Can’t send text messages on Apple Watch 3 when iPhone is not near.
I can make calls but can’t send text messages.
I have verizon
Question marked as
User profile for user:
Teddy_B
User level:
Community Specialist
Good afternoon jermaine a,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!
If you are not able to send text messages from your Apple Watch Series 3, take a look at the troubleshooting steps outlined in the resource below:
Read and reply to messages with your Apple Watch
Get help if you can't send or receive messages
After each step, try to send or receive a message again:
- See if you can send and receive messages on your iPhone.
- Make sure that your Apple Watch can connect to your iPhone or Wi-Fi.
- If you have Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) and it's connected to a cellular network, you can check the signal strength in Control Center. To send and receive SMS or MMS, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but it doesn't need to be nearby.
- Make sure that you signed in with your Apple ID on your iPhone and Apple Watch. On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, tap the My Watch tab, then tap General > Apple ID.
- If you see
on your watch, turn off Do Not Disturb.
- Check the person's phone number or Apple ID to make sure that it's correct.
- Sign out of iMessage on your iPhone. If you're signed in with your Apple ID, tap it, then tap Sign Out.
- Turn iMessage off on your iPhone, then turn it back on again.
- Sign back in to iMessage on your iPhone.
- Restart your Apple Watch and iPhone.
- Unpair your Apple Watch, then pair it again.
Take care.
63 replies
Ok thank u so much!
your welcome
I know!!!!
I hear ya :). Did my fix work for u?
Can the Apple Watch 3 series send and receive text messages to a non Apple product without the iPhone being in use?
iPhone X
So that tells me it’s definitely a watch issue not a phone issue if it exists in diff devices.
Ugh, I tried and tried and it didn't work for me:( Recent update installed thinking that would help but it didn't. So frustrated.
Yes the watch is assigned a phone number but it’s only for internal workings purposes from my understanding. .
This worked; however, when I’m near my phone, I no longer get texts. I’m going to the Apple Store. Maybe they can resolve my issues.
This is the only thing that worked for me. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
I don’t have the option on my phone 💁
At&t support really don’t know much about the Apple Watch. Make sure you have updated your software and you are using the LTE model with LTE. Enabled and you will be able to send text messages when you are out without your phone. I have at&t as a carrier and I use mine for texting without my phone all the time.
That’s great! My husband doesn’t have an iPhone his is an android so the iMessage issue didn’t resolve this for me.
Is your husbands phone an iPhone? Try to text an android phone when u are away from your phone with your watch. Does sms work?
Can’t send text messages on Apple Watch 3 when iPhone is not near.