Can’t send text messages on Apple Watch 3 when iPhone is not near.

Unfortunately this didn't work for me. I'm in a slightly different position in that my iPhone is being repaired and is therefore off. Perhaps the most frustrating thing for me is that I can text and check email on my iPad, but not my Apple Watch. I would never had purchased it if I had known it was this reliant on the phone, and I would recommend that anyone considering a purchase not do so until this issue has been resolved.

Thank you so much Stephanie! I am in the same boat. I am still very tempted to sell all my Apple products and go with a galaxy after all the hours I have wasted with AT&T and support with Apple trying to figure out why I don’t get text messages when I leave my phone at home. It’s so frustrating to continually reach out for support for something that is supposed to work yet no one can address the issue. I literally just stumbled across this board this morning and I have learned more in the last 10 minutes than I have since I got my watch in November.

Girl, me too! AT&T is the least helpful. Lol. I will keep the Apple Watch I have now but definitely will NOT be getting the next new one when it comes out. Waste of money considering I got the watch for the sole purpose of being able to send and receive messages and make phone calls while my phone is dead or not with me. I would not have purchased the watch had I known it would not do that! Ugh.

For me, something different: I've a serious problem with mails and notifications when on lte. Call and iMessage are working, anyway, in every constellation.

Watch and iPhone per Bluetooth: all notifications, mails, calls, iMessage

Watch and iPhone both on same wlan, Bluetooth off: all notifications, mails, calls, iMessage

Watch and iPhone on LTE, or one of both on LTE, Bluetooth off: NO notifications, NO Mails, calls, iMessage

Don't know why. Got this problem since updating on 11.2.x. On 11.1.2 it seems to be fine. But after update no chance, whatever i do. Bug is in developer bug reporter, made all i know.

Oh that’s great! Yes I forgot to turn wifi back on a couple times too and streamed Netflix and used up my data :(

At least it’s a temp fix if u want to keep the watch but its not how the watch should behave and for that much money a fix is needed

What kind of phone do u have? Mine was an iPhone 8plus

Wish apple would fix whatever issue is causing txt msgs from sending or receiving. It doesnt matter if my iphone is on or off it will not send txt or imessage unless its within 30feet of my iphone. as soon as i leave the area it will only make and receive calls. Txt messages forget it. Apple support has been no help and reading all the reviews i would like to find someone that has this working. Doesnt seem to matter who the provider is. Verizon, ATT, Sprint, Tmobile None of them seem to work.

Even with iMessage on, I still cannot receive or send text messages on my Apple Watch 3 if my iPhone is not nearby. Also tried Turning on SMS as someone else suggested. Neither do the job.

I got the watch so I could go for walk/run and leave my iPhone at home. Definitely disappointed that I can’t get or receive texts.

Well that’s kinda overly complicated for the end user... I had my phone on yesterday, my watch would not send texts. So, today I turned the phone completely off and tried again. Nope. So, looks like either way there’s room for improvement here. I too can make calls, use data, the only thing I can’t do it the one thing I wanted to be able to do the most... get and send messages when needed, while active, and without needing to worry about my phone. ♂👎👎

I have Apple Watch 3 with GPS and wireless. I can get it to send when not with my phone but I don’t receive texts unless my phone is nearby. I’ve tried everything that has been suggested plus a lot more. It is extremely frustrating. My next step is to go to the Apple Store and have them show me how to make it work. Its funny how a representative from Apple hasn’t chimed in on these posts and gave us the low down on how to make it work. Leads me to believe that they don’t know either. We will see what the ‘pros’ at the Apple Store can do to help.

I have the same issue but the txt’s still don’t work even if the phone is on and connected to a service or wifi, the phone works fine but not the txt

When I get home and I am again near the phone the txt’s come in

I have this problem too. Been on to EE and everything seems to be working their end. Ive tried what has been suggested and still haven't resolved

Not true. I left my phone charging at home by mistake and could not send or receive a text message or an iMessage for that matter. I could call and receive calls with no problem

Having the same issue. Won’t be buying another Apple Watch, this is incredibly frustrating.

I think this has been successful after many attempts to fix this problem... I'll have to take it on the long run and see the real performance away from the phone.

thank goodness it's not ONLY me!!!! I won't be buying another apple watch and if I find this doesn't work I am getting my money back stat.