Google's cellular articles describe the LTE watch as having a direct connection to your carrier plan, sharing a number with your phone so notifications and messages stay in sync, and letting you make calls and use apps without the phone. It needs a separate line on the same carrier as your phone, and the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 support different carriers, so check that yours is supported. To set up, find the eSIM ID under Settings, Connectivity, Mobile, SIM status, confirm Mobile is set to Automatic, then add the watch to the plan through the Pixel Watch app (for Google Fi, Connectivity,
Mobile network, Connect to Google Fi) or your carrier's instructions; US carriers listed include AT&T, Cellcom, C Spire, Google Fi, T-Mobile, UScellular and Verizon. If it will not connect: check Bluetooth is on, Airplane Mode is off on both phone and watch, the phone is online and nearby permission is allowed; check signal under SIM status. If an old inactive eSIM profile was never deleted, reset it under Settings, Connectivity, Mobile, Advanced, Reset eSIM (some carriers need a call to reactivate); after a new setup, restart the watch and try again. A watch not paired with the phone may not connect to the cellular network.
Differential
Likely causes of “Google Pixel Watch cellular service is not working”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The watch is not an LTE model
What separates it There is no Mobile setting because the watch is not an LTE model
How to confirm Only LTE models have cellular service, so check the model
- 2
An inactive eSIM profile from an old device
What separates it The activation fails because of an inactive eSIM profile from an old device
How to confirm Reset eSIM under Advanced and re-activate with the carrier
- 3
Airplane Mode is on
What separates it There is no network because Airplane Mode is on
How to confirm Turn it off on the watch and phone
- 4
Unsupported carrier or a different carrier from the phone
What separates it Talk and text fail because of an unsupported carrier or a different carrier from the phone
How to confirm Use a supported carrier that matches the phone
- 5
Poor signal
What separates it The connection drops away from the phone because of poor signal
How to confirm Check SIM status and move to better coverage
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The model number and whether it is LTE or Wi-Fi
- The carrier and whether the plan is active
- The eSIM ID and the SIM status screen
- Whether Bluetooth, Airplane Mode and the phone's internet are fine
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the model
ReversibleCheck the model, and confirm that it is an LTE model with a Mobile setting.
Check basics
ReversibleCheck basics, with Bluetooth on, Airplane Mode off on both devices and the phone online.
Check SIM status
ReversibleCheck SIM status, by opening Settings, Connectivity, Mobile, SIM status, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Confirm Mobile is Automatic
ReversibleConfirm Mobile is Automatic, by setting Mobile to Automatic in the connectivity settings, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reset a stale eSIM
ReversibleReset a stale eSIM, by opening Advanced, Reset eSIM, then reactivating with the carrier, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Restart
ReversibleRestart, by holding the crown and tapping Restart on the watch, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact the carrier
ReversibleContact the carrier, and if it stays offline, contact the carrier and then Google, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- LTE features
- Google says an LTE Pixel Watch has a direct carrier connection, shares a number with the phone and can make calls and use apps without the phone.
- Carrier support
- Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 have different supported carriers, per Google.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Pixel Watch 2.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the eSIM will not activate after a reset, contact your carrier
- !If the watch has no Mobile setting, it is not an LTE model
- !If it still will not connect, contact Google support
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
LTE features, setup steps and carrier list.
Resetting an old eSIM profile and restarting.
Before-you-begin checks and SIM status.
Same-carrier requirement for calls.
The Pixel Watch line and its generations.
Exact questions
Common questions
Does an LTE watch need a new number?+
No, but it needs a separate line and shares your phone's number once activated.
Can it work without my phone?+
Yes, an LTE watch can call and use apps without the phone.
Why is there no Mobile setting?+
It is not an LTE model.
What is an eSIM ID?+
An identifier under Settings, Connectivity, Mobile, SIM status.
How do I reset a stale eSIM?+
Settings, Connectivity, Mobile, Advanced, Reset eSIM.
Which carriers work?+
Google lists AT&T, Cellcom, C Spire, Google Fi, T-Mobile, UScellular and Verizon in the US.
Why will it not connect after setup?+
Restart the watch and check it is paired with the phone.
Do the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 use the same carriers?+
No, Google says they have different supported carriers.