The Apple Watch is among the few smartwatches with a cellular version that allows you to call and text your friends and family. The Watch is a companion device to the iPhone, and you may wonder whether you can have different carriers between these devices.
So, can my iPhone and Apple Watch have different carriers? Your iPhone and Apple watch will use the same carrier, given that they are companion devices. The Apple Watch has an e-SIM that gets information from your iPhone for proper functionality.
Your iPhone and Apple watch also share the same phone number, which is why using the same carrier is necessary despite functioning independently. Hence, if you switch to a different carrier on your iPhone, you should remove the service plan on your Apple Watch and sign up with the new one.
The launch of cellular support on the Apple Watch is an important addition as the Watch seems to have the freedom to allow you to carry out important functionalities without relying much on your iPhone.
Still, there is a dependency between the two devices, and I will help you know whether your Apple Watch and iPhone can have different carriers. Your iPhone and Apple Watch can’t have different carriers. This is because the e-SIM in your Apple Watch gets information from your iPhone sim card for proper functionality.
Also, the phone number of your Apple watch is the same as that of your iPhone’s sim card, which is why the Watch and iPhone have to use the same carrier. Thus, when you switch your iPhone carrier on your iPhone, you should apply the same changes to your Apple Watch.
Before diving into the carriers and Apple watches, it is important to understand the Apple watches currently in the market. Apple watches are available in two versions, GPS and GPS + Cellular.
The Apple Watch GPS is useful in tracking your location and activity without connecting to a cellular network. On the other hand, the Apple Watch GPS+ Cellular features texting, phone call, and data usage in addition to the GPS.
If you want convenience, the GPS + Cellular should be your go-to watch, but if you only want to track your fitness and check your notifications, then the GPS will work best.
When you connect your Apple watch to a cellular network, its cellular icon will turn green. The green dots above this icon indicate the signal strength. The icon will turn white despite having an active cellular plan to the internet through Wi-Fi.
When buying the Apple watch Cellular, it is worth noting that the purchase price does not include the data plan. Each carrier has different plans, and you can pick any that suits you. The prices start from $10 per month and can vary with the carrier.
By visiting your carrier’s website, you will get all the information you need on cellular plans for your Apple Watch. As you set your Apple watch cellular data, you will be redirected to your iPhone’s carrier portal for the Apple Watch.
While here, you can add your monthly plan depending on your carrier and region. In this portal, there is no option for picking your carrier on the Apple Watch, hence hacking your way around your provider will be impossible.
You can answer calls directly if you have a cellular plan on your Apple Watch. Without this plan, you should connect your Apple Watch to your iPhone to receive calls on your Apple Watch.
Equally, you cannot send or receive messages directly on your Apple Watch without a cellular plan. Hence, like in calls, you should connect your iPhone to your Apple Watch and text or receive texts via Bluetooth.
Switching to a different carrier is possible on your Watch as long as you do the same on your iPhone, given that the condition for this functionality is using the same network. Start by launching the Watch app on your paired iPhone, tap the My Watch tab, and then select Cellular. This action will switch your carrier plan automatically. To add a new plan, tap the Add a New Plan and follow the onscreen instructions.
Equally, you can remove your cellular plan on Apple Watch. To do this, launch the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap Cellular, and then the “I” button next to your carrier at the top of the screen. Tap the Remove carrier plan and confirm to remove. If you want to switch to an entirely new plan, you will have to contact your carrier and cancel your cellular subscription.
Carrier Locking
One of the major concerns with Apple watches is whether they are locked to one carrier. Read on as I unveil the truth behind this concern.
Apple watches are not locked to one carrier. Many carriers support Apple Watch, but with the cellular version, you are prone to some limitations. However, this is not the case with GPS-only watches since carriers do not even matter in these models.
If you come across the term carrier locked, you may have obtained your Watch from a carrier who may lock it into their network until the device value is paid in one or more forms. Hence, you should buy your Apple watch from Apple to avoid this problem.
Doing this will give you the leeway to choose the carrier you want, but you should brace yourself for higher prices. Still, this is ideal as you will choose a plan that best meets your needs.
You can unlock your Apple watch that is carrier locked. To do this, you will contact your carrier to cancel your subscriptions to the Apple Watch. Afterwards, you can connect your Apple watch to your iPhone and open the Apple Watch app.
On the app, tap My Watch, then Cellular. Tap the information button, which will populate three choices: Remove Carrier Plan, Manage Carrier Account and Cancel. Select Remove Carrier to cancel your plan with the carrier.
An apple watch locked into a carrier has pros and cons. First, you may have probably bought your Apple Watch at a lower price, as carriers subsidize this cost based on the contract they hold with the buyer. This way, the Apple Watch could become affordable to more people, though the carriers may still charge you more in subscription and other network fees.
Having a locked carrier could also come with customer support benefits. It is much easier for such customers to contact customer support or return such watches in case of an issue. On the other hand, if your Watch is unlocked, you can only rely on Apple’s customer service, which could be crowded.
Locked Apple watches also feature certain drawbacks. For instance, you will be limited in your carrier choice. Also, should you want to switch to a different carrier later, you may have to pay a termination fee. Using a locked carrier Apple Watch may also result in higher monthly bills, as you have no option of switching to an affordable service provider in case of hiked prices.
Thus, with the above setbacks and benefits in mind, your choice of a locked versus unlocked Apple watch will depend on what you deem important and your needs. If you are concerned with the price, then the locked carrier will work for you, but if you want freedom and flexibility, do not hesitate to visit your nearest Apple Store for an unlocked Apple Watch. Still, before making your final decision, read the terms and conditions of purchase.
Different Phone Numbers
The Apple Watch and the iPhone are companion devices. As such, they share the same phone number, making the Apple Watch Cellular useful for receiving and making phone calls and texting. However, you may wonder if they can have different phone numbers.
Your iPhone and Watch can have different phone numbers if you set up multiple cellular plans on your iPhone with a dual sim. This way, you can add more lines to your Apple Watch cellular and select the one that your Watch can use when connected to cellular networks.
While it is possible to have a different phone number on your Apple Watch, you should note that the Apple Watch features a distinct phone number that you can sync with your iPhone. Each Apple watch has this number, but in practice, your Apple Watch will take the identity of your iPhone that you set it up with.
Hence, while you can have as many contacts on your Apple watch, you cannot change the one tied to its SIM. This number allows you to treat your Apple Watch as your second iPhone. If you call or text someone from your Apple Watch while away from your iPhone, they will see the communication coming from you.
While your Apple Watch has a unique phone number, attempting to call this number will give you a message that you cannot reach it. This explains why reaching your Apple Watch requires you to call your regular cell phone number.
The Apple Watch’s unique number is visible on your phone bill. This number is unique to your Watch, and, in this case, serves as a billing identifier. To locate your Apple billing number, launch your Watch app, then tap Cellular.
You will see the name of your provider under the Cellular plan. Tap the information icon, and you will see the details of your cellular network provider. Next to the Watch line is your Apple Watch phone number. If you cannot trace your phone number using the above steps, you may need to contact your provider directly for guidance.
Contacting your provider is a safe way to avoid leaking critical information to unauthorized persons that could grant them access to sensitive information on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
When setting your watch for the first time, you can only add one plan. You can set the second plan later in your Apple watch with a few steps. Start by launching your Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Tap My Watch, then Cellular.
On the Cellular window, tap Add a New Plan or Set Up Cellular. Follow the instructions to select the plan you want to add to your Apple Watch. While you can add several lines to your Apple Watch, you should note that your Watch will connect to only one at a time.
Your Apple Watch will receive calls and respond to texts uniquely when using multiple cellular plans. You can receive calls or text messages from both lines if connected to your iPhone. Your Watch will display a badge showing the cellular line you are receiving your notification.
For instance, H will indicate Home and W, Work, and when you respond to the call, your Watch will respond from the line that received the message or call.
If you are near your iPhone with multiple plans, you will receive your calls from the line you choose in your Apple Watch. When you return a call, your Watch will use the line you have chosen from your Watch app.
The scenario will be similar in messaging, with you responding to your texts through the line that received the message. You can also receive iMessage texts if you have an active connection via a cellular network or Wi-Fi.
Summary
The iPhone and Apple Watch are companion devices; hence they function better using the same carriers. The Apple Watch features an e-SIM that gets information from the iPhone for proper functionality. This also explains why the two devices share the same phone number.
Hence, if you are considering another carrier, you should apply your changes to your iPhone and Apple Watch. You can also use your Apple watch with any carrier as Apple does not lock it. On the other hand, you can buy a locked Watch at discounted rates from carriers.
While the iPhone and Apple Watch share the same number, you can have multiple plans with dual sims. A dual plan allows you to add more lines to your Apple Watch cellular, and you can select either for your calls and SMS. Also, the Apple Watch features a unique number that serves as a billing identifier.
