Apple Watch Series 2 WiFi
I read yesterday in a review of the new Apple Watch Series 2 that this watch can connect to local WiFi. I just received my new one and I can't find where to WiFi connect. Was the reviewer wrong about this feature?
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I read yesterday in a review of the new Apple Watch Series 2 that this watch can connect to local WiFi. I just received my new one and I can't find where to WiFi connect. Was the reviewer wrong about this feature?
Hi
When your watch is unable to connect to the paired iPhone via Bluetooth, it will attempt, as a fallback, to connect to a known, compatible Wi-Fi network.
When connected to Wi-Fi, the watch still offers a number of features. If it is unable to connect either via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, it again still offers some - although fewer - features:
For the best performance from your iPhone and Apple Watch, including the most power-efficient communication between them, Apple recommends keeping both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi permanently enabled on your iPhone.
Hi
When your watch is unable to connect to the paired iPhone via Bluetooth, it will attempt, as a fallback, to connect to a known, compatible Wi-Fi network.
When connected to Wi-Fi, the watch still offers a number of features. If it is unable to connect either via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, it again still offers some - although fewer - features:
For the best performance from your iPhone and Apple Watch, including the most power-efficient communication between them, Apple recommends keeping both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi permanently enabled on your iPhone.
Does this fallback to WiFi apply to all Apple Watch models, or only the Series 2 ?
To all models.
No. I find it does not work with first generation Apple Watches, which my wife has. Works fine with my series 2.
If compatible Wi-Fi is available and a Bluetooth connection to the paired iPhone is not available, then Apple Watch - including first generation models - will use Wi-Fi instead.
The watch can connect to a Wi-Fi network if the network is 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz and the paired iPhone, while connected to the watch via Bluetooth, has connected to that network before.
If you are experiencing issues with your wife's Apple Watch connecting in this way, follow these steps:
If you have a hidden network (ie the network name / SSID is not broadcast), choose to add the network via "Other", then enter the network name, encryption type and password.
Note that, if connection to the iPhone is possible via Bluetooth, this will always be used by the watch in preference to connecting to a known Wi-Fi network.
Apple Watch Series 2 WiFi