The Apple Watch boasts one of the versatile wearable technology for its user-friendly features such as workout and location. While Apple continues to develop this device, some users still find the connections in this device confusing.
So, does the Apple Watch need service? An Apple Watch may require service or repair in certain situations, where there is physical damage, cracks on the display, no response to touch, apps are not launching or are crashing, inability to connect to an iPhone, Wi-Fi or cellular network. Visting an authorized Apple service provider or contacting Apple Support for further assistance may be required.
Like any electronic device, an Apple Watch may require service or repair in certain situations. The following are some signs that your Apple Watch may need service:
- Physical damage: If your Apple Watch has been physically damaged or has cracks on the display, it may need service or repair.
- Battery issues: If the battery is draining quickly or the Apple Watch won’t turn on, it may need a battery replacement.
- Software issues: If the Apple Watch is not responding to touch, apps are not launching or crashing, it may require software updates or a reset.
- Connectivity issues: If your Apple Watch is not connecting to your iPhone, Wi-Fi or cellular network, it may need troubleshooting.
If you encounter any of these issues, visit an authorized Apple service provider or contact Apple Support for further assistance. Remember to check if your Apple Watch is still covered under warranty or AppleCare+ before seeking any services or repairs.
Whether your Apple Watch needs service is dependent on the type of watch you own and your intended use. Apple watches are available in cellular and GPS-only versions and establishing the kind of watch you are using is the first step to determining whether it can function without service.
Also, while you could own an Apple Watch with cellular capabilities, it will make sense to have service if you intend to use your Watch for cellular functions such as calling and texting.
Apple designs its Watch in such a way that users can use them like their iPhones. Users can call, text, view apps, photos, and videos, and listen to podcasts using their Apple Watch. These features are not automatically accessible; therefore, read on to know whether your Apple needs service and the features you can access without.
Your Apple Watch will need service depending on its type and the functions you want to use. Hence, before subscribing to a service, you should establish the type of watch you own and the purposes you intend to use it.
Earlier Apple watch models were GPS, hence lacked the cellular option, while the recent ones come in cellular and non-cellular options. If your model is GPS only, it lacks cellular capacity, and you can use it to view other apps apart from those requiring cellular connectivity.
Can you use an Apple Watch without a service?
Upon purchasing an Apple Watch cellular with the cellular option, your next concern will be whether you can use it without service. Like the GPS-only Watch, your Apple Cellular will work well without a data connection, but if you want to access services, you can connect it to your iPhone.
you can use an Apple Watch without a cellular service. If you have a Wi-Fi connection, you can use an Apple Watch to make calls, send texts, and access many other features. However, some features may not be available without a cellular connection, such as making or receiving calls and texts when your iPhone is not nearby.
To use an Apple Watch without a cellular service, you need to pair it with an iPhone that has an active cellular plan. The iPhone acts as a bridge for the Apple Watch to access data and make calls and texts.
Keep in mind that if you plan to use your Apple Watch for fitness or health tracking, it still requires a connection to an iPhone or Wi-Fi network to sync data to the Health app. However, you can still track workouts and activity without a connection, and the data will sync to the iPhone when connected later.
Apple cellular watches are usable independently of the iPhone if you activate the Service. If you intend to go out jogging or do other activities that could risk your iPhone and still want to access calling, texting, walkie-talkie, check the weather, and stream podcasts and music, you will need a service plan.
Apple Watch Cellular Without a Plan
It is possible to wonder whether you need a data plan for your Apple Watch, based on your usage. While you can access most features of your Apple Watch without a data plan, I will help you know whether subscribing to one is worth the money.
You cannot use an Apple Watch with cellular without a plan. To use the cellular feature on an Apple Watch, you must activate a plan with a carrier that supports Apple Watch cellular service.
When you purchase an Apple Watch with cellular, you will be asked to choose a carrier and activate a plan during the setup process. Most carriers charge a monthly fee for the cellular service on your Apple Watch, and this cost varies depending on the carrier and the plan you choose.
Keep in mind that without a cellular plan, your Apple Watch can still connect to your iPhone or a Wi-Fi network to access many features, but you will not be able to make or receive calls and texts or use certain apps that require a cellular connection.
Your decision to use your Apple Watch cellular is dependent on how you want to use your Watch. The Apple cellular model allows you to have a data plan, with which you can utilize cellular capabilities such as calling and texting through your Apple Watch.
Most of your Apple Watch cellular features will work fine without a data connection as you can replicate these functions by connecting to your iPhone. Hence, if you do not plan to leave your iPhone behind when heading out, you will not need a cellular plan, as your iPhone will take care of the connectivity.
Apple ensures this by setting up an eSIM that is a built-in sim card in the form of a chip inside its watches. An eSIM is a digital sim that your carrier sends to you, saving you the need to ship a physical sim card that could get lost along the way.
eSIMs are also convenient as they reduce the physical space in a cellular device. This way, devices such as the Apple Watch cellular can offer cellular connectivity independently. Most Cellular service providers will allow you to share a data plan with an ESIM device such as the Apple Watch.
This saves you the need for an Apple Watch cellular plan as you can share the cellular plan on your iPhone with your Apple Watch cellular.
In some instances, your carrier may not support ESIM sharing, or you may not have a current cellular data plan, forcing you to pick a different data plan for your Apple Watch. With a data plan on your Apple watch cellular, you do not need your iPhone nearby for a connection.
Instead, you can leave your iPhone and run your errands with your Apple Watch performing similar functions to your iPhone. However, finding people with an Apple Watch without an iPhone is almost impossible. Also, most carriers support ESIM plan sharing.
Before setting up a data plan for your Apple Watch cellular, you should ensure you have the latest software on your iPhone and Apple Watch. This is because the older IOS versions may have bugs and glitches that could prevent proper functionality with the iPhone.
Also, your iPhone and Apple Watch should have the same mobile plan for them to work together. These devices will also share the same contact though the Apple Watch has its unique identifier, which is useful for billing purposes.
When ready to set up your cellular plan, you can do so by navigating to your iPhone and launching the Apple Watch app. On My Watch, tap Cellular then Set up Cellular. From here, you will receive instructions from the network provider to finish the setup.
With an Apple Watch cellular plan, you will incur an extra 10 to 15 dollars into your current mobile service plan. This price will vary depending on your service provider. Apple does not limit its users to one carrier. Hence, depending on your location, you can choose a carrier that matches your needs and budget.
With the above convenience from an Apple Watch, your final concern will be whether getting such a watch is worth it. Undoubtedly, the Apple Watch cellular offers more independent functionality than the Apple GPS-only watch.
The fact that you can leave your iPhone at home and still access most of its capabilities using your watch is reason enough to buy this watch.
Other benefits you may want to explore on your Apple Watch include the extra memory, Apple Streaming support, and its stainless steel build option. On the other hand, you can go with the Wi-Fi-only option Watch for its cost. In addition to the higher purchase price, Apple Cellular will be expensive in the long run for the data plan and other carrier charges.
Calls on Apple Watch Without Cellular
An Apple Watch is a convenient and versatile device that gives you a phone experience. It is a companion device to the iPhone, and while it can work independently, this option sacrifices the most prominent features of the watch. When making and receiving calls, a common concern among users is whether this is possible without cellular.
You can make calls on an Apple Watch without cellular if your watch is connected to a Wi-Fi network and your iPhone is nearby. When your iPhone is within range, your Apple Watch can make and receive calls using your iPhone’s cellular connection.
To make a call from your Apple Watch without cellular:
- Make sure your Apple Watch is connected to a Wi-Fi network and your iPhone is nearby.
- Open the Phone app on your Apple Watch.
- Use the keypad or contacts to select the person you want to call.
- Tap the green phone icon to make the call.
If your iPhone is not nearby, you will not be able to make calls from your Apple Watch without cellular service. However, you can still use your Apple Watch to send and receive text messages, track your fitness goals, and use many other features even without a cellular connection.
While initiating calls on your Apple Watch is possible, you must have a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. The application of either option will depend on your Apple Watch model. There are two Apple Watch versions, the GPS only and the GPS + Cellular.
The Apple GPS watch allows you to call and receive calls as long as your iPhone is nearby, while the Apple Watch GPS+ Cellular can make and receive calls even when your iPhone is not reachable.
Thus, the cellular connection makes your Apple Watch a standalone device and making calls on your Apple Watch is only possible if it supports a cellular connection or you enable Wi-Fi calling.
Being smart devices, your iPhone and Apple Watch will switch between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections intelligently when a cellular connection is unavailable. Your Apple watch will utilize a Bluetooth connection when your iPhone is near, conserving its power.
When Bluetooth is unavailable, your Apple Watch will use Wi-Fi, and if both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are unavailable, that is when a cellular option is mandatory.
Calling through your Apple Watch is possible if it supports Wi-Fi calling. This will occur when the cellular signals are weak, and your iPhone is beyond reach. The condition for this functionality is that your Apple Watch should be in the range of a Wi-Fi network that your iPhone accessed before. Also, you will have to enable the Wi-Fi calling feature.
To do this, navigate to your Paired iPhone Settings, tap Phone, then Wi-Fi Calling. Proceed to turn on the Wi-Fi calling on this iPhone, then add Wi-Fi calling for other devices. On your Apple Watch, open the Phone App and tap a contact, then select the FaceTime address or the Phone number of the contact you want to call.
It is also possible to make emergency calls through Wi-Fi on your Watch, but as much as you can, it is advisable to use your iPhone to give a more accurate location. Other features you can access on your Apple watch with Wi-Fi away from your iPhone include Siri, iMessage, the Walkie-Talkie app, music, video and podcast streaming, and other apps that support Wi-Fi.
If a Wi-Fi call fails, you will be limited to cellular calling, possible with an Apple Watch GPS+ Cellular. The Apple GPS + Cellular watch costs more than the GPS-only version. This Watch also uses a carrier plan and can function independently in calling and texting.
Still, you have to set up your Apple Watch to access this feature. To do this, start by checking that your Apple Watch and iPhone are using the latest software. Also, update your carrier settings and ensure Apple supports them. Also, your iPhone and Apple Watch should have the same carrier and be in the range of this network.
To check your connectivity, navigate to the Control center and check the cellular button color. If it is green, it implies that your Watch is connected. This button will remain green as long as your watch functions as a standalone gadget and will turn white when it connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi signals.
Upon confirming that you have an active cellular connection, you can make calls on your Apple Watch without an iPhone. Navigate the Phone App on your Apple Watch and go to the contacts. Search for the contact on the Digital Crown, then tap the phone icon to call the contact.
If your phone is within range, Apple will allow you to make a regular phone call. However, if you are not, your gadget will proceed to make the call using FaceTime audio, a free service that you as an Apple user can take advantage of.
Lastly, your Apple Watch will still be useful without cellular, Wi-Fi or your iPhone nearby. You can utilize health features through Workout and Activity Apps or listen to music and podcasts you’ve already downloaded to your watch. Also, you can set alarms, check the time, and use the stopwatch while offline.
Wrap Up
The Apple Watch is a great technological device for its convenient, user-friendly features. You can use this watch to access cellular features and apps without your iPhone. The service requirements of your watch are dependent on your type of watch, whether GPS only or cellular.
GPS-only watches require pairing with the iPhone for you to access cellular services. With a data plan, you can access these services on your Apple Watch GPS + Cellular independent of your iPhone.
With the above said, initiating a call on your Apple Watch requires pairing with your iPhone or cellular connection. You can also call via Wi-Fi when your cellular connection is weak, in which case you should connect to Wi-Fi previously connected by your iPhone.
Without a cellular connection, your Apple Watch will be dependent on your iPhone to make calls. A cellular connection makes your Apple Watch a standalone device, enabling you to call, text, and access apps like maps and stock.
