iPhone-perhaps the most independent device from Apple technology. It can simultaneously replace your tablet, PC, and even a Smart TV, and in some cases, a Bluetooth speaker. At the same time, the most dependent gadget is the Apple Watch. In theory, they work without an iPhone, but their functionality is very limited, not to mention that they can only be activated if you have a smartphone. However, few people know what Apple Watch can do without an iPhone: we have collected all the functions of smart watches that are available offline.
Do Apple Watches work without an iPhone
As mentioned above, Apple Watch can not be activated without an iPhone — neither with an iPad, nor with a MacBook, and even more so with Android. However, you can then wear the smartwatch with another smartphone, but if the iPhone isn’t nearby, the icon with the phone crossed out will appear at the top. However, compared to other smartwatches, the Apple Watch won’t remind you that you need to connect it to your iPhone.
The good news is that you can watch the time, use apps, and even listen to music with headphones connected at least without any problems. But there is a caveat: programs should not just mirror the iPhone, and music is loaded into memory in advance. Otherwise, Apple Watch can be safely used without an iPhone for years, if you do not pay attention to watchOS updates. See what they can do.
What Apple Watch features work without Wi-Fi?
Despite the difficulties with activation, many functions work on the Apple Watch without an iPhone. In this case, the watch is clearly no worse, or even better, than Chinese models and devices running on other operating systems. Just look at it.
- Play music and podcasts, music, and audiobooks.
- Record voice memos.
- Discount cards in Wallet and Apple Pay, if it is supported in your country.
- Search for people, devices, and things like AirTag.
- Alarm clock, timers, stopwatch, and Calendar events.
- Health tracking, sleep monitoring, and training modes.
- Measure background noise.
- Games on Apple Watch.
- Setting up and removing dials.
- View photos by syncing the album.
- Learn altitude, distance, and speed when running outdoor workouts, as well as a compass.
The cool thing is that all these Apple Watch features are available without an iPhone and an internet connection via Wi-Fi. Thus, you will definitely not be bored if you are away from the access point and do not take your iPhone with you.
Do I need Wi-Fi for my Apple Watch?
Few people know, but the Apple Watch can be connected to Wi-Fi. Thanks to this, the smartwatch connects to the Internet and can already send and receive messages, show notifications from apps, and even use Siri. If Wi-Fi is active on your Apple Watch, but your iPhone isn’t nearby, you can do the following.
- Download apps from the App Store: the watch catalog is somewhat poor, but there is something useful there.
- Use the walkie-talkie to communicate with your friends.
- Start streaming music and other content, and add it to yourself.
- Update the weather forecast.
- Make calls over FaceTime Audio.
- Check for watchOS updates.
- Use apps that need a network connection, including browsers and social networks.
But there are also disadvantages when the Apple Watch is not connected to Wi-Fi — they can not be found in the Locator if they are turned off. However, you can mark them as lost by leaving your phone number so that the person who found them can contact you.
What happens if you break a pair of iPhones with Apple Watch
In the pursuit of increased autonomy, many people want to break the pair of Apple Watch and iPhone, so that the watch works longer. But there is a caveat here: if you really break the connection, the watch will be disconnected from both the iPhone and your Apple ID. In addition, they will be reset to factory settings, which will delete all files and applications and remove the installed settings. In short, the watch will have to be activated and configured again. But you can really disconnect the Apple Watch from the iPhone, and in a completely harmless way. There are only two options: turn on airplane mode or turn off Bluetooth.
- Airplane mode is located in the Apple Watch settings. Go to this point and turn off the Bluetooth switch at the bottom so that the watch is disconnected from the iPhone and does not receive notifications.
- You can leave Wi-Fi enabled on the Apple Watch so that the watch continues to work separately from the iPhone.
- You can also simply turn off Bluetooth in the Apple Watch settings by moving the slider in the corresponding item.
Please note that if you disable Bluetooth on the Apple Watch, they will not be displayed in the widget on the iPhone, and you will not be able to change the settings in the Watch app. You can’t manage apps with the Apple Watch like “Now playing” either, since now the devices work separately. But the most important inconvenience is that the watch will regularly send a reminder to log in to Apple ID, giving out the inscription “Need an Apple account”.