Apple Watch - Send/Receive Texts without iMessage

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Apple Watch - Send/Receive Texts without iMessage

Hi All. I just purchased a Series 5 and enabled cellular on T-Mobile. I was under the impression that I could disable iMessages and still send/receive SMS messages on my Apple Watch. The reason I want to disable iMessages is so I can send/receive SMS messages through T-Mobiles Digits app on other phones I use.

Data seems to work fine through cellular. I am able to make/receive phone calls, stream music, use apps etc. I am not able to send or receive text messages through cellular though. However, it does work when I'm on wifi. Seems unclear when I call support as to whether or not I should be able to send/receive texts with iMessages turned off.

Does anyone use their Apple Watch with iMessages turned off and able to send/receive text messages on cellular?

Thanks for any feedback.

Posted on Feb 28, 2020 11:55 AM

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Answer 1

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BobHarris

Level 9

56,927 points

Feb 28, 2020 12:22 PM in response to logan2k

Read the footnotes on this webpage

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205547

1. To receive SMS, MMS, or push notifications from

third-party apps on your cellular Apple Watch, your paired iPhone must

be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but it doesn't need to

be nearby. You also need to be signed in to iMessage on your iPhone.

If you want to force the iPhone to send via SMS vs iMessages, then make sure the destination phone number in Contacts is not tagged as an iPhone. Just have it tagged as "Mobile" and the iPhone should use SMS unless you have other information in your Contacts app for the destination that indicates this user can do FaceTime and Messages.

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Answer 2

logan2k Author

Level 1

64 points

Feb 28, 2020 12:24 PM in response to BobHarris

Thanks for the article - unfortunately was informed differently by both Apple and T-Mobile when I called in. Was hoping I didn't need iMessage but seems to be required, although I wonder is the messages Apple Watch app considered third-party?

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Answer 3

Feb 28, 2020 12:26 PM in response to BobHarris

BobHarris wrote:

If you want to force the iPhone to send via SMS vs iMessages, then make sure the destination phone number in Contacts is not tagged as an iPhone. Just have it tagged as "Mobile" and the iPhone should use SMS unless you have other information in your Contacts app for the destination that indicates this user can do FaceTime and Messages.

Actually, Bob, it makes no difference what the number is tagged as. The phone will use iMessage if the receiving phone is using iMessage regardless of what the number is tagged. I've tested this by changing the tag to "Mobile" and to "Rutabaga" (it was to make a point to someone).

In order for messages to be sent as SMS to someone using iMessage, you need to log out of iMessage.

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Answer 4

Feb 28, 2020 12:23 PM in response to logan2k

iMessage is just a text message service. The only difference it’s sends text to other Apple device as a iMessage. And non Apple devices as text message. So not sure what you need it to do?

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/watch/apd92a90f882/watchos

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Answer 5

logan2k Author

Level 1

64 points

Feb 28, 2020 12:43 PM in response to seanfromllanelli

Basically, I don't want to use iMessage. When I turn it off, I'm unable to send/receive text messages on my Apple Watch when I'm on cellular. For some reason, it does send/receive when my watch is on Wifi, so it seems contradictory to the article that iMessage needs to be turned on. I would think it wouldn't work on Wifi either if iMessage is turned off.

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Answer 6

Feb 28, 2020 1:10 PM in response to logan2k

Where are switching off iMessage?

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Answer 7

logan2k Author

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64 points

Feb 28, 2020 1:20 PM in response to seanfromllanelli

I'm turning it off under 'settings-->iMessage'.

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Apple Watch - Send/Receive Texts without iMessage

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