Apple Watch - Carriers (2024)

FAQs

Can an Apple Watch be any 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.

The monthly cost for an Apple Watch cellular plan varies depending on the carrier and your location. The price tends to range between $10-20/month to add cellular to your Apple Watch. As long as that sounds worth it for you and your budget, it's incredible to have a cellular Apple Watch that can go iPhone-free.

Stay connected when you're away from your phone.

Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 cellular models with an active service plan allow you to make calls, send texts, and so much more — all without your iPhone.

Your Apple Watch with cellular uses the best network connection available to it—your iPhone when itʼs nearby, a Wi-Fi network that you've connected to previously on your iPhone, or a cellular connection.

You ONLY pay a cellular carrier if you activate the cellular radio, and that is generally a monthly fee as long as you keep the cellular radio activated (In the U.S that is around $10 per month).

All Apple Watches are unlocked if that is what you're asking. To pair the watch with the new iPhone she will need to erase the watch and set it up using her new iPhone. She will have to cancel the Verizon Watch line and set up a new line on the AT&T account.

Is it worth having cellular on Apple Watch? Yes, it is definitely worth having a cellular Apple Watch. But, it comes down to your preferences. If you plan to use it with your Wi-Fi and your iPhone, the GPS version is the right choice for you.

No, you do not have to pay a monthly charge to use your watch. As long as you have your paired iPhone with you, you can answer and make calls from your watch, send messages, etc., without paying the $10 monthly fee.

Also will it cost more monthly? Apple Watch does not have built-in cellular capability, so does not require a separate plan or charge. Any calls placed, text messages sent and/or cellular data used by Apple Watch are provided via the paired iPhone, so are charged as part of your iPhone's plan and bill.

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.

Can I get my kid an Apple Watch without a phone? ›

With Family Setup, your family member who doesn't have their own iPhone can use their Apple Watch to do things like make phone calls, send messages, and share their location with you. After you set up a watch for a family member, you can use your iPhone to manage some of the watch's capabilities.

Add Apple Watch to your cellular plan

You can activate cellular service on your Apple Watch by following the instructions during the initial setup. To activate service later, follow these steps: Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Tap My Watch, then tap Cellular.

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.

Use a cellular network

Apple Watch GPS + Cellular models can connect to cellular. With a cellular connection, you can make calls and use data or apps when you don't have your iPhone or Wi-Fi. Learn how to add your Apple Watch to your cellular plan.

If your smartwatch has cellular connectivity and is capable of making and receiving phone calls and texts, then you can leave your phone at home and still use your smartwatch to stay connected.

Sorry, but the watch and iPhone MUST be on the same account and carrier.

You can unlock Apple Watch manually, by entering the passcode, or set it to unlock automatically when you unlock your iPhone.

The SIM Unlock Policy says devices should be automatically unlocked once all of the SIM Unlock Policy requirements are met. Smart watches can be carrier locked.

Consumer Cellular is compatible with GPS + Cellular Apple Watches and supports Apple Watches from Series 4 and newer. It's worth noting that we do not provide separate plans or services exclusively for standalone Smartwatches.