I have the new series 7 watch cellular and my apps work fine with data etc but I can not send or receive text messages or iMessages unless I am next to my phone. I don’t know why this is as I can make calls and receive them without the phone. Hello please!!!
Apple Watch Series 7
Hi Ess9,
According to, If you can’t send or receive messages on your Apple Watch
"Make sure that your Apple Watch can connect to your iPhone, cellular, or Wi-Fi. To send and receive SMS/MMS from cellular models of Apple Watch, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but your iPhone doesn’t need to be nearby.
Even if your iPhone isn’t connected or powered on, you can send and receive iMessages on your Apple Watch when your Apple Watch is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular.
Learn how your Apple Watch makes connections and get help if your devices disconnect."
Cheers!
Hi Ess9,
According to, If you can’t send or receive messages on your Apple Watch
"Make sure that your Apple Watch can connect to your iPhone, cellular, or Wi-Fi. To send and receive SMS/MMS from cellular models of Apple Watch, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but your iPhone doesn’t need to be nearby.
Even if your iPhone isn’t connected or powered on, you can send and receive iMessages on your Apple Watch when your Apple Watch is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular.
Learn how your Apple Watch makes connections and get help if your devices disconnect."
Cheers!
Ess9m,
Thanks for those details. Next, we suggest updating both devices so that they're running the latest software versions:
Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support
If the issue persists after doing so, try unpairing and setting up your Apple Watch again:
Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support
Should none of the above help, contact Apple Support.
Take care.
Thanks for letting us know Ess9,
What version of watchOS and iOS are you running? Find that in Settings > General > About, on each device.
Also, does this continue to occur when you restart both the Apple Watch, and the iPhone?
Restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support
Restart your iPhone - Apple Support
Let us know the results, and we'll go from there.
Cheers!
Hi, the watch is connected and the iPhone is on also but the watch only lets me make calls without being next to the phone not messages
Hi, I can send messages with the iPhone and both my iCloud and phone number are there in my messages settings
Hi the watchos version is 8.3 and the phone os is 15.3. Also I have restarted both but have the same issue
Hey Ess9,
Thanks for letting us know the Apple Watch is connected with the iPhone. Are you able to send messages on the iPhone without an issue? If you're noticing problems there as well, follow this: If you can't send or receive messages on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support.
If you're able to send messages on the iPhone, check the settings for Messages on the iPhone by going to Settings > Messages. Is the Apple ID that is signed in on the Apple Watch here? And is your phone number also listed?
Keep us updated!
Sending messages via Apple watch
