About Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cellular on your Apple Watch
Find out about Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for your Apple Watch and how your watch uses both. And find out how mobile data on GPS + Cellular models fits in.
To enjoy every feature on your Apple Watch, you need to turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your paired iPhone. Open Control Centre on your iPhone, then make sure Wi-Fi
and Bluetooth
are on.
Your Apple Watch uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to communicate with your paired iPhone. If you have cellular, your watch can also stay connected through a mobile network. Your watch switches between these intelligently to choose the most power-efficient connection. Here's how:
Your Apple Watch uses Bluetooth when your iPhone is near, which conserves power.
If Bluetooth isn’t available, your Apple Watch will try to use Wi-Fi. For example, if compatible Wi-Fi is available and your iPhone isn’t in Bluetooth range, your Apple Watch will use Wi-Fi.
If Bluetooth and Wi-Fi aren't available, and you set up a mobile plan, cellular models of Apple Watch can connect to mobile networks.
Connect to a compatible Wi-Fi network
Your Apple Watch can connect to a Wi-Fi network:
If your iPhone, while connected to your watch with Bluetooth, has connected to the network before.
If the Wi-Fi network is 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz (Apple Watch Series 5 and earlier, and Apple Watch SE, support 2.4 GHz only).
When your Apple Watch connects to a compatible Wi-Fi network instead of your iPhone connection, the Wi-Fi icon
appears in Control Centre.
Your Apple Watch won't connect to public networks that require logins, subscriptions or profiles.
Choose a Wi-Fi network
Find out how to choose which Wi-Fi network your Apple Watch connects to.
Turn Wi-Fi off or on
Press the side button to open Control Centre. Tap the Wi-Fi icon
. The icon dims and your device disconnects from any network that you're connected to.
Only Apple Watch GPS + Cellular models can disconnect from Wi-Fi networks. After you disconnect, your Apple Watch won't automatically re-join the Wi-Fi network that you disconnected from until:
You turn on Wi-Fi in Control Centre.
You walk or drive to a new location.
It's 5:00 am local time.
You restart your device.
Use a mobile network
Apple Watch GPS + Cellular models can connect to mobile network. With a cellular connection, you can make calls and use data or apps when you don’t have your iPhone or Wi-Fi. Find out how to add your Apple Watch to your mobile plan.
Check your signal strength
Press the side button to open Control Centre. Check the Mobile button
.
The Mobile button will turn green when you have a connection. The number of bars indicates signal strength.
The Mobile button will turn white when your mobile plan is active, but your Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone or Wi-Fi.
Turn mobile data off or on
Press the side button to open Control Centre. Tap the Mobile button, then turn off Mobile Data.
Some apps might not update without a connection to your iPhone.
Check the connection between your iPhone and Apple Watch
Check your watch face. If you see the red Disconnected icon
or the red X icon
on the watch face, you don't have a connection.Check Control Centre by pressing the side button (for watchOS 9 or earlier, touch and hold the bottom of the screen, then swipe up). If you see the red Disconnected icon
or the red X icon, you don't have a connection.Tap the iPhone icon
in Control Centre. If your devices are connected, your iPhone should make a "ping" sound.