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Apple Watch fall detection without phone or cellular

Regarding fall detection, can an Apple Watch SE still contact enabled family member/personal emergency contacts

even if not cellular, no WiFi, and iPhone not nearby (from what I understand, it would probably not have the ability to contact 911/emergency services)? Wanting to use it for aging parent as fall detection, with my iPhone paired to it (but we do not live in the same household). I believe it can if there is a WiFi connection (?), but not sure her senior independent living apartment WiFi is reliable. Thanks in advance.

Apple Watch SE

Posted on Mar 26, 2023 3:21 PM

Top-ranking reply

javaliga

Level 10

119,975 points

Posted on Mar 26, 2023 6:15 PM

A GPS-only watch requires the paired iPhone to be near it to make any calls. If Wi-FI is available, the watch can use that to connect to the paired iPhone if they are out of Bluetooth range each other. But a GPS-only watch cannot make any other WI-FI connections independently. For more info, see:

About Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

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Apple Watch fall detection without phone or cellular

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