Cellular Apple Watch questions

[iPhoneUser#]

We bought a Cellular Apple Watch yesterday and set it up at our carrier today, as of 8hrs ago. We have a line for each device, unlimited everything. The Watch has it's own cellular number. Still can't make a phone call to or from the watch.

They are supposed to be able to do that right? I'm assuming something went wrong at the cellular store today and that's why it's not connecting? Usually doesn't take this long for a new number added to an account to be activated last I remember.


Any guesses? Plan to go back to the store and see what's going on, also.



Thanks for your help

 

[Lobwedgephil]

We bought a Cellular Apple Watch yesterday and set it up at our carrier today, as of 8hrs ago. We have a line for each device, unlimited everything. The Watch has it's own cellular number. Still can't make a phone call to or from the watch.

They are supposed to be able to do that right? I'm assuming something went wrong at the cellular store today and that's why it's not connecting? Usually doesn't take this long for a new number added to an account to be activated last I remember.


Any guesses? Plan to go back to the store and see what's going on, also.



Thanks for your help

Yes, you should be able to do that. It doesn't take that long. Do you see cellular on in the settings?

 

[iPhoneUser#]

Yes, you should be able to do that. It doesn't take that long. Do you see cellular on in the settings?

Yes, Apparently you can't accept or make calls while Wi-Fi is enabled? I disabled WiFi then was able to make calls and receive calls.

This is our first Apple Watch, btw.

Learning most things get configured in the Apple Watch app on the iPhone

 

[BigMcGuire]

Yes, Apparently you can't accept or make calls while Wi-Fi is enabled? I disabled WiFi then was able to make calls and receive calls.

This is our first Apple Watch, btw.

Learning most things get configured in the Apple Watch app on the iPhone

I have had cellular Apple Watches since they’ve come out. I’ve never had to turn off WiFi to make or receive a call. Hmmmm

What cellular service do you have ?

Verizon has a feature called Number Share where your Apple Watch is effectively the same as your cellphone.

 

[arc of the universe]

Yes, Apparently you can't accept or make calls while Wi-Fi is enabled? I disabled WiFi then was able to make calls and receive calls.

This is our first Apple Watch, btw.

Learning most things get configured in the Apple Watch app on the iPhone

your information and understanding of your apple Watch does not match my experience with my apple Watch.

1 i do not know of any carrier in the world that lets you call from a totally different number on/from/to your Watch.
its a bit more complicated than my simple statement above, but in practical terms, its correct.
meaning: all cellular capable Watches actually do have a different number from the iPhone. but this totally separate number is not even known by most people. in principle, your cellular Watch receives and makes calls on the same number as your iPhone. the only case where this is somewhat different is where the Watch is set up as a child's number paired with an adult's iPhone. in that case there are in fact two different numbers.

2 you can of couse make calls while you are connected to wi-fi.
there is something called wi-fi calling but its not really related to what you are talking about.

your questions and comments actually sounds like you do NOT have a cellular Watch to me.
it sounds like you have a "GPS+Wi-Fi" model. this means that you can make calls to phones, but your iPhone needs to be connected to the internet in order to do that.

apple makes it a little more complicated than i think it needs to be. yes, some settings are done on the Watch app on the iPhone and some settings are also done on the Watch itself. unfortunately its like this.

 

[iPhoneUser#]

We were under the impression that the Watch was essentially like a wearable Apple iPhone and did not need to be tied to an iPhone to do what we assume an iPhone does but on your wrist. For example. Leave the phone at home and take a half hour ride to the park and go for a bike ride or walk all while being able to do the same things as on an iPhone but with the Apple Watch.


All cellular devices have that IMEI number, right? The one we bought has that, unless the Wifi model has them too?

 

[jonh229]

I use VZ as my carrier with number share on 15PM & AWU3. As soon as I got U3 set up I went on a walk and then called my wife's 15PM. Caller ID showed my watch's phone number, not my 15PM shared number. I only tested once and now almost 2 weeks later maybe for kicks I should try it again. My point is with VZ the number assigned to my watch is what shows on caller ID, not the number supposedly shared from my iPhone. Thus correspondents who have my iPhone number in their Contacts list are not going to see my Contact info if I call from my watch.

 

[1rottenapple]

Yes and no. It needs an iPhone connection for sms from what I understand someone correct me if I’m wrong. But it can also be town out of the house and let you send messages and make calls, operate apps.

OP I’ve experienced issues with Apple Watch cellular activation and aside from turning the watch off and on, if that doesn’t fix it then a call or chat with support had worked. It happens a few times with my visible service after I swap phones and the cellular plan gets deactivated. Reactivating it can be tricky.

 

[1rottenapple]

I use VZ as my carrier with number share on 15PM & AWU3. As soon as I got U3 set up I went on a walk and then called my wife's 15PM. Caller ID showed my watch's phone number, not my 15PM shared number. I only tested once and now almost 2 weeks later maybe for kicks I should try it again. My point is with VZ the number assigned to my watch is what shows on caller ID, not the number supposedly shared from my iPhone. Thus correspondents who have my iPhone number in their Contacts list are not going to see my Contact info if I call from my watch.

Whoa really. I honestly never make calls with the watch lol. Go figure.

 

[jonh229]

All cellular devices have that IMEI number, right? The one we bought has that, unless the Wifi model has them too?

The crown (the dial) on the watch is orange or has an orange ring if it is cellular capable. Watches that are not cellular do not have this orange mark on the crown.

 

[arc of the universe]

We were under the impression that the Watch was essentially like a wearable Apple iPhone and did not need to be tied to an iPhone to do what we assume an iPhone does but on your wrist. For example. Leave the phone at home and take a half hour ride to the park and go for a bike ride or walk all while being able to do the same things as on an iPhone but with the Apple Watch.

the capability that you describe above can be done by the "GPS+wi-fi" model, as i have mentioned above.
with the GPS+wi-fi model, all that you need in order to make "cellular" calls is for your iPhone, even if its left at home, but switched on, and for it to be connected to the internet.

the actual "Cellular" model Watch can make calls even if your iPhone is battery dead and not connected to the internet.
that is the only difference between the "GPS+wi-fi" model and the "Cellular" model

(if you bought an older model (not a 2025 year model) its easy to tell if its cellular:
is there a red ring around the crown ?
yes = cellar.
no = GPS+wi-fi
if you bought a new model (a model launched this year) there is no outwardly apparent way to tell. look at the box and see what it says.