Apple Watch 3 - Carrier Locked?

Hi

Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) is not locked to - and does not lock to - any specific carrier.

Apple's instructions for changing carriers are detailed in the first support article below, under the heading "Changing carriers" and, if necessary, also under the heading "Remove your cellular plan":

• Set up and use cellular on Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular)
• Apple Watch - Carriers - Apple

If your carrier is experiencing issues with implementing the change, then I suggest that you continue your dialogue with them and, if necessary, next contact Apple Support:

• Contact - Official Apple Support
• Apple Support (@AppleSupport) | Twitter
• Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

(Note that you are not talking to Apple here - this is a user-based technical support community).

the watch rely on a technology called eSIM this is a technology the carrier has to support before the watch can be used on their network, so it's not a lock or not lock question its a

"Hey Verizon do you support eSIM ?"

if they say no you can't use the apple watch on their network until they begin supporting it if they plan on it sooner or later

Verizon has had issues with any Apple Watch, even ones sold at their shop, in getting number sync to work. There have been many posts here from the day the cellular watch was released from people with Verizon service who could not get it to work. They were often told by Verizon first level personnel that it was an Apple problem. Those that persisted and went up to a higher tier got their service fixed.

Mind you I specifically said the Apple Watch. Bringing your own iPhone is an entirely different matter and depends on the model of the iPhone.

The watch is not locked by any technical method or settings. However it appears Verizon has a commercial policy to only accept devices onto the network which were sold or otherwise supplied through Verizon.

No, they do not have such a policy regarding the Apple Watch.

Was this problem ever resolved? I paid off my watch from AT&T, requested and had the unlock approved, and yet Verizon still can't activate my watch. I purchased another one straight from Best Buy, and it activated immediately. I don't understand what is going on with the watch I purchased from AT&T.

That makes more sense when you mention Verizon’s technical gremlins failing to make Apple Watch work. Good reply and it might help others who search Verizon as a keyword. Tagged as helpful.

Agreed the ongoing issues with legacy technology will continue to plague US phone users for some time yet. The final last post for CDMA can’t come too soon.

In which case how do you explain their ongoing inability to setup third party sourced (bring your own) devices?