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how do you know if wifi calling is turned on for apple watch? Does that mean wifi calling has to be turned on for the phone as well?
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how do you know if wifi calling is turned on for apple watch? Does that mean wifi calling has to be turned on for the phone as well?

Yes

If you don't see the setting on the watch, make sure you enabled Wi-Fi calling on iPhone
 

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how do you know if wifi calling is turned on for apple watch? Does that mean wifi calling has to be turned on for the phone as well?
OK, let's backup a few steps.

The iPhone needs to have VoLTE Enabled (Voice & Data) to get HD Voice. HD Voice is a pre-req to have Wi-Fi Calling Enabled. Wi-Fi Calling be Enabled on the iPhone is a pre-req to have Wi-Fi Calling on the Watch.

Dave
 
So if I don't have wifi calling enabled on phone - but can still make phone calls on watch both at home near phone and when away from phone/home - what benefit does wifi calling have? Does it use less battery?
I am not trying to be combative - I really don't understand what it is for.
 
So if I don't have wifi calling enabled on phone - but can still make phone calls on watch both at home near phone and when away from phone/home - what benefit does wifi calling have? Does it use less battery?
I am not trying to be combative - I really don't understand what it is for.


The benefit of wifi calling is if you are in a place/area that you can't get LTE or the signal is weak but you have wifi. I used wifi calling on my iPhone when I was in Guam instead of using cellular due to the cost of making a cellular call, also I was able to use FaceTime audio but with that you can only call other iPhone users.
 
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I’ve always been under the impression that you can make and receive SMS without needing the phone, however the few people I regularly text are all iMessage, and for that rare case I do use SMS my phone is never off. If that is true then it seems like a rather large flaw for a device that is actively connected to the cellular network. I haven’t tried it, but it may work differently with the watch since it’s actually tied to the cell network.
Technically not a flaw, it's an AT&T thing. The other carriers don't put that limitation on it.
 
I just turned wifi calling on for the phone -and my earlier apple watch is in the list of devices (along with ipad etc) but apple watch 3 is not there - should it show up in the list of calls on other devices?
 
So if I don't have wifi calling enabled on phone - but can still make phone calls on watch both at home near phone and when away from phone/home - what benefit does wifi calling have? Does it use less battery?
I am not trying to be combative - I really don't understand what it is for.
Great question. You should consider enabling Wi-Fi calling your iPhone. This allows you to setup Wi-Fi Calling for you Watch. Note: this is done on the iPhone and not setup directly on your Watch.

The Watch tries to use the connectivity with the lowest "power cost". The order is Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and then LTE.

Dave
 
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I just turned wifi calling on for the phone -and my earlier apple watch is in the list of devices (along with ipad etc) but apple watch 3 is not there - should it show up in the list of calls on other devices?

I am not really sure, mine is not listed either. Can you test to see if you can make a wifi call. Put phone in airplane mode and turn off cellular on watch. I would assume the watch would connect to wifi and you should be able to make a call. I am unable to test it now since I am not home.
 
I just turned wifi calling on for the phone -and my earlier apple watch is in the list of devices (along with ipad etc) but apple watch 3 is not there - should it show up in the list of calls on other devices?
That would indicate that you did not setup Wi-Fi calling during your Watch's setup because you had Wi-Fi calling off.

What carrier are you using? Before you an make a Wi-Fi call from the watch, Wi-Fi calling has to be setup. You have to complete the e911 address setup and verification here in the USA. This is all done from your iPhone.

Dave
 
I just turned wifi calling on for the phone -and my earlier apple watch is in the list of devices (along with ipad etc) but apple watch 3 is not there - should it show up in the list of calls on other devices?
*edit What dave006 said above. Make sure that is done and it will appear in your WiFi settings.
 
I’m not trying to be pest but I have seen certain company make a Bluetooth version and lte version and how the iPhone Watch 3 works even though it says lte it works like the Bluetooth versions of other company but the other company lte version Watch acts with or phone or without phone making calls/sms/mms. The point in this Watch was to leave your phone behind but what if your phone is dead or low battery your screwed.
 
That would indicate that you did not setup Wi-Fi calling during your Watch's setup because you had Wi-Fi calling off.

What carrier are you using? Before you an make a Wi-Fi call from the watch, Wi-Fi calling has to be setup. You have to complete the e911 address setup and verification here in the USA. This is all done from your iPhone.

Dave

I did do that part. I am on verizon
 
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I’m not trying to be pest but I have seen certain company make a Bluetooth version and lte version and how the iPhone Watch 3 works even though it says lte it works like the Bluetooth versions of other company but the other company lte version Watch acts with or phone or without phone making calls/sms/mms. The point in this Watch was to leave your phone behind but what if your phone is dead or low battery your screwed.
If your phone is off or not connected to the carrier network, some watch features don't' work but you can make calls via Wi-Fi and make calls via LTE for example. So you are not screwed. For you is it an all or nothing decision?

Dave
 
I’m not trying to be pest but I have seen certain company make a Bluetooth version and lte version and how the iPhone Watch 3 works even though it says lte it works like the Bluetooth versions of other company but the other company lte version Watch acts with or phone or without phone making calls/sms/mms. The point in this Watch was to leave your phone behind but what if your phone is dead or low battery your screwed.
If your phone is off or not connected to the carrier network, some watch features don't' work but you can make calls via Wi-Fi and make calls via LTE for example. So you are not screwed. For you is it an all or nothing decision?

Dave
Yeah you're not exactly screwed. But it seems AT&T and T-Mobile are putting some restrictions on that Verizon & Sprint don't. It may be the limitations of how GSM handles call forwarding or those carriers implementation of it. But it's definitely not a limitation on the Watch's part. Mine works whether my phone is on or off as long as I have a LTE or WiFi connection I don't have any issues calling or sending messages.
 
I did do that part.
OK then on your Apple Watch, Wi-Fi Calling turns on when Calls on Other Devices is enabled.
Technically not a flaw, it's an AT&T thing. The other carriers don't put that limitation on it.
No it is not an AT&T thing. This is how Apple designed their Ecosystem and Continuity. In the case of the USA, all 4 carriers have the same restrictions / features.

If you can find an exception for a specific carrier, please share.

Dave
 
Yes - wifi calling is on and all my other devices show up - including my apple watch 1 - just not the 3.
Just tried unpairing and repairing - and still do not get the choice on watch app under phone or in the list of devices to choose on iphone settings.
 
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I am currently in the process of setting up a second Apple Watch 3 LTE to my phone (No, I don't really need 2 apple watches, I just need to test the battery life different between 38mm and 42mm).
So far I am having now trouble, but I think this can also test how the LTE works, will both watches ring at the same time? since they can now connect to data independently without connect to phone?
 
If your phone is off or not connected to the carrier network, some watch features don't' work but you can make calls via Wi-Fi and make calls via LTE for example. So you are not screwed. For you is it an all or nothing decision?

Dave

That’s what I’m leaning towards the all or nothing. Geez we having to get people to do this and that to really know exactly what the watch does. But anyway still on the fence with though. Well do you think Apple will iron the connectivity issue with software and not hardware
 
Yes - wifi calling is on and all my other devices show up - including my apple watch 1 - just not the 3.
Just tried unpairing and repairing - and still do not get the choice on watch app under phone or in the list of devices to choose on iphone settings.
It doesn't show up on mine either, but I'm pretty sure it is working - if yours is the LTE version. I *believe* that VoLTE requires wi-fi calling be setup and working so maybe they didn't bother putting it in the list.
 
Yes - wifi calling is on and all my other devices show up - including my apple watch 1 - just not the 3.
Just tried unpairing and repairing - and still do not get the choice on watch app under phone or in the list of devices to choose on iphone settings.
OK, just to clarify that when you do this: go to the Watch App on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Phone, then turn Wi-Fi Calling On/Off. You don't see Wi-Fi Calling?

The watch will not appear in the list since the management of Wi-Fi Calling is now in the My Watch app.

Dave
 
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