When making a call using Apple Watch, is there a way for the watches native audio and mic capabilities to be bypassed in favour of a connected bluetooth headset?

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When making a call using Apple Watch, is there a way for the watches native audio and mic capabilities to be bypassed in favour of a connected bluetooth headset?

What I am trying to figure out is whether, when I initiate a call on the Apple Watch, audio and mic capabilities can bypass the Watch to a bluetooth headset when one is connected to the phone. I tried calling someone with my recently acquired Watch, bluetooth headphones connected, expecting to receive and register audio via the headset. What I got instead was a phone call occurring entirely via the Watch.

This seems like a relatively obvious feature to have and if not I'll send this along to tech support for review as an added feature. The idea behind my watch was to not have to take my phone out but I also want my phone conversations to be private, not blaring through a tiny speaker on my watch for all to hear. If I could simply use the watch to initiate the call, that would be superb.

Thanks to the community for any helpful advice or feedback.

Apple Watch, watchOS 1.0.1, with bluetooth headphones

Posted on Jul 10, 2015 4:42 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 6, 2017 2:35 PM in response to lnsmhntr

The first Apple Watch worked brilliantly at allowing you to initiate a call on the watch where it would show 'hand off' on the screen and the call would go to the Bluetooth headset without any problems whatsoever......... until there was an update of software for the watch. From that moment on this has stopped working, it directly makes the call to the iPhone instead. I really wish they'd go back or at least allow the user the option of software they want on the watch. I've already spoken to the technicians in the Apple Store and apparently you cannot go back to a previous version of software.

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Answer 2

deggie

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Jul 10, 2015 9:36 AM in response to lnsmhntr

No. If you pair your headphone to your phone you can do so.

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Answer 3

lnsmhntr Author

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Jul 10, 2015 9:43 AM in response to deggie

But my headset is connected to my iPhone and this is the problem I am experiencing. Sorry if I wasn't clear. My headset is paired to my phone and not the watch itself.

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Answer 4

deggie

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Jul 10, 2015 9:46 AM in response to lnsmhntr

Then you need to answer the call with the controls on the headset, not on your Watch.

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Answer 5

lnsmhntr Author

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Jul 10, 2015 10:06 AM in response to deggie

That's pretty unfortunate considering I bought this watch as a means of taking my phone out less. The phone and watch should be able to recognize when I am using a bluetooth headset.

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Answer 6

deggie

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Jul 10, 2015 10:11 AM in response to lnsmhntr

Your headset can only pair with one device at a time but even if your paired it with your Watch it does not currently have the ability to connect to the headset for a phone call (since the Watch is using handsfree BT to connect to the phone it cannot also do so with the headset at the same time).

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Answer 7

deggie

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Jul 10, 2015 10:13 AM in response to lnsmhntr

One more thing, you don't need to take out your phone to answer a call on your headset, you can press a button on your headset and answer it.

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Answer 8

lnsmhntr Author

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Jul 10, 2015 1:21 PM in response to deggie

Yes, that much is clear. I've known that for quite some time now. That being said, I feel like this functionality should be a given. There should be a way to launch or answer a phone call, using the watch, and designate audio and mic capabilities to the phone or to a headset if one is connected. I don't care for taking into my watch, and I care even less to listen to someone's voice coming out of it.

The functionality I'm suggesting here is that the watch would act as a controller, sending a call command to my iPhone, rather than acting as an external communication device paired to my phone. Then users could initiate a call on their phone without pulling their phone out and without having to talk into their watch, if they so choose.

I do hope I'm being clear in my explanations because what I'm saying makes sense to me.

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Answer 9

ChrisJ4203

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Jul 10, 2015 1:23 PM in response to lnsmhntr

Then tell it to Apple the same way if it makes sense to you by going to http://www.apple.com/feedback That is where they receive feedback and suggestions for enhancements.

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Answer 10

lnsmhntr Author

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Jul 10, 2015 1:25 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Thank you Chris for guiding me in the right direction! This was very helpful.

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Answer 11

deggie

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Jul 10, 2015 1:27 PM in response to lnsmhntr

That functionality would require an additional or upgraded radio chip.

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Answer 12

ChrisJ4203

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Jul 10, 2015 1:29 PM in response to lnsmhntr

You're welcome. Things are new with the watch, and as people begin to use it more, I believe we will see a number of changes. I know you were talking about not wanting to take out the phone, but if you do after initiating the call, you should be able to select the audio source like you always have been able to do to switch between devices on the screen of the phone. Just something you might want to try in the interim.

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Answer 13

lnsmhntr Author

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Jul 10, 2015 1:39 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

For now I'll have to, it just seems redundant I suppose. Even if the option could be selected after initiating the call on the watch (some kind of prompt to send the call back to the phone itself or another Bluetooth device) it would be sufficient. At least for my purposes. I'll leave a message in the feedback forum when I get home.

Thanks all.

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Answer 14

Jul 12, 2015 2:11 AM in response to lnsmhntr

Pls do give this feedback to Apple, I will do the same. Have also felt the same need, though am a very new user of the watch. As an example, one can consider how the watch music controls operate the phone. That's a more useful functionality than trying to make the watch a standalone comunication device (which it isn't as needs the phone around all the time).

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Answer 15

lnsmhntr Author

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Jul 13, 2015 8:01 AM in response to answers_all

Exactly my point. The application for initiating calls on the iPhone is just that, an application. It sends a command to the physical components of the phone to initiate and end calls. As such, to achieve what I am suggesting, it should be as simple as having the option, when making or answering a call via the Watch, to do so on the iPhone and not the Watch itself.

All they would need to include is a prompt on the Watch face, after selecting a contact and touching the call button, asking whether the user would like the call to be made on the iPhone instead of the Watch (Yes/No). Relatively simple if you ask me and the same could be done when answering a call, asking whether the user wishes the call to be answered on the phone (Yes/No).

This would solve the issue at hand because then, with a bluetooth headset connected, the call now taking place on the iPhone would bypass the audio capabilities of the phone and be sent to the headset. I believe this is a much needed feature and one that is relatively simple to include in the next iOS update, and if by chance there are some users who don't want this added feature on the Watch they could always include the ability to turn the functionality on and off in the settings of the Watch app.

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