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How to Use Apple Watch With an Android Smartphone
It can be done but it's not for the faint of heart
By Michael Archambault Michael Archambault Writer New York Institute of Technology Michael Archambault is a technology writer and digital media specialist. His work has appeared in Mobile Nations, Amazon’s Digital Photography Review, PetaPixel, and other outlets. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 27, 2021 Reviewed by Christine Baker Reviewed by Christine Baker Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section Requirements Connect the Devices What to Expect How Does This Work Frequently Asked Questions What to Know
Turn off all devices. Remove the SIM card from the iPhone and insert it into the Android. Turn on the Android and then the Apple Watch.
This article explains how to use an Apple Watch and an Android phone together. What Do I Need
To connect your Apple Watch with an Android smartphone, you need: An unlocked Apple Watch with LTE An unlocked Android smartphone An unlocked iPhone 6 or later A SIM card removal tool To be on a cellular network that supports the Apple Watch If you're unsure whether your devices are unlocked, contact Apple or your carrier for more information. How to Connect an Apple Watch and Android Phone
First, set up your Apple Watch and configure it with your selected iPhone device. You'll need to start with an iPhone to set up the Apple Watch and connect it to your carrier's LTE network. Once your Apple Watch is ready, proceed with the steps below. Turn off your iPhone, Android phone, and Apple Watch. Use the SIM card tool (or something suitable like a paperclip) to remove your SIM card from your iPhone. Place your iPhone SIM card into your Android phone and then turn it on. Once your Android phone has powered on and is connected to your cell carrier's network, power on the Apple Watch. You should now see your Android device is connected to your carrier as usual and that your Apple Watch is also connected. Now you can begin receiving calls and more on your Apple Watch, despite having an Android phone as your primary device. 5 Apple Watch Security Settings You Should Turn On What Functionality Can I Expect
Your Apple Watch and its installed apps will be able to keep themselves updated over a cellular connection; select apps that require your iPhone may function unexpectedly. You can make phone calls, but messaging can be cumbersome. iMessage, for example, tends to work with this setup, but standard text messages (SMS) fail; a significant problem since your Android device will typically want to send all messages as standard SMS texts. Since you won’t have access to an iPhone, you won’t be able to keep your device and software suitably up to date. If you want to install a new app on your watch, you’ll also be out of luck because you need an iPhone to complete this function. You cannot pair an Android device with an Apple Watch and have the two work together over Bluetooth. If you attempt to pair the two devices as one would typically pair with any other Bluetooth device, they will refuse to connect. How Does This Work
Your two devices aren’t actually communicating with one another; from a technical perspective, they're still wholly incompatible. However, setting up your Watch with LTE means it no longer needs to use an iPhone to complete some of its primary functions. Be prepared to see a loss in functionality, and the constant use of LTE will drain your Apple Watch battery faster than usual. While it's a fun experiment overall, if you love Android, you're better off picking up a dedicated smartwatch that's compatible with your phone. FAQ How do you unlock an Apple Watch? You can unlock an Apple Watch with a passcode or Activation Lock. However, an "unlocked" Apple Watch means it isn't tied to a carrier. Will an Apple Watch work by itself, without any phone? Yes, it will. There are actually quite a few things you can do with an Apple Watch without a paired iPhone. For example, you can pair your Watch with Bluetooth headphones to stream music from Spotify, or download and listen to podcasts on your Watch without an iPhone. What Android watch is comparable to Apple Watch? The best Apple Watch alternative for Android users is probably the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. While it lacks the robust app ecosystem of the Apple Watch, it has a great rotating bezel, a classic design, and about two days of battery life with the always-on display active. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Unpair Apple Watch How to Change Your Phone Number on Android How to Check if an iPhone Is Unlocked How to Set Up a New Android From an Old Phone 8 Solutions for When Your iPhone Says No SIM How to Reset Your Apple Watch How to Fix It When Mobile Data Is Not Working How to Transfer Your Contacts From Android to iPhone What Is the 'i' Icon on the Apple Watch? How to Set Up a New Android Phone How to Unlock a Phone From Any Carrier How to Back Up Your Apple Watch How to Fix It When Your iPhone Has No Service How to Use Apple Watch With Siri How to Pair and Connect an Apple Watch With a New iPhone How Far Does the Apple Watch Reach? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies