HT204562: About Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on Apple Watch

Learn about About Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on Apple Watch
BlackSector

Q: Can the Apple watch be used without WiFi?

So here is the question (actually 2 parts)....

 

(1) I -always- have the Apple Watch paired with my iPhone as both are on my physical person (or within 30')  at all times. I have seen many articles online both here and in other forums expressing how the watch can be used -without- the phone. However, that's not what I am looking for. Let me explain further.

 

If the watch is paired with the phone but -not- in WiFi (at work, in a car, etc.), the complications/apps depending on WiFi will not update. As an example, I have the current weather showing a s a complication in the lower right hand corner of my 'modular' watch face. This is a great feature (although I wish the date/time were transposed, I would prefer the time to be dead center). But, as stated, if I am not in a known WiFi network, I will get ' --F ' in the lower corner after a set time. Is there a way to disable the WiFi dependency on the watch and 'pass' the information through the iPhone? This would seem logical as messages and calls still work without issue in this case. This brings me to my second point...

 

(2) When I am in my car and connected via hands free though the BlueTooth connection in my car, I can, as expected listen to Spotify and take a call via Blue Tooth on the BT system. After the call ends, the iPhone returns back to the app (Spotify) as expected). However, while the iPhone is connected to the car stereo, I cannot receive notifications (calls/texts) on the Apple Watch. Furthermore, as in the case of point (1) above, the weather complication will go to --F after a certain amount of time has expired.

 

Essentially, I am trying to see if there is a way to disable (temporarily?) the WiFi dependency on the watch?

Apple Watch, iOS 8.3, Bluetooth WiFi

Posted on Jun 22, 2015 7:14 AM

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Q: Can the Apple watch be used without WiFi?

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  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Jun 22, 2015 12:31 PM in response to BlackSector
    Level 8 (39,598 points)
    Jun 22, 2015 12:31 PM in response to BlackSector

    I have not experienced what you describe in (1) above.  So I wonder if you always have your iPhone connected to your Apple Watch via Bluetooth.  I believe this is required to get your complications to update.

     

    In particular, with WiFi off on my iPhone, I have taken multi-hour non-WiFi flights, only to land, turn off Airplane Mode (but keep WiFi off) and have my Apple Watch and iPhone update just fine.