Soon, your Apple Watch could finally be freed from that pesky iPhone and paired with the companion of your choice, such as an iPad or even a Mac.
Why won't my Apple Watch pair? (2022)
Currently, you have to pair an Apple Watch with an iPhone. Even the cellular Apple Watch requires a parent iPhone for setup and ongoing support. But now Watch Independence Day is approaching, as Apple is reportedly working on a software update that will allow users to pair their watch with multiple devices.
“Apple is definitely trying to make the Apple Watch more independent of the iPhone, just as it did with the iPad and the Mac. By expanding the device’s compatibility with other Apple devices, users have more options for how they use the watch and are less reliant on their iPhone to access its features,” Kyle MacDonald, VP of mobile device implementation company Mojio, told Lifewire via email. “This also opens up new use cases for the device, such as using it as a remote control for music playback or as a fitness tracker during a workout when you don’t have your iPhone handy.”
Pairing iPhone and Apple Watch works in two ways. The Watch relies on the iPhone for its internet connection, to receive notifications, and for the data it needs to show app information, like the weather forecast. But the Apple Watch can also control the iPhone, for example with its media playback controls, which let you skip tracks, navigate through podcasts, change the volume, and more.
