While this article primarily refers to recent Apple Watch models—Series 6 and Series 7—the ideas and concepts discussed here generally apply to most modern Watch models.
Does Apple Watch Work When the Phone Is Far Away?
The Apple Watch is useful in many different situations, but it’s best when paired or connected to an iPhone and within a specific range. In that situation, the Watch and iPhone can communicate and exchange data, such as notifications, music, health data, and more. The critical question for that scenario is: How far apart can the Apple Watch and iPhone be? The answer depends on how the Watch and iPhone connect. The two devices connect via Bluetooth, a short-range wireless technology. The most recent Apple Watch models use Bluetooth 4.0, which has a maximum range of 100 meters/330 feet. The maximum connection distance supported by Bluetooth 4.0 isn’t always quite that long in real-world use. In many cases, the maximum length will decrease because of environmental circumstances: primarily walls and floors and the number of wireless signals in any given area.
What Happens When an Apple Watch Is Out of Bluetooth Range?
What happens if the Apple Watch and iPhone are so far apart that they can’t connect to each other? That’s where Wi-Fi comes in. If the Watch and iPhone can’t connect over Bluetooth, they fall back to trying to connect via their built-in Wi-Fi chips. In that case, if the iPhone is connected to a 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi network (the Watch isn’t compatible with 5Ghz Wi-Fi networks), the Watch attempts to make contact with it over Wi-Fi. That means the supported distance between the devices, in that case, is anywhere that Wi-Fi can reach. While that’s not necessarily a lot farther apart than with Bluetooth, it does mean that the Watch and iPhone can communicate with each other when they’re in the same building, for example.
Can You Use Apple Watch Without a Phone?
Even if the Apple Watch and iPhone are so far apart that they’re out of range for both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, there are many ways to use an Apple Watch without an iPhone. Some of the things you can do with an Apple Watch that don’t require an iPhone include:
Tracking activity and workouts. Listening to music and podcasts that have been synced to the Watch. Changing the Watch face. Recording voice memos on the Watch. Viewing calendars. Making purchases with Apple Pay. Using timers, alarms, and stopwatches.
Unlimited Range: Apple Watch With Cellular
The significant exception to everything in this article is the Apple Watch with Cellular models. These models aren’t limited to connecting via Bluetooth (or, as a fallback, Wi-Fi). These models access the internet over 4G LTE cellular networks like smartphones do. That means that these Apple Watches can perform tasks and make connections anywhere that there’s a 4G LTE network (as long as they have an active monthly plan with a phone company, that is). If you’ve got an Apple Watch with Cellular, the things you can do without a connection to an iPhone include:
Making calls. Sending text messages. Streaming music. Receiving notifications.
