Apple Watch Series Settings Limitations Instructions

If you are in the Apple ecosystem, one of the most useful accessories you may want for you and your family is the Apple Watch. With this wearable technology on your wrist, you can track your health and fitness data, make calls, send messages, check your sleep, or use apps without unlocking your iPhone.

While most features on the Apple Watch are only useful when paired with an iPhone, people without an iPhone can still use the Apple Watch as long as their family members use an iPhone to set it up. In this article, we'll explain all the requirements and limitations of using Family Setup on your Apple Watch, and what features your family members can use if their watch is paired with your iPhone.

What are family sharing settings on Apple Watch? Who is it for?

Apple launched the Apple Watch Family Setup feature in 2020 as a way to set up an Apple Watch for people who don’t have an iPhone. The feature is designed to help family members such as elderly parents or school-age children use an Apple Watch on their own without having to use an iPhone at the same time.

When Apple Watch is configured using Family Setup, its users will be able to make calls, send messages, use fitness features, and share their location with others without having to use an iPhone themselves. With Family Setup, the iPhone used to set up the watch can later be used to manage certain features of the watch.

Family Setup Compatible Watch Models

Apple’s Family Setup is only available when you set up a compatible Apple Watch using your Apple ID account. These models include:

• Watch Series 4 (GPS Cellular)
• Watch Series 5 (GPS Cellular)
• WATCH SE (GPS Cellular)
• Watch Series 6 (GPS Cellular)
• Watch Series 7 (GPS Cellular)
• Watch SE (2nd Generation) (GPS Cellular)
• Watch Series 8 (GPS Cellular)
• Watch Ultra (GPS Cellular)
• Watch Nike and Nike (GPS Cellular) [Series 4 onwards]
• Watch Hermès (GPS Phone) [Series 4 onwards]
• Watch Edition (GPS Cellular) [Series 5 onwards]

If you have a GPS-only Apple Watch variant, you won't be able to use it Family Settings configure it for others.

Family Setup Device Requirements

Now that you're familiar with the Apple Watch models that support Family Setup, you'll need to make sure your device meets specific requirements before it can be used with Family Setup.

• Your compatible Apple Watch runs on watchOS 7 or later.
• The Apple Watch is brand new or has been erased so you can set it up for your family. Check this Apple support page to unpair and erase your Apple Watch and reset it to new.
• You have an iPhone 6s or newer to set up watches for your family.
• Compatible iPhones running iOS 14 or later.
• During the setup process, your iPhone has Bluetooth enabled.
• Your iPhone and Apple Watch are well within normal Bluetooth range (approximately 33 feet or 10 meters).
• (Optional) A cellular plan is available for Apple Watch; it is not required during setup but is required for making calls and sending messages.

If your Apple Watch or iPhone is running older software, make sure you update them to the latest version before starting the home setup process.

Family Setup Account Requirements

In addition to the device requirements above, Family Setup is only available if you meet the account conditions below for pairing your watch with your iPhone.

• The Apple ID of the child or person for whom you set up Apple Watch. You can't use the same Apple ID to set up under Family Settings.
• The Apple ID you are logged into with your iPhone is different from the Apple ID you will use on your Apple Watch.
• The Apple ID on your iPhone has two-factor authentication enabled; if not, check this Apple Support page to enable this feature.
• You are the organizer of a Family Sharing group to which you plan to add people who use Apple Watch. Check out our dedicated tutorial to set up Home Sharing from your iPhone.

Apple Watch Features Available in Family Setup

If you set up your Apple Watch using Family Setup on your iPhone, here's what's available to your family members using their Apple Watch function list:

• Make phone calls and FaceTime audio calls to trusted contacts.
• Use Walkie-Talkie to communicate with other Apple Watch users.
• Send and receive texts using the Messages app.
• View selected photos from a paired iPhone.
• Use Apple Maps to navigate.
• View and access reminders and family calendar.
• Listen to songs and podcasts on Apple Music through headphones.
• High and low heart rate notifications (for ages 13 and up)
• Heart rate variability (HRV) (for ages 18 and up)
• Walking stability ( 18 and up)
• Fall Detection (Ages 18 and up)
• Use the Workout & Activity app on Watch to view activity rewards and compete with friends in activities.
• Activity time will be displayed as a fitness metric in the Activity app (Available under 13 years old)
• Activity calories will be displayed as a fitness metric in the Activity app (Available for 13 and up)
• Apple Cash Family available for purchases and transfers in the Messages app in the US (Available under 18)
• Use Siri to ask questions and translate (if paired enabled on iPhone).
• Outdoor Walk, Outdoor Run, and Outdoor Cycle workouts are available on Apple Watch designed for kids, with guided notifications and language for kids.
• Apps and games can be downloaded directly to Apple Watch if they are suitable for selected age groups.

On iPhone used to set up your family members’ Apple Watch, you can control and manage the following settings:

• Set Screen Time and limits.
• Set up and add a cellular number to your Apple Watch.
• Check for new watchOS updates.
• Change language and region.
• Open emergency help and set up emergency contacts.
• Set a class schedule for your kids and lock your watch during class times.
• Manage children’s fitness and activities.
• Turn on hand washing timer and manage limits.
• Add, view and edit health details and data.
• View heart data hosted on Apple Watch.
• Add family members’ accounts to Mail and Calendar.
• Edit Smart Replies and select dictation options for the Messages app.
• Select the album to be displayed on the watch and select the number of pictures the watch can display.
• Set up Apple Cash and Express Transit on Wallet & Apple Pay.
• Select trusted contacts in the "Contacts" application.
• Manage notification settings for Find My App.
• Change Apple Watch accessibility settings.
• Turn on or off ambient sound measurement and set the noise threshold.

Apple Watch Family Setup Limitations

When you set up an Apple Watch for your family through Family Setup, some features won't work on the Apple Watch, even if the device natively supports them is also like this. These include:

• Unable to measure or track respiratory rate.
• Home Settings Watch will not receive irregular heart rhythm notifications.
• Cannot be used to record ECG.
• Sleep and cycle tracking are not available on Apple Watch in Home Settings.
• The watch cannot be used to check wrist temperature and blood oxygen.
• The Medications app will not be accessible on the watch.
• Apple Pay cannot be used with credit or debit cards through Family Setup.
• Audiobooks, Remote, News, Home, and Shortcuts apps are not supported on Apple Watch with Family Settings.

If you plan to use any of the above features, the Apple Watches used by your family members should be paired with their own iPhones, not the family setup.

The above is the detailed content of Apple Watch Series Settings Limitations Instructions. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!