Use Apple Watch without its paired iPhone (2024)

FAQs

Can an Apple Watch work without being paired to an iPhone? ›

When your iPhone is off or out of range, your Apple Watch can use a Wi-Fi network to send and receive data. Your watch can also connect to a cellular network if it's a cellular model. And if you've set up an Apple Watch for a family member, they can use a cellular or Wi-Fi connection with their watch.

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.

The watch doesn't need to be connected to the same carrier as your Apple® iPhone® when setting up in Standalone mode for a family member. An Apple ID for yourself and one for the family member using the watch is needed. Your Apple ID needs to have two-factor authentication turned on.

You can set up and manage Apple Watch for someone who doesn't have their own iPhone—your school-aged child or parent, for example. To do so, you must be the family organizer or parent/guardian in your Family Sharing group.

You don't need a cellular plan, and Watch will provide all functions—except cellular access—when operating without a plan.

Yes, your Apple Watch can count steps without being paired with your iPhone. While it can sync data with your phone to provide a more comprehensive overview of your fitness activity, the watch has its sensors and memory to track your steps independently.

Yes, the Apple Watch with cellular connectivity can indeed work without an iPhone nearby. The cellular version of the Apple Watch has its own cellular connection, which allows it to make calls, send messages, stream music, and use various apps independently of an iPhone.

You can set up a cellular Apple Watch for a family member who doesn't have their own iPhone. If your cellular carrier supports the use of a managed Apple Watch, you're given the option to add the watch to your plan during setup. Look for the option to set up cellular, then follow the onscreen steps.

An iPhone 6s or later with iOS 14 or later for the initial watch setup. * A cellular plan isn't required to set up an Apple Watch for a family member, but is necessary for some features.

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.

Can you use an Apple Watch by itself? ›

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.

Set up Apple Watch as a nightstand clock with alarm

When you connect your Apple Watch to its charger with nightstand mode turned on, it displays charging status, the current time and date, and the time of any alarm you've set. To see the time, tap the display or lightly nudge your Apple Watch.

You cannot. The Apple Watch requires an iPhone for setup and usage. They are not independent devices. You cannot activate them without an iPhone, they cannot be activated with an iPad, and they will be paired to the iPhone used to activate them.

On your cell phone bill you will see your Apple Watch listed as a separate phone number (one that is unique to your Apple Watch). This number associated with your cellular Apple Watch has no purpose other than as a billing identifier.

If you don't have the paired iPhone, you can erase your Apple Watch, but Activation Lock will remain. If you're using your Apple Watch with a transit card in the Wallet app, remove your transit card from your Apple Watch before you unpair.

You cannot pair an Android device with an Apple Watch and have the two work together over Bluetooth. If you attempt to pair the two devices as one would typically pair with any other Bluetooth device, they will refuse to connect.

Generally, the Apple Watch cellular stops working when there's a coverage issue, you run out of data on your plan, a mode is activated that turns off cellular connectivity, or a deeper issue related to your carrier or device hardware.

You can't install the Watch app on the iPad, and the Apple Watch can't be paired with or managed from the iPad. You need to pair your Apple Watch with an iPhone to use it.