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Using 2 Apple Watches setup from a single iPhone
- Thread starter Richard8655
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If it’s cellular models I would guess it’s because how will it know which one to ring and deliver messages to?
You can use your WiFi models without them being connected to a phone, they will synchronise when they get reconnected with data but if you are using the fitness features which one do you deliver your metrics from?
You can use your WiFi models without them being connected to a phone, they will synchronise when they get reconnected with data but if you are using the fitness features which one do you deliver your metrics from?
Yes thanks. Both watches are GPS-only (non-cellular). One would have fitness data and the other health (ECG) data. I wonder if each (when independently paired to the single iPhone) would deliver their data to the iPhone under their separate domains.
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The watch app on the phone will only make one watch active at any time. That's what limits it. You can set it to the default automatic switching (e.g., the watch app sees that a new watch becomes unlocked while the other locks, so it switches to the new one), or you can make it manually (so you chose which watch is active), but it can only be one at a time.
I haven't explored the option, as I'm single with no kids, and only one Apple Watch, but there's a feature to set up an AW for a child (with features limited to age, etc) from your AW so if the second watch was only for health data, perhaps that might work, but YMMV.
Set up Apple Watch for a family member - Apple Support
Family Setup lets family members who don't have their own iPhone enjoy the features and benefits of an Apple Watch.
How is "active" defined? I'm thinking if one of the watches is not paired to the iPhone, it can still be actively used while the other (paired or not) is being used too. Or is the unpaired watch "locked" and can't be used even when independent of the iPhone?
Yes, many thanks also. I saw that too, but it seems for Family Member setup a separate AppleID is needed for each additonal family member. I wanted to avoid that, but still something to consider and a good suggestion.I haven't explored the option, as I'm single with no kids, and only one Apple Watch, but there's a feature to set up an AW for a child (with features limited to age, etc) from your AW so if the second watch was only for health data, perhaps that might work, but YMMV.
Set up Apple Watch for a family member - Apple Support
Family Setup lets family members who don't have their own iPhone enjoy the features and benefits of an Apple Watch.support.apple.com
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I use two watches paired to a single phone: ONE at a time.
I switch and either charge or shut down the other phone. I don’t know what happens if I try to unlock both at the same time and I’m not going to. My guess is the application looks at which one was last unlocked and gets the updates from it and the other one doesn’t.
When I switch watches, the activities, circles, and messages, etc. take a few minutes to update from the cloud from the other watch (or from the Apple Watch app?). This burns the battery a little more for a short time, but eventually all is caught up.
Each watch still has its own watch faces and configurations.
I guess you need to find someone with two watches who has tried what using two watches at the same time. I’m guessing the second watch would just not be connected to the phone during that time and act independently possibly getting data from Wi-Fi networks in parallel. Eventually, the phone would combine the data.
I switch and either charge or shut down the other phone. I don’t know what happens if I try to unlock both at the same time and I’m not going to. My guess is the application looks at which one was last unlocked and gets the updates from it and the other one doesn’t.
When I switch watches, the activities, circles, and messages, etc. take a few minutes to update from the cloud from the other watch (or from the Apple Watch app?). This burns the battery a little more for a short time, but eventually all is caught up.
Each watch still has its own watch faces and configurations.
There is no “independently of the phone” when they are not cellular. In the end, it’s iCloud that syncs them over Wi-Fi or BT via the phone.
I guess you need to find someone with two watches who has tried what using two watches at the same time. I’m guessing the second watch would just not be connected to the phone during that time and act independently possibly getting data from Wi-Fi networks in parallel. Eventually, the phone would combine the data.
You can have up to 5 watches paired to a single phone with 1 being “actively” connected to the phone and constantly sync’ing with the phone.
I do have 2 watches paired, use 1 for sleep tracking 1 night while the other is being charged.
Sure, you can unlock the other watch manually and use it, but what is it that you are trying to accomplish?
Using 2 watches actively (myself and spouse) with one iPhone. Different apps, metics, and data used on each watch. But this method is sounding impractical and not how it was designed. Probably CharlesShaw's suggestion with Family Setup is the best alternative, though I understand not all apps work for family members.
Well, if it's for a family member then yes, I no longer think my suggestion was too klunky, hehe. If they already have an Apple ID, use that, if not, let them be part of the process to choose the new ID, as they might end up using it for their own iPhone, etc.
Funny, I'm reminded of what Jodi Foster's character in the most recent season of True Detective would say to this forum "you're not asking the right questions." [forum members think a moment, and reply "why are there two watches?"] "Again" (paraphrasing here) ["Who's wearing the second watch?!]. "Yes."
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So since the second watch is for your wife, why don't you want to set up a separate Apple ID for her?
Also, good luck sorting which app/function work with Family Setup and which don't. It might be simplest to just get your wife the cheapest iPhone you can find, that updates to the latest iOS. She doesn't have to get a cellular plan for it, just connect to wifi, and it'll work for managing her watch.
You cannot use different metrics or data, when the “not active” watch, so the one your souse is wearing presumably, is connected to the phone, the data will get syncd and thus “mixed” up on the phone.
Just a couple days ago my secondary watch, while sitting on the nightstand unused, somehow recorded sleep data so I ended up sleeping almost 14hrs that day including time when I was working out wearing the other watch. It is not designed to function that way.
I have no idea how family setup handles this
No, get her an iphone or set her up with a family plan.
It's certainly a good weekend to find a good price on a new iPhone.
And it doesn't even need to be a brand new iPhone, or even activated on a cellular plan (I don't believe). You could buy an older model and just use it to set up & connect to the watch.
Not too old, though. You need one that is compatible with iOS 18.
I was reading between the lines that the OP would be buying himself the new one.
Gotcha!I was reading between the lines that the OP would be buying himself the new one.
Another data point…
We have two watches (a 9 and an original SE) paired to an iPhone SE 2022 and it's not on iOS 18!
Still, the underlying message is a good one — one definitely wants to check Watch and iPhone device, iOS compatibility whenever buying either!
We had to get the SE 2022 because the Watch 9 required iOS 16 and that couldn’t run on the iPhone SE 2016. We had to unpair the Watch SE from the old iPhone SE and pair it with the new one.
Both watches are now paired to the 2022.
N.B. We've used both watches at the same time. (I was testing the Watch SE to see if I could adjust to watch OS 10.) Of course, as noted here, the exercise and health stats combined when the two devices synched to the iPhone.
It's one way someone could cheat to meeting monthly challenges! 😉
As to the OP's original question, now settled, we were in the same boat two years ago and concluded we needed two different iPhones for the two watches for the two different people. It really shouldn't be necessary, but Apple requires it!
Most people would, in any case, already have an iPhone each. We had to join the human tech race! (Double entendre intended!).
But you bought those watches before iOS 18 was released, right?
And since your phone isn't on iOS 18, your watches are on some version of watchOS before 11?
I assumed the OP intends to buy new watches from Apple or other retail dealer, so they'll come with watchOS 11, which requires iOS 18.
I just got a new (well, used, but new to me) iPhone, just so I could update my watch to watchOS 11. So yeah, I'm feeling the pain! 🙃🙃🙃