fact of the very confusing Apple documentation and how it describes how the Wi-Fi calling function works or even the pre-reqs.

Dave

I’ll have to try it again and see what T-Mobile.com logs the call as. It will either say WiFi call or cellular.

 

[jonstatt1]

Well I finally had time to setup my Watch and I see the exact same behavior that is being reported here. For the record, I have AT&T.

Wi-Fi calling on the Watch does work and I now understand why and how!

It only works when Cellular is "enabled" on the Watch while the Watch is connected to Wi-Fi. If Cellular is off on the Watch, Wi-Fi calls fail immediately. Checking the Watch Control Panel, the Blue Wi-Fi icon has 4 bars of signal.

Now on the iPhone, Wi-Fi Calling is enabled and works, Wi-Fi Calling on Other Devices is enabled. As we now know, the LTE Watch does don't show up in the iClould list. On the Watch app, Wi-Fi Calling is not listed.

The reason it works is that it requires Cellular to be enabled on the Watch is because only when Cellular is enabled on the watch the eSIM is active! Wi-Fi calling requires a Cellular device to exchange information with the Carrier network even on Wi-Fi and that information is stored on the eSIM for the Watch!

Dave

So why doesn’t it work when cellular is enabled but you are in a basement with no reception at the time? That’s part of the whole reason for WiFi calling. It seems to depend on having an actual cell signal which I don’t think is the right behaviour.