Send Messages via satellite on your Apple Watch Ultra 3

With Apple Watch Ultra 3, you can send iMessages or SMS messages via satellite when you’re off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

How Messages via satellite works

Messages via satellite can help you connect with your friends and family, even when you’re somewhere with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. You can use your Apple Watch Ultra 3 to send and receive texts, emojis, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS.

To connect to a satellite, you need to be outside with a clear view of the sky and horizon. Your Apple Watch Ultra 3 also needs to be dry — if your watch is wet, its ability to connect to satellites might be impacted. When you use a satellite connection, the experience is different than sending or receiving a message via cellular. Learn more about connecting to a satellite with your Apple Watch Ultra 3.

When you use Messages via satellite, messages are sent using a custom protocol that compresses the messages while still keeping them end-to-end encrypted. You can send and receive texts, emojis, and Tapbacks via Messages.

Messages via satellite is free for two years after the activation of an Apple Watch Ultra 3. Learn more about the feature's requirements and availability.

Before you go off the grid

If you’re going somewhere with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, here are some ways to be prepared to use Messages via satellite:

• Try the Satellite Connection demo.

• For quick access to satellite features, you can add the satellite control to Control Center and add the satellite complication to your watch face.

• Turn on iMessage. To use iMessage via satellite, you need to turn on iMessage on your iPhone before you’re outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

• Set up an emergency contact and set up Family Sharing on your iPhone. When you’re off the grid, your emergency contacts and members of your Family Sharing group can message you via SMS without you messaging them first. When you connect to a satellite on your Apple Watch Ultra 3, you’ll receive their messages. Additionally, your emergency contact (along with your location and a transcript of your messages with emergency services) will be automatically shared with emergency responders if you use Emergency SOS via satellite to text emergency services.

• Make sure you've had recent iMessage conversations with anyone you might want to contact when you're off the grid. You can't send an iMessage to someone if you haven't communicated with them via iMessage within the last 30 days.

• Encourage your contacts to update their iPhone. To receive iMessages via satellite, your contact needs to have iOS 18 or later. To reply to SMS messages via satellite, your contact needs to have iOS 17.6 or later or a non-Apple device.

Use Messages via satellite

• When your Apple Watch Ultra 3 detects that you’re outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, a satellite icon at the top of your watch screen lets you know that satellite features are available at your location, including messages via satellite. Otherwise, you get a notification to Use Messages via Satellite when you open the Messages app.

• When you connect to satellite, you’ll also see the option to text emergency services using Emergency SOS via satellite and share your location using Find My via satellite (where these services are available).

• To send a message, just open the Messages app — you’ll be prompted to start accepting messages, if you haven't already, and your Apple Watch Ultra 3 provides instructions to connect to a satellite to send a text.

• To send someone an iMessage, you need to have communicated with them through iMessage within the last 30 days. Before you go off the grid, make sure you've had recent iMessage conversations with anyone you might want to contact.

• If you can’t send an iMessage via satellite — for example, if the person who you are trying to text has an iPhone that doesn’t have iOS 18 or they have a non-Apple device, or if you haven't sent them an iMessage recently — you can use SMS messaging via satellite. To send and receive SMS via satellite, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or mobile, but your iPhone doesn’t need to be nearby.

• When you connect and start accepting messages via satellite, you'll receive any SMS messages that were sent from your emergency contact or members of your Family Sharing group before you started accepting messages via satellite. You won't receive iMessages until your emergency contact or family member returns to the conversation and taps Send via Satellite underneath their message bubble.

• Messages via satellite might take a little longer to send. In ideal conditions with a direct view of the sky and horizon, a message might take 30 seconds to send. It might take over a minute to send under trees with light or medium foliage — and you might not be able to connect to a satellite under heavy foliage or if you’re surrounded by other obstructions.

• Some Messages features aren’t supported when using a satellite connection. You can’t send or receive photos or videos, audio messages, stickers, or messages in a group message.

Receiving texts via satellite when you’re on the grid

If you have cellular or Wi-Fi coverage and you’re messaging with someone who is using Messages via satellite:

• In iMessage conversations, you see an alert that your contact is accepting messages via satellite.

• After you tap send, you need to also tap Send via Satellite underneath the message bubble.

• If you’re an emergency contact or a member of a Family Sharing group, you can send an SMS message before your contact sends you a message via satellite. They'll receive the message once they start accepting messages via satellite.

Access other satellite features

When you're somewhere with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, you can tap the satellite icon on your watch face or in Control Center to see all available satellite features. You can also open the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra 3 and tap Satellite.

Messages via satellite requirements and availability

• You need an Apple Watch Ultra 3.¹

• You need to be in a place with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

• You need to connect to a satellite with your Apple Watch Ultra 3.²

• You need an active carrier plan associated with your Apple Watch Ultra 3. Check which carriers in your country or region offer cellular service for Apple Watch Ultra 3.

• To use iMessage via satellite, you need to turn on iMessage before you're outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. To use SMS messaging via satellite, your carrier must support it.

• To send and receive SMS via satellite, your paired iPhone must be powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, but your iPhone doesn’t need to be nearby.

• Remember that while off-grid, satellite features aren't available on Apple Watch Ultra 3 if your iPhone is nearby and in Airplane Mode.

• Messages via satellite is available in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. If you're in Mexico, your Apple Watch Ultra 3 needs watchOS 26.0.1 or later.

• Availability in other regions is subject to regulation by government agencies, necessary approvals, and other market specific requirements. Apple is working to bring these capabilities to more regions as soon as possible.