Apple Watch Family Setup workaround

[__evan__]

I switched to Visible to get access to the Verizon network since it seems to have better coverage where my kids go to school.  I switched my iphone to Visible, switched my own Apple Watch 7 to Visible, but there seems to be no way to add a child's watch with a separate phone number using Apple Watch Family Setup. Rather than wait for Visible to get around to supporting Family Setup, I created a Verizon account just for her Apple Watch SE.  Lo - and - behold it seems to work!  Family Setup received the Verizon carrier setup information about 20 minutes after Verizon sent me her new phone number.  Only downside I see so far is that I have to use two different carrier companies but at least they both use the Verizon towers & network. #Apple Watch #Apple Watch Family Setup #Activation 

[upstate-SC]

I don't quite follow, do you pay separately for Verizon?

[__evan__]

Yes

[WPO1]

Can you give us some additional details on how your daughters Apple Watch is treated both by Verizon and Visible in terms of monthly pricing? Did you actually use the Apple Family setup procedure for the watch.

[JenniferD]

I was wondering if this would work or if I would need to just get one of those kid watches from Verizon.  Those don’t get good reviews. 

[jonbudge]

I did a similar work around with T-Mobile for my kids watches. I have my iPhone and Apple Watch service with Visible and 3 standalone Apple Watch lines with T-Mobile and activated them via the watch app under family setup. I have to pay visible and T-Mobile separately but with auto pay it’s easy. 

[barnfry]

I just want to confirm for others looking into this that as of Feb 2, 2024, __evan__'s workaround is still necessary, and to the best of my knowledge, the best choice for Visible users. Unlimited Cellular service for a watch without a phone is currently $10/mo for an Apple Watch with Verizon.

[JamesL]

It's awesome to hear you found a workaround for setting up your child's Apple Watch! It's all about finding what works best for your family's needs. Have you considered exploring options like Better Roaming for future setups? They offer connectivity solutions that could complement your setup and enhance your overall experience. Just a thought! Keep exploring what works best for you.

[UncleOli]

I ran the same setup for 4 years–iPhone on Visible, Family Sharing for cellular Apple Watch SE Gen 1 with a separate line and number on Verizon. But I was only able to update to the latest software last month by pairing the watch to the iPhone. Pairing it deactivated the Verizon account and line, so I can no longer make phone calls on the watch’s line, for which I am paying. The Watch app does not recognize the eSIM or the Verizon cellular plan.

[Davehica]

Hey Evan - Im in Visible apple watch stand alone purgatory right now. My understanding is that I have to pair my son's apple watch to my visible iphone, and that visible won't allow me to lair it and then set the watch up as a stand alone with a different number on a different carrier. Are you saying you were able to accomplish this somehow?  Or that you never had to pair the watch to your phone? Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

[jenv]

we are in this awful

space too. Did you figure it out? 

[jenv]

Does anybody have any advice on how to do this successfully? I want to pull my hair out. We were going to use a T-Mobile standalone plan but every time we try to set it up the set up cell cellular option is grayed out. we read somewhere that if I turned off my cellular, this should work. It’s not  and wow, we’d appreciate any help.

[RJD]

I was able to find a workaround that worked.  I just did this with my iPhone that is on Visible today. 

I purchased a Pre-Paid Verizon Watch Plan ($10 per month as of 12/2025) and then associated it with the Kids / Family Member setup on a 1st Generation Apple Watch SE.  It took me quite a few hours to figure out a process that worked.  BUT I followed this process on Reddit exactly:
https://www.reddit.com/r/USMobile/comments/1kndz4s/crazy_fix_for_kids_standalone_apple_watch_not/ 

Embedding the Reddit post here, but take a look at the Reddit discussion for more information:

I have to write up this crazy fix for everyone else who's pulling their hair out trying to connect a kid’s Apple Watch to a US Mobile standalone plan and the option to “Set Up Cellular” is grayed out and you can’t select it. It's so crazy that when the Rep told me to do it, I was ready to bet money that wasn't going to work.

Every single time I went to my watch app and tried to “Set up cellular” The “Set Up Cellular” option was grayed out (Unselectable). No amount of pairing, erasing, or resetting would ever let me select “Set Up cellular” on my kids Apple Watch.

1. With both your phone and your kids Apple Watch on. Go to the cellular settings on your phone (Not the watch app).

2. Turn the cellular service off to YOUR PHONE.

3. Turn off your phone and your kids Apple Watch. Wait 10 seconds. Turn them both back on. And then once they're both up, maybe wait like 30 seconds.

4. With your cellular service still off to your phone, go back to the Watch app. Choose your kids Apple Watch and see if you can choose to Set Up Cellular.

It worked for me when no other solution would work otherwise, and I have no idea why. Hope that helps

---

Even though it says US Mobile it worked for Visible also on 12/14/2025

Some notes:

• It took about 12 minutes for the Verizon number to activate.  You MUST wait until you get the "welcome to Verizon Prepaid." email before you try to do any of the stuff in the Reddit post
• For more details on how to turn off the Visible Cellular plan temporarily, here is the process:
  • Settings -> Cellular -> VISIBLE -> Click beside the "Turn On this Line" to turn it off
  • Use this same process after you get your Apple Watch registered to turn your line back on.
• I don't think this matters, but right after I completed the Verizon pre-Paid order I turned off the Visible line on my iPhone...
• Also, I had fully completed the setup in the Watch app before I purchased the Verizon PrePaid plan
  • I did it the night before actually.  Since just setting up the Apple Watch gave me various "unknown errors" in the Watch app.
  • I had to pick "Set Up for a Family Member" but the cellular setup didn't work then.  Only Wifi.  I added Cellular later in the Watch app after the rest was setup.
  • More info: https://support.apple.com/en-us/109036 
• It seems like the Watch app is searching for a list of registered IMEI numbers or something which you click on the Watch -> Cellular option.  Once the IMEI shows as having a plan then it shows you can register it and send the eSIM to the phone.  (It did NOT work before I got the "welcome to Verizon Prepaid" email.  But it worked immediately afterwards.)

This is non-trivial...  It has taken probably 4-5 hours of messing around and searching over the last 2 days.  The AI searches give the wrong information also.  Don't be surprised if you have to try multiple times to get it to work...  Good luck