Can I activate an Apple Watch Ultra without an iPhone on the same carrier?

I am trying to activate an Apple Watch Ultra ( Gen 1 ) on a standalone cellular plan. I have an iPhone someone gave me to use to set it up, but when I get to the " activate cellular " option, it is completely greyed out on the phone. I tried to set it up from another iPhone, but their phone was through Verizon and just went to the Verizon activation / log in when we got to it on there. The watch does absolutely nothing when it's not paired to my phone, but ask for an iPhone to be placed near it. When the watch is turned on and paired, under the cellular section it just says " No sim " and " No connection ". Is there any way around this?


( I am trying to activate it through t-mobile, but this customer service hasn't been any help )

Posted on Mar 17, 2024 9:38 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 17, 2024 11:26 AM

The Apple Watch shares the iPhone’s number, and the iPhone carrier needs support the Apple Watch.


The other alternative is the degraded Apple Watch Family Plan


Set up Apple Watch for a family member - Apple Support


Set up a family member’s Apple Watch - Apple Support


Some limitations: Cannot receive SMS/MMS messages, as that depends on a fully paired iPhone. Messaging is pretty much limited to Apple’s Messages, unless the messaging service provides an Apple Watch app. Alarms, alerts, notifications on the iPhone are not sent to the Apple Watch. Apple Pay via a credit card is not available. Also not available: Medications, respiratory rate, irregular heart rhythm notifications, ECG, AFib History, Cycle Tracking, Sleep, Wrist Temperature, Blood Oxygen, Walking Steadiness, Audiobooks, Camera Remote, News, Shortcuts, and the double tap gesture.



1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 17, 2024 11:26 AM in response to ppipowerclass

The Apple Watch shares the iPhone’s number, and the iPhone carrier needs support the Apple Watch.


The other alternative is the degraded Apple Watch Family Plan


Set up Apple Watch for a family member - Apple Support


Set up a family member’s Apple Watch - Apple Support


Some limitations: Cannot receive SMS/MMS messages, as that depends on a fully paired iPhone. Messaging is pretty much limited to Apple’s Messages, unless the messaging service provides an Apple Watch app. Alarms, alerts, notifications on the iPhone are not sent to the Apple Watch. Apple Pay via a credit card is not available. Also not available: Medications, respiratory rate, irregular heart rhythm notifications, ECG, AFib History, Cycle Tracking, Sleep, Wrist Temperature, Blood Oxygen, Walking Steadiness, Audiobooks, Camera Remote, News, Shortcuts, and the double tap gesture.



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Can I activate an Apple Watch Ultra without an iPhone on the same carrier?

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