Apple Watch Series 3 and later models are no longer heavily dependent on the iPhone. Thanks to the support of cellular, it can now let you make calls, receive notifications, reply to messages, and more without any help of your connected smartphone. But before allowing your smartwatch break the age-old shackles, first, you need to set up cellular on your Apple Watch.
You have to take the help of your Watch app on your paired iPhone to enable cellular on your Apple Watch. It’s quite easy to do. Let me show you how it works:
Requirements:
- Apple Watch with GPS + Cellular
- iPhone 6 or later running the latest version of iOS
- Cellular service plan with a supported carrier
- You need to use same carrier on your paired iPhone and Apple Watch
- You must be within your carrier’s network
- If you are using enterprise or corporate cellular service plan, contact your carrier to see if they support this feature. Ensure that your account is eligible
How to Set Up and Use LTE & Cellular on Apple Watch
While setting up the smartwatch, you get the option to enable Cellular. But if you didn’t enable it during the setup process, you can turn it on later as well.
Step #1. Launch Watch app on your paired iPhone.
Step #2. Tap on My Watch tab.
Step #3. Next, tap Cellular.
Step #4. Tap on Set Up Cellular.
Step #5. Now, go through the instructions for your carrier.
How to Connect Apple Watch to a Cellular Network
Your Apple Watch (GPS+Cellular) instantly connects to your iPhone when it’s nearby. It automatically connects to previously joined Wi-Fi network or cellular.
Your smartwatch also connects to LTE networks. But if LTE isn’t available, the watch will connect to UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) only if your carrier supports it.
How to Check Cellular Signal Strength on Apple Watch
When the smartwatch is connected to a cellular network, you can check the signal strength both from Control Center and Explorer watch face.
- Just swipe up on the watch face. When the watch is connected to the cellular, the Cellular button is turned green. The green dots display signal strength
- When the smartwatch is connected to your iPhone using Bluetooth or Wi-Fil, the Cellular button will turn white
How to Turn off Cellular on Apple Watch
Simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up Control Center. Then, tap on the Cellular button to turn it ON/OFF.
Apple Watch (GPS + Cellular) is available in three regional models including the Americas, China, and Europe/Asia Pacific to cover the LTE and UMTS bands used around the world.
When your Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone or a previously joined Wi-Fi network, you will be able to use all the functions of the smartwatch even it’s not connected to cellular.
You might want to have a look at these posts as well:
- How to Put Apple Watch into Power Reserve Mode
- Use Apple Watch to Control iTunes
- How to use AirPlay on Apple Watch
