What may be the Apple Watch connection distance to iPhone,

I a question today, so I thought I'd investigate the answer and share it together with you. I'm guessing a large number of people already wonder this and others will wonder this after Apple Watches begin shipping. The question is:

How far does the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection reach relating to the Apple Watch and iPhone,

This is an important question for most situations, including:

Using the Apple Watch in the club for workouts and activity monitoring. Can the iPhone be in my bag within the corner, within my locker within the locker room, or does it need to be strapped to my upper arm or during my pocket,

Do I have to carry my iPhone on me at all times inside office and also at home, What if my iPhone is inside my bag, within my desk, or during my room,

The Apple Watch connects to the iPhone using Bluetooth 4.0. The Apple Watch doesn't need Wi-Fi, it uses the Wi-Fi within the iPhone, such as the get too worried as of this time. By itself, the Apple Watch can track fitness data, play music stored on the Watch, and earn purchases using Apple Pay. Cool interaction goes on between the Apple Watch and also the iPhone, for instance: Handoffs. With Handoffs, you could start a message around the Apple Watch then finish it in your iPhone.

The Apple Watch uses the Wi-Fi and GPS of one's iPhone (iPhone 5 or later). But the watch is equipped with an internal accelerometer and pulse rate sensor. Does it not work lacking an iPhone, Well, it is going to work all right, but certain apps won't work with no paired iPhone.

Most apps will need a connected iPhone to function, because the processing for your apps is handled with the iPhone and then sends the effect to Apple Watch via bluetooth. Apple creates this change to preserve the Apple Watch battery.

So then if your iPhone connects to Wi-Fi and the Apple Watch connects for the iPhone via Bluetooth 4.0, one's heart of this real question is:

What is the range of Bluetooth 4.0,

Digging into this, I found how the distance of Bluetooth 4.0 may be up to 330 feet (100 meters) and sometimes more, BUT it might be much less, determined by many factors. Bluetooth uses radio waves (short-wavelength UHF to be exact) between 2.4 and two.485 GHz in the ISM band. Long story short, this means a Bluetooth signal might be interrupted by Wi-Fi signals, satellite dishes, certain external monitors, microwaves, bodies, certain electronics, etc.

So, how close do your Apple Watch and iPhone need to have order for each of the Apple Watch features to function fully, Approximately 330 feet (100 meters) - pretty much.

Take that into consideration when separating your Apple Watch from the iPhone.

Update: At the Apple event on 10 March, 2015 Kevin Lynch said: Apple watch communicates using your iPhone over wifi along with bluetooth. So when you're home, you don't have to be within bluetooth range of one's phone, you might be anywhere in your house and still get your messages and take your phone calls…”

73 Comments

Thank you. Very helpful AND concise:)

Kim McGuines on May 20, 2016 at 12:26 am

I cannot be more than several feet from my new iphone6s+ and a lot certainly not in another room during my house for my iWatch to be effective. I do not recommend the product and if I could send it back, I would. I need to explore returning it.

Carolina on July 8, 2016 at 5:50 pm

I have a similar issue. An iwatch with an iPhone SE and 10 feet apart the BT connection breaks.

Hasnain on August 8, 2017 at 1:41 pm

i use a 7plus as well as a series one watch… there are occassions when i leave my phone at my office desk and go for the washroom whilst still being have the bond.. in the home i leave my phone inside my room and spend most of the time downstairs whilst still being get a connection, i suppose you must get your phone watching checked at apple.

Kate on January 28, 2017 at 5:38 am

I possess the iPhone 6s+ and can get some distance away from my Apple Watch series2. If you hold the original this may be a patrician cause. I also read that other devices within your home/area can occasionally cause connection issues. Have you spoken to Apple about your problem, Perhaps you possess a lemon,

J on June 18, 2017 at 2:07 pm

You should take it to Apple Store being checked out. I have 7 plus and searies 2 watch. I can be across garden with phone facing house.

Something is wrong

Hec on December 3, 2017 at 11:57 pm

Mine works all around the college. I can keep my phone during my office and maintain a classroom but still have it work

Techgirl on December 9, 2017 at 3:13 pm

Of course If you are using IPhone 6 or SE it's not going to work as well. It's not the wrist watch it self but 6 has older technology. I just upgrade 6 to 8plus recently… BIg difference. #techgirl

Jay on December 12, 2017 at 7:18 pm

Bad design! One fall this watch is not really operating. It was presented to me as being a present and I asked politely next time ask me before they gift. I do not recommend!

Marcie on December 2, 2016 at 4:21 pm

I've had my Apple Watch since April of 2015 and also have never experienced any connection issues. I travel frequently for work then when visiting others work sites frequently have to leave my phone inside a conference room or office while visiting other parts of the buildings and my watch is able to maintain the bond with my phone. Recently, I lost my phone at Home Depot and I surely could send and receive SMS messages and speak to calls via my watch using my home wi-fi. My biggest issue is fighting the need to upgrade towards the latest version when the original works perfectly! Can I have two,

Frank Lucks on December 21, 2016 at 6:18 am

Yeh nice, pass on the problem to somebody else! What a nice action to take!!!

Bubba Jones on November 22, 2017 at 4:27 pm

Frank Lucks, what …pass around the problem…”, Marcie said …the original works perfectly…”.

Barb on September 27, 2017 at 3:03 am

Which watch do you have, I'm looking into getting one and could use some advice…thanks!

OK this can be my experience today.

I left my phone at my computer workstation and washed some Tupperware lunch dishes, about 80 foot away from my phone, when my spouse text me. I received the written text on my Apple Watch. I sent a text back -successfully - so we stood a live connection.

At that period I wanted to discover just what distance my Watch could established between my Apple Watch and my phone. So I walked 140 paces away - (And I also took large steps for the 6'2″ person). I sent and received texts from that distance. Oh, and through the way I intentionally turned off Wi-Fi for the phone before that test.

So we have an adjacent building and both of these buildings are connected having a tunnel that runs underground. I start to walk through that tunnel - watching my watch as I walked through that tunnel- inside middle the signal broke connection to my phone - still left within my workstation. But … I continued on over the tunnel and about the other side my phone Established the connection again. At this point I am about 300 feet through the phone (which was left at my computer workstation in the other building). I sent and received texts from my watch at that point. Again, wifi was off in my phone.

I'm still looking to figure this out. Is Bluetooth capable to ride” with a wifi signal, Both building share a similar wifi SSID and password. We have AT&T repeaters throughout the building - are the ones repeaters propagating Bluetooth ,

I'd really like to know how this connection is maintained … even reconnecting after disconnecting about the other side of this tunnel ,

I'd appreciate any other info …

Patrick on February 3, 2017 at 11:18 pm

I left my iPhone at the job this afternoon (and didn't realize it). I live 800 yards (2400 feet) from work. I began getting text messages in my Apple Watch Series 1. I wanted to respond on the text messages using my phone but I couldn't think it is. I couldn't find it inside my house, so I reluctantly went back to function. I pinged” the device and sure enough, it was at work (2400 feet far from where I successfully sent and received text messages - several of them with the way! Crazy!

Do you have series 3,

Randy H on December 16, 2017 at 11:02 pm

May I ask what sort of iphone and what series watch you've,

Michelle on June 28, 2017 at 4:33 pm

I forgot my phone today, but my watch remains to be working and I am five miles away. I am getting telephone calls, messages and voice mails because I am on my small office wi-fi. Amazing!!

Jim on July 12, 2017 at 4:53 pm

Michelle… my boss had exactly the same thing happened yesterday. He texted me from the restaurant when he was 3 miles from his office, using his Apple Watch. He answered a phone call, he sent and received texts. All with this while his iPhone was back on his desk.

I'm at the job with him this morning and I was looking online to see if there was anything about it and came across this thread. After I read your comment I asked him the question, had you visited that restaurant before along with your iPhone and logged onto their Wi-Fi,” I'm wondering if Apple has a hidden Wi-Fi chip, or Wi-Fi capability inside iPhone, or if this can be an unreleased feature to get a future iOS update.

Jim on July 12, 2017 at 5:05 pm

Meant to say… I'm wondering if Apple has a Hidden Wi-Fi chip, or Wi-Fi capability within the APPLE WATCH, or if that is an unreleased feature for a future iOS update”

Ab on July 31, 2017 at 3:50 am

How do you connect your Apple Watch series 2 to Wi-Fi with no cellphone,

Bruce on July 23, 2017 at 11:33 pm

I live in the gated community on about 5-8 acres and I may use my apple watch anywhere within that area while my iPhone continues to be sitting in my lounge room.

I love my second-hand apple watch (from my son).

Chris Geist on August 3, 2017 at 5:15 pm

The iPhone watch series 2 loses its signal in the iPhone right at 40 meters around 120 Fact.

Hello,

Can I count on my own Apple Watch alert me before I get out of reach with my Iphone 5 ,

Apart through the obvious use fo such an alert function, that might be particularly helpful for those like my partner who often forgets her Iphone at home or inside car ….

mowerb on April 24, 2015 at 12:18 am

As of now, no, your Apple Watch is not going to alert you if this goes from range of your respective iPhone. You can read a couple of comments that have been made about this here

Hopefully this sort of functionality will likely be added soon.

Greg on May 13, 2015 at 8:59 pm

Nice article; just wanted to correct you about WiFi; the Apple Watch truly does have WiFi and connects towards the iPhone using WiFi if not bluetooth connected and if about the same WiFi subnet.

Very helpful indeed. Loving my Apple Watch!

L on June 3, 2015 at 8:57 pm

So then, I can't take just my Apple Watch when I go to get a run or walk; I have to make iPhone too. That kinda blows the glitz outta the glamour!

c on December 1, 2015 at 6:45 pm

Well it is possible to. The Health features will work just fine, and it is possible to play the music you have stored for the watch. But you won't be capable to take calls or messages.

flavio on October 29, 2016 at 10:04 pm

no they dont. i've found unless i possess the phone and watch together as i play tennis it has a hard time logging anything even sitting within the chair inside the middle from the court. swimming forget it, even with the telephone right close to my pool. Pool is merely 40 ft and i contain the phone right within the middle so to say it stays connected for 100 meters is inaccurate at best. Why is it it is possible to by a fit bit for almost nothing and you are able to pair after your hard work out plus it keeps track of everything perfectly.

Sabrina Terry on May 10, 2016 at 7:58 pm

Exactly.. I thought the same!!! Hmmm seems like the Samsung Classic seems to contain the glamor of this feature lacking to have a phone in range. I such as the size of the apple watch because it's just not bulky.. But who would like to tote two electronics when you are active. Waste of greenbacks I can take my 39.00 wireless bluetooth. And do the identical

Stacy on September 10, 2016 at 12:11 am

I agree I can't even go within my backyard and then leave iPhone 6s Plus inside because my watch won't reach the bond,

Eugene on November 20, 2017 at 2:31 pm

I just got the apple watch series 3 and found I can go in my back yard by leaving my iphone within my bedroom but still be in a position to use the watch. I can also go inside my garage and still use it. I accidentally left my phone within my car and also the watch was still working.

Carlton on June 12, 2015 at 1:26 pm

I am not experiencing the same wifi connectivity as pointed out. At times when I am upstairs and the phone is downstairs I lose connectivity. And wifi signal is ok upstairs.

Don N. on June 12, 2015 at 7:01 pm

thanks for the homework. You would think Apple offers that information with the watch. I guess they need you to go online for everything.

Jeremy on June 25, 2015 at 4:42 pm

My iPhone is associated with a very high end Wi-Fi system at the job and I let you know that I consistently lose connectivity after about 75 feet give or take. Now it can be possible there's buku interruption by other computers, walls, Wi-Fi devices etc but 75 feet can be a far cry from 330.

This is a lot like saying high-end walkie talkies have a range of 26 miles….Yeah whenever you're on a flat desert bed plus your line of sight is straight before you with minimal curvature. I think the same general rule applies here. The clearer and straighter the line from device to device -> the longer you'll possess a stable link relating to the two.

Roxanne on July 8, 2015 at 12:06 am

So if your iPhone is on LTE as an alternative to wifi…how far does the stove go between phone and view,

c on December 1, 2015 at 6:46 pm

If you are not attached to WiFi, then the timepiece uses bluetooth, so a maximum of 330 feet, like the article says.

Ricci on February 11, 2017 at 6:56 pm

Because the Apple Watch doesn't need LTE antenna (or conponents) it's going to not make use of the benefits of LTE connection. 300+ feet on Bluetooth or as far out since your WiFi signal can go. I have AirPort Extreme stations throughout the building and also the signal reaches 5 houses around the block. I do not need to cary my iPhone whatsoever unless i go to work or errands.

Chris on July 20, 2015 at 8:37 pm

Your watch does alert you when you find yourself out of range btw… A little red phone with a slash through seems like at the top of one's watch face.

Sweet! Thats what that phone slashed icon means. Thanks Chris.

Murray on July 22, 2015 at 7:40 am

I wish it might vibrate, like my old Pebble, to remind me I have forgot my phone!!

Sheri on September 29, 2016 at 6:18 pm

I love my blue tooth headset, it vibrates if I forget my phone ,

Apple Watch is equipped with both Bluetooth and WiFi connections available.

Mike on October 14, 2015 at 6:46 pm

Connected to my iPhone 6, the watch goes from range in less than 10 metres at home, can't even set off before the unconnected icon appears!. Not completed it elsewhere yet though!

mowerb on October 16, 2015 at 4:15 pm

Thank you for sharing your experience with the wrist watch, Mike. Interesting to listen for about the different connectivity ranges that individuals have in several scenarios.

Tracy on October 22, 2015 at 9:24 pm

I left my iPhone at school, next door from where home is. I am of a football field faraway from my classroom. I received a text in my Apple Watch and replied, wondering how that may happen when my phone was so far away, with many different walls between here and there… as well as on two different wi-fi networks…

jlee on June 24, 2016 at 2:10 pm

I just got to operate without my phone sufficient reason for only my Apple watch on. The distant between my phone and watch is about 37 miles and so on a different wi-fi network, if your Apple watch uses wi-fi. The red dot/light indicates I am connected to my phone and assuming it really is connected…this a huge distant it's being covered. Now if I leave my work and outside of the wi-fi variety of my work, than I lose connection. This is amazing the distance can be far and alarming that I have to take wi-fi range for connection when I don't possess my phone.

steve on November 23, 2015 at 9:24 pm

if the watch doesn't need wifi, this statement is wrong. my watch gets about 20 feet. at 25-30 i lose connection, inside my house, like derived from one of room to an alternative. my Pebble got over twice that range. much near to 100+ feet. i miss calls, texts, etc. very frustrating. V2.0 need to have built-in wifi IMHO.

At the Apple event on 10 March, 2015 Kevin Lynch said: Apple watch communicates along with your iPhone over wifi as well as bluetooth”

Kathleen on February 5, 2016 at 3:26 pm

Like Steve, I can not be more than 20-30 feet from my iphone otherwise I receive no messages/alerts/calls. Very frustrating and definaely an arrangement breaker to me. It's basically useless. I have a scheduled appointment at Aple tomorrow and hope I can get this issue resoved, otherwise….very unhappy longtime Apple customer.

Joe on March 8, 2016 at 5:42 pm

According to this particular with this app you will get a notification on your own watch if you leave your phone behind depending on bluetooth:

Edward Brumby on April 25, 2016 at 11:36 am

I left my phone at home by accident. While I was in Publix I got a text on my small watch from my wife. How did that happen, I also successfully responded.

Jerome Hartzog on June 2, 2016 at 4:28 pm

The iWatch is terrible regarding no notification, or haptic response, when leaving the paired iPhone behind. Pebble features a much better system, and you would think Apple would've done better, however they don't. When you walk away from the iPhone and possess on a Pebble watch the wrist watch buzzes you on the wrist and shows you. You get more response when you are using the fitness app while walking for the Apple watch, simply a small red rectangle in your wrist without any haptic feedback.

Sydney on July 26, 2016 at 8:45 pm

So they are selling apple watches which may have 4G, LTE, and wifi. So, does that mean which it has internet without being close to the phone, Like could I leave my phone home and yes it could still work when I go elseware, I'm confused to how that works well.

mowerb on July 27, 2016 at 12:33 am

Hi Sydney, great questions. This info furnished by Apple should present you with some good strategies to those questions.

Christopher on August 23, 2016 at 7:46 pm

The wifi on my own phone is off, Bluetooth is off but I am receiving text messages and whatsapp, emails in my iwatch…can someone explain that,

Jordan on October 24, 2016 at 8:19 pm

I was only (literally at 2pm) answering calls from my apple watch

while the phone was getting repaired 2 miles away… yes 2 miles away.

i DONT KNOW HOW

Wil on October 27, 2016 at 1:25 pm

I have new iPhone 7 plus and wear a Bluetooth headset for phone calls and music. I am planning to leave the device protected within my truck or other safe place. Will an Apple Watch i want to do this, At the most, we're talking 75 feet.

None on December 17, 2016 at 5:56 pm

This is NOT true, the apple watch Series 1 and a pair of have 2ghz Wifi supported chips inside of the watch! When Bluetooth isn't available it's going to try and connect to known networks that you've previously connected to using your iPhone. It won't connect however to public Wifi Networks that need a login page or authentication or 5ghz networks.

Arlene on December 26, 2016 at 10:50 pm

Thank you!! I'm enjoying my new Apple Watch! I highly recommend Apple products, happen to be a fan around 2007!!!

Lisa coates on January 7, 2017 at 11:43 am

What will be the point from the iwatch if u should have your phone with u to make it work anyway, At best it's a pulse rate monitor.

Vincent Meloche on January 16, 2017 at 7:24 pm

Thank you for the information. Love my apple watch series 2 that I just bought yesterday!

Joan on April 6, 2017 at 11:43 pm

Do I have to have my phone next for the watch while I charge the wrist watch,

mowerb on April 7, 2017 at 4:29 pm

No Joan, you don't have to have your phone next towards the watch to charge the wrist watch.

Elizabeth on May 18, 2017 at 12:43 pm

I contain the Series 2 watch. Right now, I am loving the wi-fi distance connectivity. It wasn't something I noticed much, until I forgot my phone in your house this morning and was astonished to obtain a news notification on my small watch! I checked it out and pointed out that my watch had automatically connected to my work wi-fi. I happened to leave my phone's wi-fi on also it's connected on the network in your own home, so they're connected. What a lifesaver!

Rodger Harbaugh on July 15, 2017 at 4:18 pm

What may be the connection distance for the series to watch and the iPhone 6 Plus.

Tammy on August 25, 2017 at 4:14 pm

Lost my apple 6s phone on the Tuesday in the different city then where I live. The distance relating to the 2 cities are an hour and half an hour. I figured the timepiece was useless so I didn't continue to put it on. My new phone is at route to me so I decided to wear my watch tomorrow. I started getting messages and was able to message back. I turned back on the service on my small old phone and still have not yet received my new phone which is not activated yet. I have not a clue how my apple watch is utilizing my lost phone being so a long way away.

Shri on September 22, 2017 at 8:10 pm

This is quite strange !!! Though i powered down both WIFI and Bluetooth on my phone, my apple watch continues to be connected (Series-2). I recently upgraded to iOS11.

Could this certainly be a bug ,

Mike Lunburg on November 6, 2017 at 6:02 pm

I am often outside, and my phone is inside, within the back of the house. Connection is perfect.

Velisha on November 25, 2017 at 7:07 pm

I was out at a cigar lounge in one area with the city, failed to know I had left my phone until I is at another cigar lounge for the other side of town trying to find my phone. I was still capable to reply to sms. My phone was connected on the wifi. I am just amazed until this was possible.

Bluetooth Problems with Apple Watch, Here's the best way to fix - … with no iPhone, your Apple Watch is in fact useless. Why, Because the Watch should really connect and…

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