How To Set up Cellular on Your Apple Watch?

ow to set up cellular on your Apple Watch

As the Apple Watch is now freely available in the market with cellular on your Apple Watch, you can make calls, reply to messages, and receive notifications, even while you’re away from your iOS iPhone.

  • To set up cellular on your Apple Watch make sure that you have the latest software on your iPhone and your Apple Watch.
  • Check for updates to your carrier settings.
  • Make sure that you have an eligible cellular service plan with a supported carrier. Your iPhone and Apple Watch must use the same carrier, and you must be within your carrier’s network when you set up cellular on your watch.
  • If you have an enterprise or corporate cellular service plan, check with your company or carrier to see if they support this feature. Pre-paid accounts and some older accounts aren’t currently supported. To make sure that your account is eligible, contact your carrier Spark.

How To Set up Cellular on Your Apple Watch?

You can activate Cellular on your Apple Watch when you first set up your Apple Watch.  During setup, look for the option to set up cellular, then follow the onscreen steps.

You can also set up cellular on your Apple watch later from the Apple Watch app:

On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app > Tap the My Watch tab, then tap Cellular >Tap Set Up Cellular.

Now follow the instructions for your carrier. You might need to contact your carrier for help.

Now to connect to cellular on your Apple watch switches to the most power-efficient wireless available: It can connect to your iPhone when it is nearby, a Wi-Fi network, or cellular. When your watch connects to cellular, it uses LTE networks. If LTE isn’t available, your watch will try to connect to UMTS if your carrier supports it.

When your watch connects to a cellular network, you can check the signal strength from the Control Center or the Explorer watch face. To open Control Center, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up.

cellular watch

The Cellular button turns green when you have a connection. The green dots show the signal strength.

The cellular on your Apple watch button turns white when your cellular plan is active, but your watch is connected to your iPhone using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Note that your iPhone and Apple Watch must use the same carrier. If you change carriers on your iPhone, then you need to remove the previous service plan on your Apple Watch and sign up for a new plan. All you need to do is:

  • On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app.
  • Tap the My Watch tab, then tap Cellular.

Your cellular on your Apple Watch should automatically switch to the carrier that your iPhone is using. If you need to add a new plan, tap Add a New Plan, then follow the onscreen steps. If your previous plan still appears in the Apple Watch app, you can remove it.

When you’re ready to start using a new Apple Watch, you can transfer cellular service from your old watch to your new one. If that’s what you want then remove the cellular plan from your old Apple Watch. You can do this from the Apple Watch app or by erasing your old Apple Watch.

How to Pair a New Apple Watch With Your iPhone?

Pair your new Apple Watch with your iPhone. During setup, tap “Set up Cellular” to add a cellular plan.

Some carriers allow you to transfer your existing plan to your new Apple Watch directly from the Apple Watch app.  If you don’t see an option to transfer your cellular plan, contact your carrier for help.

cellular watch set up

How to Unpair Cellular on Your Apple Watch?

If you want to remove your cellular on your Apple Watch plan you can do so at any time

  • On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app.
  • Tap the My Watch tab, then tap Cellular.
  • Tap the information button next to your cellular plan at the top of the screen.
  • Tap Remove Spark Plan. Tap again to confirm.

If you aren’t going to pair again, you might need to contact your carrier to cancel your cellular subscription.

When you erase and unpair your Apple Watch, you also get the option to remove the plan from your Apple Watch. When asked, choose Erase All to remove the plan.

Note that cellular roaming isn’t supported outside your carrier network coverage area. To cover the LTE and UMTS bands used around the world, cellular models of Apple Watch come in regional models for the Americas, China mainland, and Europe/Asia Pacific.

Unlike the iPhone, there isn’t a worldwide Apple Watch model that supports all cellular bands used globally.

Features To Use When Apple Watch Is Paired to Your iPhone

Features to use when Apple Watch is Paired to your iPhone
Features to use when Apple Watch is Paired to your iPhone

When your Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone or a previously joined Wi-Fi network, you can still use all the features of your Apple Watch, even if cellular isn’t available.

  • To check your cellular data usage, use the Apple Watch app. Open the app on your iPhone, tap the My Watch tab, tap Cellular, and then scroll to the Cellular Data Usage section.
  • To turn your cellular connection on or off, swipe up from the watch face to open Control Center. Tap the cellular button, then turn Cellular on or off.
  • Turning on cellular for extended periods uses more battery power. Also, some apps might not update without a connection to your iPhone.
  • To receive SMS, MMS, or push notifications from third-party apps on your Apple Watch with cellular, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular.

Related Read: Online Casinos That Accept Apple Pay

Conclusion

Using your Apple Watch just got more exciting with its cellular features. All you need for setup is to update your software, check carrier compatibility, and have an eligible plan. Your watch smartly switches between your iPhone, Wi-Fi, and cellular networks for the best performance.

Managing plans is a breeze through the app, offering flexibility. When upgrading or changing plans, the process is straightforward, ensuring a user-friendly experience. Keep in mind that cellular roaming depends on your carrier’s coverage.

With region-specific design and tailored bands, the Apple Watch enhances connectivity, making it a fantastic addition to your connected lifestyle.

FAQs

How can I connect to cellular on my Apple Watch?

Activate during setup or via the Apple Watch app.
Follow carrier instructions.
Connects to LTE networks; switches to UMTS if LTE is unavailable.

Can I change carriers on my Apple Watch?

Yes, but it must match your iPhone’s carrier.
Remove the previous plan and sign up for a new one.

How do I transfer cellular service to a new Apple Watch?

Pair your new watch during setup.
Tap “Set up Cellular” and follow carrier instructions.
Some carriers allow direct transfer from the Apple Watch app.

How do I unpair or remove a cellular plan from my Apple Watch?

Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
Navigate to Cellular and tap the information button next to your plan.
Choose “Remove [Carrier] Plan” and confirm.

Is cellular roaming supported on Apple Watch outside my carrier’s network coverage area?

No, cellular roaming is not supported.
Regional models are designed for specific LTE and UMTS bands.

What features can I use when my Apple Watch is paired with my iPhone or connected to Wi-Fi?

All features are available, even without cellular connectivity.
Check cellular data usage, toggle cellular connection, and receive notifications.

About the author

Kamal Kaur has been an integral voice in the New Zealand gaming landscape for years. As a senior writer for PokiesMobile NZ, Kamal brings a rich tapestry of experiences from her diverse background. Born in India and later migrating to New Zealand, she effortlessly blends her cultural insights with a deep love for gaming. Kamal is renowned for her in-depth game analysis, player strategies, and a knack for spotting industry trends. When she isn't reviewing the latest pokie, she's penning down her travel escapades or diving into a new book. Her passion for gaming, combined with her storytelling prowess, has endeared her to a vast audience of PokiesMobile NZ readers.

Kamal Kaur

Kamal Kaur has been an integral voice in the New Zealand gaming landscape for years. As a senior writer for PokiesMobile NZ, Kamal brings a rich tapestry of experiences from her diverse background. Born in India and later migrating to New Zealand, she effortlessly blends her cultural insights with a deep love for gaming. Kamal is renowned for her in-depth game analysis, player strategies, and a knack for spotting industry trends. When she isn't reviewing the latest pokie, she's penning down her travel escapades or diving into a new book. Her passion for gaming, combined with her storytelling prowess, has endeared her to a vast audience of PokiesMobile NZ readers.