Setting up an Apple Watch for an adult family member

[StoveJeebs]

Hi all,

I have an adult family member who just purchased an Apple Watch Series 5 40mm WiFi. They don't have their own iPhone.
Our impression was that they could set up their new Watch through my iPhone (12 Pro Max). What we found was that the Apple Watch refused to even update. We called Apple Support, and they said that it wasn't even possible to setup an Apple Watch for someone else? WHAT?! Is this even correct? I thought that you could setup someone's watch using your iPhone, and they'd be able to use it as their own?


Below is the error we received. The Watch refused to update, and therefore wouldn't pair.
Apple Support wouldn't help further, and ended the call..

 

[Apple_Robert]

The watch needs to have cellular ability.

Set up Apple Watch For Your Kids

You can set up any Apple Watch with cellular for your child or family member, even if they don’t have their own iPhone.

support.apple.com