If your cellular carrier offers Wi-Fi calling, you can use your Apple Watch to make and receive calls over Wi-Fi instead of the cellular network—even when your paired iPhone isn't with you or is turned off. Your Apple Watch just has to be within range of a Wi-Fi network that your iPhone has connected to in the past.
If your Apple Watch is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular
With a Wi-Fi or cellular connection, your Apple Watch can do the following things, even if your iPhone isn't with you. Make and answer phone calls. Send and receive messages. Use Siri to get directions, send iMessages, and more.
Use your Apple Watch without your iPhone nearby
With Apple Watch with cellular and an activated cellular plan, you can stay connected even when away from your iPhone. For all other models of Apple Watch, there are still things you can do even when you are away from your iPhone and not connected to Wi-Fi.
Any calls or data-related services are routed either via the paired iPhone or via a direct connection between the watch and a compatible Wi-Fi network (when the watch cannot connect to the paired iPhone via Bluetooth). A separate cellular plan for the Apple Watch is not required.
If your cellular carrier offers Wi-Fi calling, you can use your Apple Watch to make and receive calls over Wi-Fi instead of the cellular network—even when your paired iPhone isn't with you or is turned off. Your Apple Watch just has to be within range of a Wi-Fi network that your iPhone has connected to in the past.
With Apple Watch with cellular and a cellular connection to the same carrier used by your iPhone, you can make calls, reply to messages, use Walkie-Talkie, stream music and podcasts, receive notifications, and more, even when you don't have your iPhone or a Wi-Fi connection.
It must be a cellular-enabled watch capable of connecting to an LTE network without being tethered to a phone. This will also require a separate data subscription, because annoyingly, my operator doesn't allow data to be shared between phone plans and watch plans.
Cellular is not required to make or take calls or send or receive messages. However, you will need either the paired iPhone nearby, or if the iPhone is not nearby, a Wifi connection for the watch, and for the paired iPhone to be on, and have a cellular data connection or wifi available as well.
Bluetooth on the Apple Watch has a maximum range of 100 meters/330 feet, though the range may be shorter in practice. If the paired iPhone is connected to a known Wi-Fi network, the Apple Watch and iPhone can communicate over Wi-Fi.
Tap Wi-Fi Calling, then turn on Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices. This allows iPad and other devices where you're signed in with the same Apple ID to make and receive calls even when your iPhone isn't nearby.
If you want to spend less or don't intend on ever leaving your phone at home, the Apple Watch GPS version is the best option. However, if you plan on leaving your phone at home often such as while going for a run, the Apple Watch GPS+Cellular is the more attractive option by a long shot.
Check your connection
Make sure that your Apple Watch can connect to your iPhone, cellular, or Wi-Fi. To send and receive SMS/MMS from cellular models of Apple Watch, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but your iPhone doesn't need to be nearby.
A smartwatch can help you stay connected and multitask so you never miss a beat. Whether you'd rather keep your phone stashed away or you always find yourself missing important calls, smartwatches sync with your smartphone so you can manage your digital life conveniently and discreetly.
Hey, I understand that in Australia, cellular Apple Watch's are only compatible with Optus, Telstra and Vodafone.
Open the Watch app on your iPhone. With Bluetooth turned on, pair your Apple Watch to your iPhone. When prompted during setup, confirm your Telstra One Number subscription, and your Apple Watch will automatically connect to the Telstra network.
- If your iPhone is locked or asleep and your watch is unlocked and on your wrist, you will receive notifications on your watch. - If your watch is locked or has Do Not Disturb enabled, notifications will go to your iPhone.
The red dot on your Apple Watch is a signal that shows you have unread notifications. These can be anything from calls and texts to push notifications from apps, like somebody liking your post on Facebook or requesting to follow you on Instagram.
Normal Bluetooth range is around 33 feet / 10 meters, but this will vary in practice due to wireless interference. Whenever your watch can't connect to the iPhone, it will attempt, as a fallback, to connect to a known, compatible Wi-Fi network.