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nikki0706 Author

Level 1

8 points

Can I pair a standalone Apple watch to an iPhone without a cellular plan?

My iPhone service is through Xfinity. I would like to get a standalone Apple watch for my 9yr old daughter (who does not have a cellphone), but Xfinity doesn't offer a standalone watch option. If I pair an Apple watch on their network, it will be connected to my phone number and she will receive all of my texts, etc., which I do NOT want.

T-Mobile DOES offer a standalone option, so I could get a standalone data plan for her there, but it still has to be paired to an iPhone (which again Xfinity will not allow). My question is.. can I pair an Apple watch to a phone that doesn't have a cellular plan? I've received conflicting information about whether this is possible. Since the actual data plan is specific to the watch and provided by T-Mobile, I can see how it might be a possibility. I'd use an old iPhone 11, but it would just sit at my house plugged in and on a Wifi network. We aren't ready to get her a phone, but do really like the idea of her having a watch. I am hoping someone has experience with this scenario and can provide some feedback. Thanks!

**And just to confirm, I can't switch my phone to T-Mobile for another year because we have a year left on our contract.

iPhone 11

Posted on Nov 25, 2023 5:22 PM

Top-ranking reply

Griena

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Mar 5, 2024 12:32 PM

I have an Apple watch with GPS and a Cellular plan from T-Mobile. I have been paying for a cellular plan for several years under the assumption that in the event my phone was ever lost, I could use my Apple Watch as a "back up" to make and receive calls or send text messages.

That is not the case.

If I turn off my phone or the battery dies, my watch is basically useless. I can't make or receive a call or send a text message.

Therefore, help me understand why I am paying for a plan if I need the phone turned on and in the same vicinity as the watch for it to work.

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Can I pair a standalone Apple watch to an iPhone without a cellular plan?

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