Apple watch activation problems

[ArcticBruin]

Apple Watch Ultra 2 

I ported my number into Verizon a few days ago from another carrier with my iPhone 15 as a BYOD (no issues there). I am now trying to get my BYOD Apple Watch Ultra 2 activated and have not been able to activate the watch on cellular within the apple watch app. After logging into my verizon account when prompted, the page loads for a minute then errors out with the text "Something went wrong" followed by "paring of not allowed" (yes - that is the actual grammatically incorrect error message).

As an alternative I tried to manually add the cellular plan via the Verizon app. After entering the IMEI number for the watch it appears to accept it, but when trying to select my cell phone line to link the number share plan to, I get an error "Your device is not eligible for pairing with your current number. Please give us a call at 1.800.922.0204".

Has anyone experienced anything similar before? I have already talked to two reps who wasted hours of my time and could not figure out the problem, and already made me factory reset my watch which was a complete waste of time.

[vzw_customer_support]

We are very sorry to learn about the issues you're encountering ArcticBruin. Have you checked to make sure that the device is compatible with our system? You can check here: https://www.verizon.com/sales/digital/byod.html

~Ivone

[ArcticBruin]

Yes - it is an apple watch ultra 2.

[vzw_customer_support]

Thank you for confirming. I have sent you a Private Message for further assistance. 

-Natasha

[dangallo]

Have also been having similar major problems with my brand new Apple Watch Ultra 2. I cannot get the cellular data to work on the watch. I can’t get phone calls on the watch if I’m away from my iPhone. Have spent hours and hours on the phone with Verizon and they still can’t figure it out. 

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello, dangallo, we don't want you to have to spend so much time trying to get your Apple Watch in working order. Are you running into issues getting the watch paired with your phone? If so, are you seeing any error messages?

-Lauren

[mascm]

Just adding that I am also unable to get my Series 10 Apple Watch added to my Verizon account. I've spent 4+ hours with Verizon on this. I also worked with Apple support who confirmed this is a Verizon issue. To me, the error seems to indicate Verizon has not updated their system with the new device IDs. 

[vzw_customer_support]

Hey there, mascm, sorry to hear you're running into an issue with your Apple Watch! We can definitely understand you're looking forward to getting your new device up and running. Can you let us know what's going on as far as not being able to add the watch to your account? Did we need to send a ticket or anything like that last time we spoke?

-Lauren

[mascm]

The watch is still unable to be connected to the Verizon account. Currently on hold with Verizon technical support again. 

[mascm]

FYI to anyone else having this issue, insist on speaking to tier 2 technical support. This is a known issue-they will take your info and create your ticket attached to open issue. Verizon will contact back in three days to activate the watch (supposedly...)

[AACDC1]

How do you manage to reach a human in technical support at any tier?   Currently on hold trying to reach a human—has been over an hour (and this is my 5th such attempt).   Need to remove my Apple Watch 10 from standalone status (and make it functional—-no texts or calls are registering with the watch)

[asolo]

I can confirm having the same problem, at the moment the error is: "device is/are missing." - this is from the Set Up Cellular on iPhone.

I believe Verizon failed early adopters and these new watches are not eligible in thier system. I've spent 2hr on the phone today, removing the old line, creating new one with manual IMEI added by the person on the phone, and more tricks without results.

Would be great to hear that all new devices will be enabled soon instead of handling this on case by case basis.

[vzw_customer_support]

@asolo  wrote: I can confirm having the same problem, at the moment the error is: "device is/are missing." - this is from the Set Up Cellular on iPhone.

We are concerned to learn about your activation issues with your new device. We understand how frustrating it must be to be unable to activate the device that you have been looking forward to enjoying. You shared you had spoken with us over the phone, has your device been successful in activating so far? What expectations or next steps did we set when you last spoke with us on how we would be working towards a resolution?

-Andi

[asolo]

No, activation was not successful. There was no next steps, but rather expressed hope this will self-resolve.

I think this is a wide-scale issue impacting most, if not all people with new watches bought directly from Apple. I would love to hear from someone from the tech team and hard-pair my watch to my account somehow if this cannot be remotely done (by me.)

[Wendy39]

I'm having same issue. I had the Apple Watch Ultra on Verizon with no issues. I ordered from Apple the series 10 titanium watch. I unpaired my old watch, removed my cellular plan, paired the new watch then tried to choose numbershare but kept getting the error, "Sorry, something's not right. Close the Apple Watch app and try again."

I tried chatting with Verizon for 4 hours or longer that day. He finally told me to take it to a Verizon store. I'm not doing that. I don't have time and they won't know what to do. The next day I called Verizon. I spent a long time on the phone with them when I was randomly transfered and had to explain all over again what was going on. They tried everything. I unpaired the watch, paired it again. Restarted multiple times. Always got the same error. A Verizon rep then said the problem is the Apple watch series 10 was not compatible with Verizon. I asked how was Verizon selling the watch then? They gave no answer. I told them to delete my watch line since I couldn't use it. 

I then called Apple support who verified the watch can be used on Verizon and said Verizon didn't know what they was talking about, but apple couldn't do anything since it was on Verizons end. 

I chatted again with Verizon and asked then to add a new watch line tied to my iphone and they tried again to add my series 10 titanium watch. Still same error , "Sorry, something's not right. Close the Apple Watch app and try again."

I then said forget it and unpaired my new watch and added my old apple watch ultra back with cellular with no issues. 

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello, Wendy39. My apologies to hear of your experience as you shoud absolutely have the ability to activate and use your new Apple Watch. Help is here. I'm sure you have tried a lot of steps but I do want to ensure all the proper steps have been taken. Please see the link below for the steps and keep us posted as assistance is here.

https://www.verizon.com/support/knowledge-base-184099/

-Natasha

[scottonet]

I’ve encountered the exact same problems as described in these posts when attempting to activate a brand new Apple Watch Series 10 Cellular, purchased directly from Apple. After trying to activate the watch myself, followed by 3.5 hours on the phone with various tiers/departments of Verizon support, I got nowhere. They suggested that I  go back to Apple. I could not be more disappointed in Verizon support and I’ve definitely lost all confidence in their ability to activate a product that wasn’t purchased through them.

[vzw_customer_support]

We're sorry to read that you have not been able to activate your Apple Watch. We're here to help. Do you get any errors when trying to go through the activation process? ~Peter

[Wendy39]

My story exactly. I've been in chat and in phone way to many times with them. 

[LAM69]

Seems like this is a known issue with no workout currently. Would love for them to figure it out as I leave th country in a day and would like my watch to work….

[Lnweaver]

I  have spent 12 hours dealing with this today with no results - still unable to active cellular on my brand new Apple Watch 10. Highly disappointed with Verizon’s customer service as I’ve been transferred roughly 14 times and have had to re-explain the situation each time…and still no cellular.