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jwolf6589

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 15, 2010
4,613
1,411
Colorado
My watch can make calls if connected to Bluetooth and if connected to the same WIFI network as the phone and the phone is in the same building. But the watch cannot make calls if the iPhone is not on the same network I have noticed. Yesterday left my iPhone in the car at church and the watch could connect to the WIFI network but not make calls. Is this normal behavior?
 

KarimLeVallois

macrumors 68020
Feb 22, 2014
2,386
1,580
London
My watch can make calls if connected to Bluetooth and if connected to the same WIFI network as the phone and the phone is in the same building. But the watch cannot make calls if the iPhone is not on the same network I have noticed. Yesterday left my iPhone in the car at church and the watch could connect to the WIFI network but not make calls. Is this normal behavior?

Yes, for the majority both have to be on the same network. There is a mention of 'Wi-Fi Calling on supported iCloud-connected devices', so think that works without being on the same network, but depends if your carrier supports it. Check the link below.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204039
 
Last edited:

twinlight

macrumors 6502a
Sep 4, 2016
716
542
Your watch doesn't have a SIM card and no understanding of cellular network. I guess you should be able to but you first need a sim card and an operator with wifi calling support. Your Watch doesn't magically know which server to use and authenticate with for your call.
 

jwolf6589

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 15, 2010
4,613
1,411
Colorado
Your watch doesn't have a SIM card and no understanding of cellular network. I guess you should be able to but you first need a sim card and an operator with wifi calling support. Your Watch doesn't magically know which server to use and authenticate with for your call.

Sprint does not use SIM cards.
 

blindside217

macrumors regular
Mar 16, 2012
156
56
Yes, Sprint does support it. Do you have any other devices like an iPad or Mac that you can make or receive calls when your iPhone is not on the same network? If it is not working for any device, you may need to activate the feature on your iPhone. You can find it in Settings > Phone > Calls on other Devices. You have to turn the feature on in general and then also activate it for each device that is signed in to your iCloud account. You also have to make sure that Wi-Fi calling is enabled for your iPhone first.

Also, Sprint does use SIM cards for LTE.
 
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noteple

macrumors 65832
Aug 30, 2011
1,501
514
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203032
That said make sure the watch was added to allow calls from other devices.

My experience I have been able to make iCloud WIFI calls (on WIFI networks outside my home /business) from my watch but receiving them get 1 of 3:
1. No ring notification
2. Ring and answer but disconnect or caller reports garbled sound
3. Woks fines.

Try making a call from your watch using the Phone app. Ive left messages on my office answering machine to monitor quality using watch and have found a few other WiFI network quality unacceptable at best.
 

jwolf6589

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 15, 2010
4,613
1,411
Colorado
Yes, Sprint does support it. Do you have any other devices like an iPad or Mac that you can make or receive calls when your iPhone is not on the same network? If it is not working for any device, you may need to activate the feature on your iPhone. You can find it in Settings > Phone > Calls on other Devices. You have to turn the feature on in general and then also activate it for each device that is signed in to your iCloud account. You also have to make sure that Wi-Fi calling is enabled for your iPhone first.

Also, Sprint does use SIM cards for LTE.

Thanks for your help. Wifi calling is enabled and so is allow calls on other devices, however Apple Watch is not listed only my MacBook and iPad.
 

noteple

macrumors 65832
Aug 30, 2011
1,501
514
On Apple Watch, Wi-Fi Calling turns on when Calls on Other Devices is enabled.
however make sure watch is signed into iCloud with same Apple ID
  • Your Mac and Apple Watch are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.
    On your Mac, choose Apple menu () > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
    On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, then go to General > Apple ID.
 

jwolf6589

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 15, 2010
4,613
1,411
Colorado
Yes, Sprint does support it. Do you have any other devices like an iPad or Mac that you can make or receive calls when your iPhone is not on the same network? If it is not working for any device, you may need to activate the feature on your iPhone. You can find it in Settings > Phone > Calls on other Devices. You have to turn the feature on in general and then also activate it for each device that is signed in to your iCloud account. You also have to make sure that Wi-Fi calling is enabled for your iPhone first.

Also, Sprint does use SIM cards for LTE.

Strange why my iPhone has no SIM cards.
 

jwolf6589

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 15, 2010
4,613
1,411
Colorado
On Apple Watch, Wi-Fi Calling turns on when Calls on Other Devices is enabled.
however make sure watch is signed into iCloud with same Apple ID
  • Your Mac and Apple Watch are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.
    On your Mac, choose Apple menu () > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
    On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, then go to General > Apple ID.

Yes all on network with same Apple ID.
 
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