i have the Apple Watch 3 and it is set up to have cellular and I’m paying for cellular but when I’m not near my phone, it disconnects and has the red x at the top and doesn’t give me any notifications. Please tell me how to fix this! Thanks ☺
You have checked the points in the Apple support doc including Verizon showing in the Data Plan entry of the Watch app on your phone, so you already have those answers covered when you call Verizon. You mention work and dog walking so several different locations and it is reasonable to expect at least one will have good cellular cover. That’s another box checked. Hopefully you have all their questions answered on your notes so they can’t send you to try something and call back later.
If you have more than one phone available try to call Verizon from one which is NOT the iPhone which connects your watch. That way you can keep talking to them and simply flip the iPhone to Airplane mode which forces the watch to try cellular (if the watch follows the phone into airplane just swipe into Control Center and put it back to normal). That’s another “try this and call later” avoided.
Something else you could check so you have the answers ready when you’re in the call to Verizon support. In your watch (not the iPhone app) go into Settings / General / About and note the entries for “Network” and “Carrier”. Network will probably show Disconnected or Not Available while connected via your iPhone but Carrier should show the identity of the provisioned cellular service even if it is not active. When it connects Network will also show a carrier name for the active connection.
There is one other thing worth trying, its a long shot and apologies if you already tried it. When you see the watch is showing no connection for several minutes, try a forced reboot (press and hold both buttons about 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears and the watch begins to restart) then allow about 5 minutes for the watch to negotiate its first connection to cellular before you decide it has failed again.
You have checked the points in the Apple support doc including Verizon showing in the Data Plan entry of the Watch app on your phone, so you already have those answers covered when you call Verizon. You mention work and dog walking so several different locations and it is reasonable to expect at least one will have good cellular cover. That’s another box checked. Hopefully you have all their questions answered on your notes so they can’t send you to try something and call back later.
If you have more than one phone available try to call Verizon from one which is NOT the iPhone which connects your watch. That way you can keep talking to them and simply flip the iPhone to Airplane mode which forces the watch to try cellular (if the watch follows the phone into airplane just swipe into Control Center and put it back to normal). That’s another “try this and call later” avoided.
Something else you could check so you have the answers ready when you’re in the call to Verizon support. In your watch (not the iPhone app) go into Settings / General / About and note the entries for “Network” and “Carrier”. Network will probably show Disconnected or Not Available while connected via your iPhone but Carrier should show the identity of the provisioned cellular service even if it is not active. When it connects Network will also show a carrier name for the active connection.
There is one other thing worth trying, its a long shot and apologies if you already tried it. When you see the watch is showing no connection for several minutes, try a forced reboot (press and hold both buttons about 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears and the watch begins to restart) then allow about 5 minutes for the watch to negotiate its first connection to cellular before you decide it has failed again.
Start by checking cellular data is enabled. Swipe up for Control Center and make sure the cell data button has a white or green background. Black means disabled and seems to be the most frequent cause. If that doesn’t fix your problem please go to the full guide Set up and use cellular on Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) - Apple Support and work through the steps there
The issue has been resolved! Thank you everyone!
Called Verizon and they had me totally erase my watch and start fresh- apparently the Verizon guy at the store who set it up missed a big part of the set up- signing into my Verizon account to activate cellular. Thank you all!
contact verizon... make sure they do a signal test, not just the apple trouble shooting
There are some things that require the phone to at least be powered on. See this, How to use your Apple Watch without your iPhone nearby - Apple Support
I've also am reading another thread here of a user having difficulty that also has Verizon for a carrier. You might want to follow it as well. - can't send/receive text without phone
Hi
That means you are not in a strong signal aera.
Try in different locations if you have a problem make an appointment at Apple store.
Or contact Support.apple.com
Cheers
Brian 🇬-1F1E7;
The times I’m trying to use my watch without my phone I am at work or walking my dogs. Both times my phone is on and connected to WiFi as well. So I’m not sure the issue. I’ll be sure to call Verizon, as the person above mentioned. Thank you!
Great tips! When I went into the settings of the Apple Watch thru Apple Watch it says Verizon for carrier but network as “unavailable” just as you said. And I tried putting my phone in airplane mode and went to my watch and it picked up my WiFi. So I turned that off and cellular came on for 2 seconds then it said “disconnected” again :(
I know I have service because my phone has nearly all bars where I am. Thank you!
Yes, the background is white. And I’ve followed all the steps in the full set up guide. The app shows I’m connected to Verizon but whenever I’m away from my phone my watch never works.
Okay I will contact them!
Glad that you were able to get it all sorted out.
Apple Watch 3 not connecting to cellular
