Resolved Help ! Apple Watch Ultra 2

[IGWT15]

My question is I bought the Ultra 2 with Cellular service through AT&T, but I have noticed that if my iPhone is dead or turned OFF, and I call myself through another number, my watch does not ring, is that normal or is it suppose to ring even if the iPhone is OFF, dead or not in distance??

 

[russell_314]

My question is I bought the Ultra 2 with Cellular service through AT&T, but I have noticed that if my iPhone is dead or turned OFF, and I call myself through another number, my watch does not ring, is that normal or is it suppose to ring even if the iPhone is OFF, dead or not in distance??

I don’t know if this app applies to AT&T, but I had mine through Verizon. I was told by Verizon that the watch is supposed to have a cellular data connection. Meaning it’s not supposed to receive or send calls independently. However looking at the billing statement it had its own number different from my iPhone phone number. That number occasionally received spam calls, but I’ve never actually tried to call it. I kind of regret not doing that.

I think there was an option to give the watch its own line independently. I didn’t look into that because it was much more expensive so I don’t know if that would’ve gave it the capability to receive calls, but I’m guessing so.

I wish I still had it connected so I can test it

 

[oric1sg]

From ChatGPT

This comes up a lot when people first get the Apple Watch with cellular.

Here’s how it works with AT&T (and most carriers that support Apple Watch):

• If your iPhone is ON and connected (nearby or via Wi-Fi):
  Calls to your iPhone number will ring on both your iPhone and your Apple Watch.
• If your iPhone is OFF, dead, or out of service:
  The Apple Watch should still be able to receive calls directly, but only if you have activated NumberSync (AT&T’s Apple Watch pairing service) and your watch shows cellular connectivity (green dots on the watch face’s control center).
• If NumberSync is not set up or not active:
  Then your watch depends on the iPhone being on/connected. In this case, when your iPhone is off or dead, calls won’t ring on the watch.

👉 In short:
It’s not normal if your Apple Watch Ultra 2 with active AT&T cellular service does not ring when your iPhone is off, provided that NumberSync is active and you see the cellular signal on the watch. If that’s happening, it likely means:

• NumberSync didn’t finish activation properly, or
• AT&T hasn’t provisioned your watch line correctly.

You can check on your watch:

1. Open Settings → Cellular. Make sure it says “AT&T” and shows a signal.
2. On your iPhone, open the Watch app → Cellular and check if NumberSync is listed as “Active.”

If it isn’t, you’ll need to go back into the Watch app and re-activate cellular, or call AT&T support so they can refresh your NumberSync provisioning.

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Step by step to check if your Apple Watch Ultra 2 Cellular is correctly set up with AT&T NumberSync.

✅ Step 1: Check if your watch has an AT&T cellular plan

1. On your Apple Watch, open Settings → Cellular.
   • Do you see AT&T listed?
   • Do you see signal bars (green dots) when you turn off Bluetooth & Wi-Fi?

If it says “No SIM” or “Not in Use”, then cellular hasn’t been set up yet.

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✅ Step 2: Check NumberSync status from your iPhone

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Cellular.
3. Under CELLULAR PLAN, you should see AT&T listed.
   • If it says Active, that means NumberSync is provisioned.
   • If it says Not Set Up or shows an error, the watch isn’t paired with your AT&T account properly.

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✅ Step 3: Test the watch independently

1. Turn OFF your iPhone completely (or put it in Airplane Mode).
2. On your watch, make sure Cellular is ON (swipe up → green dots should appear).
3. From another phone, call your number.
   • If NumberSync is working, your watch should ring even with your iPhone off.

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⚠️ If it doesn’t ring

That usually means NumberSync isn’t activated or is broken on AT&T’s side.

• You can try: On your iPhone → Watch app → Cellular → Remove Plan, then re-add the plan.
• If it still doesn’t fix, you’ll need to call AT&T support and ask them to re-provision NumberSync for Apple Watch (sometimes their system doesn’t finish linking your watch line to your iPhone number).