It requires nothing. No Bluetooth connection. No WiFi. Just the watch and a bit of power in the battery Answer from prog28 on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applewatch › does apple pay require the cellular version? if no, can i leave my phone at home for paying only with gps watch? so with no active bluetooth connection?
r/AppleWatch on Reddit: Does Apple Pay require the Cellular version? If no, can I leave my phone at home for paying only with GPS watch? So with no active Bluetooth connection?
January 28, 2019 - ... You can leave everything at home. I particularly like leaving my bed there; it saves hurting my back carrying it around. ... You can use the non cellular version but the phone needs to be nearby.
Videos
Apple Support
support.apple.com › guide › watch › apple-pay-apd76424826d › watchos
Apple Pay on Apple Watch
Pair another Apple Watch with your iPhone · Wi-Fi and cellular · Connect to Wi-Fi · Set up and use cellular service · Use Dual SIM · Use Apple Watch without its paired iPhone · Turn on and wake Apple Watch · Lock or unlock Apple Watch · Charge and monitor the battery ·
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 8204935
Does Apple Pay work without data or inter… - Apple Community
There is no internet connection required. ... Well, Apple Pay will work on an Apple Watch Series 2 even if the phone is out of range.
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254025366
Apple Pay on AppleWatch without iPhone - Apple Community
It is written everywhere that it is possible to pay with AppleWatch even if you do not have an iPhone with you.
Digital Trends
digitaltrends.com › home › wearables › mobile › evergreens
What you can (and can't) do on your Apple Watch without your iPhone - Digital Trends
May 6, 2022 - Just make sure you’ve added your cards to your watch before leaving your phone behind. You can use Apple Pay without your phone nearby and without a cellular or wireless connection.
Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 108300
Use your Apple Watch without your iPhone nearby - Apple Support
When your Apple Watch is disconnected — for example, if you're hiking in an area without Wi-Fi or cellular signal, or your iPhone is off — you can still do these things. ... See the time and use the Alarm, Timer, and Stopwatch apps. Track your activity goals.
Quora
quora.com › Does-Apple-Pay-on-the-Apple-Watch-work-even-without-an-internet-connection
Does Apple Pay on the Apple Watch work even without an internet connection? - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): You need some sort of data connection for the approval of the funds. A cellular Apple Watch will do the job without an iPhone if it has a data connection.
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 8240488
Apple Watch 3 + cellular and Apple Pay - Apple Community
January 16, 2018 - Yes - once it has been set up, Apple Pay can be used on Apple Watch (any model) entirely independently of the paired iPhone, including when the iPhone is not nearby and/or not turned on. Apple Watch also does not need Bluetooth, cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity when paying via Apple Pay in stores.
Apple Support
support.apple.com › guide › watch › make-purchases-with-apple-pay-apdbe9c11bba › watchos
Use Apple Pay for contactless payments on Apple Watch - Apple Support
With your payment cards stored in the Wallet app on Apple Watch, you can use Apple Pay for secure, contactless payments in stores, restaurants, and more.
Apple Support
support.apple.com › guide › watch › set-up-apple-pay-apd285b3ae01 › watchos
Set up Apple Pay on Apple Watch - Apple Support
Using Apple Pay can be simpler than using a physical card, and safer too. With your cards stored in the Wallet app, you can use Apple Pay to make secure payments in stores, for transit, and at payment terminals that support Apple Pay. Go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
Apple
support.apple.com › en-ca › guide › watch › apd76424826d › watchos
Use Apple Pay on Apple Watch - Apple Support (CA)
Note: You can’t use Apple Pay, and any cards you added to Wallet are removed, if you unpair your Apple Watch or turn off your passcode.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applewatch › does apple pay work on gps only apple watch without being connected to my iphone?
r/AppleWatch on Reddit: Does Apple Pay work on GPS only Apple Watch without being connected to my iPhone?
March 5, 2022 - Same reason tapping a card works, they have no cell connection either. ... I have a series three, and I can use Apple Pay without my phone with me.I’m being nice with a internet connection.
MacRumors
forums.macrumors.com › apple wearables › apple watch
Apple Watch purely for ApplePay in store purchases? | MacRumors Forums
February 7, 2025 - However, Apple Pay is an exception to this: Even without a cellular plan, without a Cellular Watch model, or if your iPhone is completely out of range, Watch will still let you pay using Apple Pay.
WearableXP
wearablexp.com › home › smart watches › i used my apple watch without an iphone for a week… here’s what i found
I Used My Apple Watch Without an iPhone for a Week—Here's ...
April 14, 2025 - This does require a constant Wi-Fi connection, which is not possible while driving around; therefore, again, it needs a Cellular Apple Watch to work smoothly. Just like Apple Wallet holds my credit cards, any contactless travel and transit passes ...
The Mac Observer
macobserver.com › home › how to set up and use apple pay on apple watch: full guide
How to Set Up and Use Apple Pay on Apple Watch: Full Guide
September 3, 2025 - Apple Pay on Apple Watch gives you a secure, private, and contactless way to pay without carrying your phone or physical card. Once set up, you can pay at terminals that accept contactless payments, inside supported apps, and on certain transit ...
DeviceMAG
devicemag.com › lifestyle › business › how to pay with your apple watch without your iphone
How to Pay with Your Apple Watch Without Your iPhone - DeviceMAG
October 13, 2025 - With Apple Pay on your Apple Watch, you can make payments and purchases without having to carry aound your iPhone. How does it work? All you need to do is double-press the Side button on your watch and hold the Watch over the contactless reader.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applewatch › applepay works without phone? thought cell service was needed
r/AppleWatch on Reddit: Applepay works without phone? Thought cell service was needed
September 4, 2024 -
The other day I bought something w/ my watch using tap on a hand-held debit/credit device and then noticed that I had forgotten my phone. My watch doesn't have cell service and there was no wifi.
Curious about how this is working. I recall actually returning home one day last year thinking the watch/phone were a needed combo and that the phone was actually doing the payment using cell service.
Thanks.
// Thanks to all. I was too lazy to Google this and after the replies ... it's a thing. Good to know.
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/watch/apd76424826d/watchos#:~:text=Once%20you%20set%20up%20Apple,have%20your%20iPhone%20with%20you.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applewatch › how to use apple pay without iphone? can't even turn it on on watch
r/AppleWatch on Reddit: How to use Apple pay without iPhone? Can't even turn it ON on Watch
May 14, 2025 -
WatchOS 11.5; added Apple pay same card through IPhone - 14 Pro max iOS 18.5... Side button double click is not working - it leads me into home screen of watch (Wi-Fi etc); all videos showing how to aren't working for me... If anyone can assist how to, what to do - if appreciate it... Tia
Top answer 1 of 2
6
Configure from watch application on your iPhone (same app u use to configure Apple Watch with your iPhone )
2 of 2
2
The wallet and apple pay app should be present on your watch, as mentioned above, check the watch app from your phone, you should see that in the app list, if it isn’t there, try updating, pr reseting your watch, after backing it up first, if it’s present, set up apple pay from the watch app on your phone, even though if you have apple pay set up on your phone, it will simply mirror that, also check if your watch is linked to your phone when setting it up, I can’t think of anything else, I’m not on an apple pay supported country, and I still have it by simply changing my device region, so maybe have a look at your region setting, on your phone and watch if they are set correctly and also set the watch to mirror phones region settings.