Apple Watch/Weak Connection Bluetooth Range of Phone

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Level 1

22 points

Apple Watch/Weak Connection Bluetooth Range of Phone

I have an Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular paired with my iPhone X. When my Watch is near my phone I get all notifications, can accept phone calls via handoff, and can play music. However, when I walk away from my phone (leave it on my desk in my home office) and get just far enough away I miss notifications, calls won't connect and Music won't play.

My theory is that when in Bluetooth range of the iPhone, my Watch uses the Bluetooth connection to handoff, but most of the primary functions are taking place on the phone and communicating to my Watch over Bluetooth. However, when I get far enough away that I have a very weak bluetooth connection my iPhone is trying to Handoff to the watch but can't -- but because the Watch still thinks it has a connection to my iPhone it doesn't use the cellular radio to get messages, music, etc directly over the cellular network.

Anyone know if there's any truth to this? Anyway to force the watch to use cellular even when it's in bluetooth range of the iPhone?

Posted on Jan 5, 2019 10:49 AM

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Answer 1

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jan 5, 2019 11:04 AM in response to ImJohnHime

How far away are we talking about? Is there a WiFi connection when you walk away? Is this in a building? If yes your Watch may not be finding the cell connection (the antenna is very small in a Watch).

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Answer 2

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jan 5, 2019 11:55 AM in response to ImJohnHime

If you are still connected to BT your iPhone will show in green in the upper left corner. If you are connected to WiFi also the icon will be blue.

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Answer 3

ImJohnHime Author

Level 1

22 points

Jan 5, 2019 11:10 AM in response to deggie

Yes, it is in my home. I have a mesh Wifi network (Eero). It happens when I'm about 40-75 feet away from my phone. That's why I thought maybe I'm just on the edge of Bluetooth range.

Since my Watch and my iPhone are on the same Wifi network, shouldn't Handoff occur over Wifi? It's very frustrating...when I'm just in that range of about 40 feet or so my Watch is basically useless. Phone calls ring my Watch, but I can't connect the call. Music won't play. iMessages won't send.

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Answer 4

ImJohnHime Author

Level 1

22 points

Jan 5, 2019 11:40 AM in response to deggie

When I walk about 40 feet away and slide up Control Center, what am I looking for to determine if I'm still connected via Bluetooth?

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Answer 5

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Jan 5, 2019 11:16 AM in response to ImJohnHime

40 feet in a home is about as far a Bluetooth will go if you have walls separating you. It should transfer to the trusted WiFi network and keep you connected, mine does even at the coffee shop I go to. You can walk away and slide up Control Center on your Watch and see if this is happening and you are right continuity should work (even for calls if you have WiFi calling). You might try a forced restart of your Watch along with restarting your router to see if this fixes the situation. If it does not try unpairing and setting up your Watch again.

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Apple Watch/Weak Connection Bluetooth Range of Phone

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