Yikes! These things can really be life savers. Glad you came out of that.
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Fall detection failure
- Thread starter KFridman
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It's not great at detecting such things I have found. Case in point:
Times it went off:
1. Going down a slide in a pub (don't ask).
2. Sneezing fit.
3. Jumping over a wall because I was too lazy to walk around it.
Times it didn't go off:
1. Falling through snow on a mountain.
2. Falling off my bike.
Times it went off:
1. Going down a slide in a pub (don't ask).
2. Sneezing fit.
3. Jumping over a wall because I was too lazy to walk around it.
Times it didn't go off:
1. Falling through snow on a mountain.
2. Falling off my bike.
Do you EVER have to get cell service on AW for this to happen? Or out of the box if you get cell version and do nothing...can still call 911? Thanks
In some countries, incl USA and Canada, you can call 911 on a cellular version AW without having a cellular plan
Unfortunately I got to see a live demo of this when my mom took a hard fall during an outdoor walk. I can't remember the exact details (been a few years) but we definitely had to stop the countdown of it calling emergency services.
I gave up on Fall Detection. It turned out to be useless after one of the iOS updates (I don't remember which - somewhere during iOS 17). It frequently detected a fall when nothing had happened, and several times when I had actually fallen did not detect a fall. The only thing it accomplished was requiring me to stop whatever I was doing at the time to avoid having the Watch call 911 - completely useless and very frustrating. YMMV.
I have fallen and it goes off if sufficient g-force is indicated. I can pound my fist of the table and set mine off. Then again, I have hit it on a door casing and it did not go off. Even if it does not go off, if you are still conscious, you can press and hold the side button and call 911 from there.
Whenever I want to demonstrate the full feature, I just slap my Apple Watch with an open hand, and it activates perfectly. Other times, I don’t even have to do anything—being older and falling frequently takes care of that. It works well overall, aside from the part where I’m shouting in pain. 😖
This is the first I’ve heard that a non-cellular watch will call if a fall is detected! Now, from what was mentioned, it must be connected to its iPhone — which must be nearby — but with what on?!
Apple needs to explain all this much more clearly. For example, I did not find anything on this page about the requirements.
“Use Fall Detection with Apple Watch”
support.apple.com
In fact, it declares Emergency SOS happens no matter what!
I also checked the web page for the Watch SE.
Buried in the fine print is footnote 7:
What exactly does that mean? If I have a cellular Watch SE, is it “connected”?! Or, does something have to be turned on or activated first?
And, for the non-cellular Watch, what would be involved in setting up “Wi-Fi calling”? Is it sufficient to simply turn on Wi-Fi on both devices?
If the Watch SE, non-cellular, has Airplane Mode off and its paired iPhone is “nearby” (whatever that means) — will it work if only Wi-Fi is on? Or, does Bluetooth have to be on, too? Wouldn't the Wi-Fi network have to be close to both phone and watch, too?
In other words, if one really wants protective Fall Detection, especially if going on a walk, being out and about, or even way in the backyard, they had better get a *cellular* watch!! I know that's what we did, and glad we did, but we were laboring under the impression, anyway, that only *cellular* watches could make emergency calls.
Back to the OP's question and friend's situation…
Was her watch's Wi-Fi on? Was she in range of her Wi-Fi system? Was her iPhone on AND was its Wi-Fi on?
Yet, still wondering, would both devices need Bluetooth on, too?!
Perhaps one of those issues explains things. Even so, it seems upgrading to a cellular watch might be a smart move for her. She may not have her phone with her all the time or be away from Wi-Fi… out on a walk, running errands, taking a hike, or her phone or internet might be glitchy. Cellular would save her in those cases.
Apple needs to explain all this much more clearly. For example, I did not find anything on this page about the requirements.
“Use Fall Detection with Apple Watch”
Use Fall Detection with Apple Watch - Apple Support
If Apple Watch detects a hard fall, it can help connect you to emergency services if needed.
In fact, it declares Emergency SOS happens no matter what!
“If Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4 or later, or Apple Watch Ultra or later detects a hard fall while you're wearing your watch, it taps you on the wrist, sounds an alarm, and displays an alert. …
If your Apple Watch detects that you're moving, it waits for you to respond to the alert and won't automatically call emergency services. If your watch detects that you've been immobile for about a minute, it will make the call automatically.”
I also checked the web page for the Watch SE.
Buy Apple Watch SE
Get $40 - $375 off a new Apple Watch SE when you trade in an Apple Watch. Buy now at apple.com.
www.apple.com
Buried in the fine print is footnote 7:
“7. Emergency SOS requires a cellular connection or Wi-Fi calling with an internet connection from your Apple Watch or nearby iPhone.”
What exactly does that mean? If I have a cellular Watch SE, is it “connected”?! Or, does something have to be turned on or activated first?
And, for the non-cellular Watch, what would be involved in setting up “Wi-Fi calling”? Is it sufficient to simply turn on Wi-Fi on both devices?
If the Watch SE, non-cellular, has Airplane Mode off and its paired iPhone is “nearby” (whatever that means) — will it work if only Wi-Fi is on? Or, does Bluetooth have to be on, too? Wouldn't the Wi-Fi network have to be close to both phone and watch, too?
In other words, if one really wants protective Fall Detection, especially if going on a walk, being out and about, or even way in the backyard, they had better get a *cellular* watch!! I know that's what we did, and glad we did, but we were laboring under the impression, anyway, that only *cellular* watches could make emergency calls.
Back to the OP's question and friend's situation…
Was her watch's Wi-Fi on? Was she in range of her Wi-Fi system? Was her iPhone on AND was its Wi-Fi on?
Yet, still wondering, would both devices need Bluetooth on, too?!
Perhaps one of those issues explains things. Even so, it seems upgrading to a cellular watch might be a smart move for her. She may not have her phone with her all the time or be away from Wi-Fi… out on a walk, running errands, taking a hike, or her phone or internet might be glitchy. Cellular would save her in those cases.
The more I look into this the more confused I get. Tomorrow I'm going to be near my local Apple Store so I'm going to stop in and see if I can be enlightened. She will be down from Canada on Saturday so I'll get a look at how she has her phone and watch set up. Can't say for sure but I'm pretty confident her watch is non-cellular.This is the first I’ve heard that a non-cellular watch will call if a fall is detected! Now, from what was mentioned, it must be connected to its iPhone — which must be nearby — but with what on?!
Apple needs to explain all this much more clearly. For example, I did not find anything on this page about the requirements.
“Use Fall Detection with Apple Watch”
Use Fall Detection with Apple Watch - Apple Support
If Apple Watch detects a hard fall, it can help connect you to emergency services if needed.
In fact, it declares Emergency SOS happens no matter what!
“If Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4 or later, or Apple Watch Ultra or later detects a hard fall while you're wearing your watch, it taps you on the wrist, sounds an alarm, and displays an alert. …If your Apple Watch detects that you're moving, it waits for you to respond to the alert and won't automatically call emergency services. If your watch detects that you've been immobile for about a minute, it will make the call automatically.”
I also checked the web page for the Watch SE.
Buy Apple Watch SE
Get $40 - $375 off a new Apple Watch SE when you trade in an Apple Watch. Buy now at apple.com.www.apple.com
Buried in the fine print is footnote 7:
“7. Emergency SOS requires a cellular connection or Wi-Fi calling with an internet connection from your Apple Watch or nearby iPhone.”
What exactly does that mean? If I have a cellular Watch SE, is it “connected”?! Or, does something have to be turned on or activated first?
And, for the non-cellular Watch, what would be involved in setting up “Wi-Fi calling”? Is it sufficient to simply turn on Wi-Fi on both devices?
If the Watch SE, non-cellular, has Airplane Mode off and its paired iPhone is “nearby” (whatever that means) — will it work if only Wi-Fi is on? Or, does Bluetooth have to be on, too? Wouldn't the Wi-Fi network have to be close to both phone and watch, too?
In other words, if one really wants protective Fall Detection, especially if going on a walk, being out and about, or even way in the backyard, they had better get a *cellular* watch!! I know that's what we did, and glad we did, but we were laboring under the impression, anyway, that only *cellular* watches could make emergency calls.
Back to the OP's question and friend's situation…
Was her watch's Wi-Fi on? Was she in range of her Wi-Fi system? Was her iPhone on AND was its Wi-Fi on?
Yet, still wondering, would both devices need Bluetooth on, too?!
Perhaps one of those issues explains things. Even so, it seems upgrading to a cellular watch might be a smart move for her. She may not have her phone with her all the time or be away from Wi-Fi… out on a walk, running errands, taking a hike, or her phone or internet might be glitchy. Cellular would save her in those cases.
Your watch can make a call from using the mobile connection of its paired iPhone anytime. By default it connects via Bluetooth, but if you are also connected to a known WiFi access point with adequate signal, and you;ve enabled WiFi calling on your iPhone, it will use WiFi calling as well.
I thought it was self-evident, but yes, if your cellular SE watch is within BT range of your iPhone, it is connected enough to make a call. However, as was also posted, in many countries (but that includes the US), a cellular watch will be able to make emergency calls, even without cell service activated for the watch.
That's up to your carrier. You enable it for your iPhone and that also enables it for the watch. I have Verizon, so for me I activate it with Settings / Cellular, tap the eSIM setting for my Verizon account, and turning on WiFi calling is an option there.
In the case of being out and about, the watch would pair with the iPhone and use its cellular connection to complete the call. It only uses WiFi calling when you are connected to a known WiFi access point.
Yes, you need Bluetooth on. It really should always be on if you own a watch - its the most battery-efficient connection method between the watch and the phone.
If you are often doing workouts while not carrying your iPhone, that's probably smart. You don't need to activate cellular, though. But if you can't afford the extra cost for a cellular watch, simply carrying the iPhone with you, or always having it within Bluetooth distance of the watch, is a great alternative.
In the backyard, as long as you ware within WiFi distance, you should be covered as well.