To enjoy every feature on your Apple Watch, you need to turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your paired iPhone. Open Control Center on your iPhone, then make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on.
If you still can't connect on this device, contact your internet service provider for more help. Unplug all network devices including the PS3 system. Wait a few minutes before turning them back on – this will refresh the network settings.
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 cellular 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 uses Wi-Fi.
- If Bluetooth and Wi-Fi aren't available, and you set up a cellular plan, cellular models of Apple Watch can connect to cellular 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 2.4GHz.
For example, your Apple Watch won't connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi or public networks that require logins, subscriptions, or profiles. When your Apple Watch connects to a compatible Wi-Fi network instead of your iPhone connection, appears in Control Center.
Choose a Wi-Fi network
With watchOS 5 or later, you can choose which Wi-Fi network your Apple Watch connects to.
Turn Wi-Fi off or on
- Touch and hold the bottom of the screen.
- Wait for Control Center to show, then swipe up.
- Tap . The icon will dim and your device will disconnect from any network that you're connected to.
Only Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) and Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) 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 do one of these things:
- You turn on Wi-Fi in Control Center.
- You walk or drive to a new location.
- It's 5:00 a.m. local time.
- You restart your device.
Use a cellular network
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) and Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular) can connect to cellular. With a cellular connection, you can make calls and use data or apps when you don’t have your iPhone or Wi-Fi. Learn how to add your Apple Watch to your cellular plan.
Check your signal strength
- Touch and hold the bottom of the screen.
- Wait for Control Center to show, then swipe up.
- Check the Cellular button.
The Cellular button turns green when you have a connection. The green dots show the signal strength.
The Cellular button turns white when your cellular plan is active, but your Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone or Wi-Fi.
Turn cellular on or off
- Touch and hold the bottom of the screen.
- Wait for Control Center to show, then swipe up.
- Tap , then turn off Cellular.
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 or on the watch face, you don't have a connection.
- Check Control Center. Touch and hold the bottom of the screen, wait for Control Center to show, then swipe up. If you see or , you don't have a connection.
- Tap in Control Center. If your devices are connected, your iPhone should make a 'ping' sound.
Learn more
- Get help if your Apple Watch disconnects from your iPhone.
- Use your Apple Watch without its paired iPhone.
- Learn about using a cellular connection.