frankfromtaylors falls

Q: can I pair my iPhone 5s with my apple watch?  Best Buy says no

Please help!  I want to use my Discover Card to take advantage of the big apple discount if I use Apple Pay before the end of the year.  Problem--I have an iPhone 5s and Best Buy says Apple Watch won't let me use Apple Pay because my 5s isn't set up for it.

  Is this true?  any way to get around this.  thanks for your help!be

Apple Watch, iOS 9

Posted on Sep 21, 2015 2:20 AM

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Q: can I pair my iPhone 5s with my apple watch?  Best Buy says no

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Jonathan UK,Helpful

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 21, 2015 2:33 AM in response to frankfromtaylors falls
    Level 7 (33,944 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2015 2:33 AM in response to frankfromtaylors falls

    Hi Frank

     

    What you have been told is incorrect. Apple Pay is set up separately on each device. With your models:

     

    • You can set up Apple Pay on your watch
      • Setting up Apple Pay on your watch is done via the Apple Watch app on your iPhone - but this does not also set up cards on the iPhone itself.
      • To pair and set up Apple Watch requires iPhone 5 or later.
    • You cannot set up Apple Pay on your iPhone
      • Apple Pay for iPhone needs iPhone 6 or later.

     

    More information:

     

    Apple Pay with Apple Watch: Set up and use Apple Pay with your Apple Watch - Apple Support

    Apple Pay on iPhone: Set up and use Apple Pay on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

  • by frankfromtaylors falls,

    frankfromtaylors falls frankfromtaylors falls Sep 21, 2015 2:31 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 21, 2015 2:31 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Jonathan, I just signed up on this support community and it sure works!  I am very grateful for your response.  It makes perfect sense.  I will check with apple support tomorrow and get this straightened out.  Thank you so much. 

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 21, 2015 2:35 AM in response to frankfromtaylors falls
    Level 7 (33,944 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2015 2:35 AM in response to frankfromtaylors falls

    My pleasure - welcome to Apple Support Communities!

  • by Mies van der Robot,Helpful

    Mies van der Robot Mies van der Robot Sep 22, 2015 6:29 AM in response to frankfromtaylors falls
    Level 1 (115 points)
    Sep 22, 2015 6:29 AM in response to frankfromtaylors falls

    Apple Pay works fine for me on my iPhone 5s. However, if you are looking to use a Discover card on it, I was just told by Discover's tech department that they have not included support for the iPhone 5 series. I am unable to add a Discover card to the Watch, So, while Best Buy was wrong about the reason why, you may still be unable to use Discover for Apple Pay right now.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 22, 2015 5:33 AM in response to Mies van der Robot
    Level 7 (33,944 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 22, 2015 5:33 AM in response to Mies van der Robot

    Mies van der Robot wrote:

     

    Apple Pay works fine for me on my iPhone 5s.

     

    You are mistaken - Apple Pay does not work on your iPhone 5s. That model does not have an NFC chip, which is required hardware for Apple Pay.

     

    You can only be using Apple Pay on your watch (which is paired to an iPhone 5s). My previous post refers.

  • by frankfromtaylors falls,

    frankfromtaylors falls frankfromtaylors falls Sep 22, 2015 6:32 AM in response to Mies van der Robot
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2015 6:32 AM in response to Mies van der Robot

    Mies, thank you very much for your input.  I will check with Discover.  I am still very new to this and trying to figure things out.  But this community is very very helpful.  thank you!!!   Frank

  • by c1pher,

    c1pher c1pher Sep 22, 2015 1:00 PM in response to frankfromtaylors falls
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Sep 22, 2015 1:00 PM in response to frankfromtaylors falls

    You can have a 5S and an Apple Watch with your Discover card. A user on Macrumors was able to provide insight. Unpair your watch from your phone. Then repair the watch back to your phone, you can restore from backup when you repair so none of your settings/apps have to be re-setup. Once that is complete, shouldn't take more than 20 mins, go ahead and try to add your Discover card to your wallet. Should work just fine. I was able to add my card after this. Good luck!

  • by Mies van der Robot,

    Mies van der Robot Mies van der Robot Sep 22, 2015 2:30 PM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (115 points)
    Sep 22, 2015 2:30 PM in response to Jonathan UK

    Jonathan UK wrote:

     

    Mies van der Robot wrote:

     

    Apple Pay works fine for me on my iPhone 5s.

     

    You are mistaken - Apple Pay does not work on your iPhone 5s. That model does not have an NFC chip, which is required hardware for Apple Pay.

     

    You can only be using Apple Pay on your watch (which is paired to an iPhone 5s). My previous post refers.

     

    Not so much mistaken as misleading, due to the omission of a couple of words.  My point was that Apple Pay is working fine for me on my Apple Watch paired with an iPhone 5s, for card issuers other than Discover. I did and do understand that the phone itself cannot support Apple Pay, but I wanted frankfromtaylors to be aware that the pairing is one that can and should support Apple Pay - but as you clarified, only on the Watch portion of the pairing.

     

    And now it is working for Discover as well, thanks to your comment on my referenced thread.

  • by Aleksey85,

    Aleksey85 Aleksey85 Sep 30, 2015 7:36 AM in response to Mies van der Robot
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 30, 2015 7:36 AM in response to Mies van der Robot

    It actually does work on iPhone 5, 5C, 5S. You need to have iOS 9.01 and WatchOS 2.

    If you can't add your Discover Card - try unpairing and re-pairing your Apple Watch with your iPhone (restoring from a backup works).