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FireFish

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 12, 2007
282
157

Cannot activate an eSim on an Apple Watch from AT&T FirstNet​


Cannot activate an eSim on an Apple Watch from AT&T FirstNet

  • I've tried everything, including sending the Watch in for Apple repair twice.
  • During the initial Apple Watch setup wizard, the Cellular step is unavailable:
  • The setup involved with problem involves setting up an Apple Watch for use by my kid, who doesn't have an iPhone.
    • We have a Family Plan in iCloud setup.
    • When setting up the watch, I select for other Family Member.
    • He uses his Apple ID to log in.
    • Then,....
  • Screenshot 2023-10-24 at 3.16.48 AM.png
    .

  • When attempting to setup the watch for my personal use, I can activate the eSim as a new line or a replacement:
  • Screenshot 2023-10-24 at 2.41.50 AM.png

For more on Apple's community on this matter, check out this thread.

Alternatively, check it out on Reddit here.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2023-10-24 at 2.48.10 AM.png
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Last edited:

jetsam

macrumors 6502a
Jul 28, 2015
984
775

Cannot activate an eSim on an Apple Watch from AT&T FirstNet​


Cannot activate an eSim on an Apple Watch from AT&T FirstNet

  • I've tried everything, including sending the Watch in for Apple repair twice.
  • During the initial Apple Watch setup wizard, the Cellular step is unavailable:
  • The setup involved with problem involves setting up an Apple Watch for use by my kid, who doesn't have an iPhone.
    • We have a Family Plan in iCloud setup.
    • When setting up the watch, I select for other Family Member.
    • He uses his Apple ID to log in.
    • Then,....
  • View attachment 2300952 .

  • When attempting to setup the watch for my personal use, I can activate the eSim as a new line or a replacement:
  • View attachment 2300953

For more on Apple's community on this matter, check out this thread.

Alternatively, check it out on Reddit here.
From an "ACE" on the AT&T forums:

"You can set up your child's Apple watch on a standalone AT&T account. You cannot put family members devices on firstnet"
 

FireFish

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 12, 2007
282
157
From an "ACE" on the AT&T forums:

"You can set up your child's Apple watch on a standalone AT&T account. You cannot put family members devices on firstnet"
My issue has nothing to do with this.
As a FirstNet responder, I'm entitled to 1 Apple Watch, 1 Phone and 1 Tablet with FirstNet network access and all remaining lines get just the discount.
 

ilovemyibook

macrumors 6502
Mar 19, 2006
254
8
My issue has nothing to do with this.
As a FirstNet responder, I'm entitled to 1 Apple Watch, 1 Phone and 1 Tablet with FirstNet network access and all remaining lines get just the discount.
I don’t know if you’ve got it figured out yet, but you might have to go into an AT&T store. I’ve been a FirstNet customer for like four years. When I became a customer, there was only an option for one line only. For me to add a watch or a tablet, they need to change my plan. They were having issues changing my account and I was in a time crunch so I had to leave. How long have you been on FirstNet?
 

InvertedGoldfish

Suspended
Jun 28, 2023
468
412
I don’t know if you’ve got it figured out yet, but you might have to go into an AT&T store. I’ve been a FirstNet customer for like four years. When I became a customer, there was only an option for one line only. For me to add a watch or a tablet, they need to change my plan. They were having issues changing my account and I was in a time crunch so I had to leave. How long have you been on FirstNet?
If it was just one line they have to change the plan around, go into a corporate store
 

ilovemyibook

macrumors 6502
Mar 19, 2006
254
8
If it was just one line they have to change the plan around, go into a corporate store
I was at a corporate store. Not many of them know much about FirstNet. They’re getting better, but three or four years ago, it was terrible. They insisted the black SIM card wasn’t necessary, so a bunch of first responders had the regular SIM card and it was causing a bunch of issues. Because of those problems, people in my area still have a bad taste in their mouth about FirstNet and won’t switch over.
 

InvertedGoldfish

Suspended
Jun 28, 2023
468
412
I was at a corporate store. Not many of them know much about FirstNet. They’re getting better, but three or four years ago, it was terrible. They insisted the black SIM card wasn’t necessary, so a bunch of first responders had the regular SIM card and it was causing a bunch of issues. Because of those problems, people in my area still have a bad taste in their mouth about FirstNet and won’t switch over.
I’ve had it for a while, the customer support sucks, but still worth it


I do remember when it added the watch they changed some stuff on my plan, still the black sim, but the type of plan changed, I also didn’t leave the store till the phone was activated
 

Jackbequickly

macrumors 68040
Aug 6, 2022
3,163
3,262
Good luck on finding a competent AT&T employee, at the store or in customer service. They are dumb as a rock!
 

FireFish

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 12, 2007
282
157
I was at a corporate store. Not many of them know much about FirstNet. They’re getting better, but three or four years ago, it was terrible. They insisted the black SIM card wasn’t necessary, so a bunch of first responders had the regular SIM card and it was causing a bunch of issues. Because of those problems, people in my area still have a bad taste in their mouth about FirstNet and won’t switch over.
Yes. I was one of those.

I was on first net for a full year using a regular AT&T SIM card. Anyone on First understands that this would mean I got the billing benefits/discount, but wasn’t enjoying the technical benefits of having network priority that I’m supposed to have.

I had to figure out on my own that I was supposed to be using a firstnet sim card.

Even after I figured that out, those idiots at AT&T tried to convince me that I was wrong
 

FireFish

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 12, 2007
282
157
I don’t know if you’ve got it figured out yet, but you might have to go into an AT&T store. I’ve been a FirstNet customer for like four years. When I became a customer, there was only an option for one line only. For me to add a watch or a tablet, they need to change my plan. They were having issues changing my account and I was in a time crunch so I had to leave. How long have you been on FirstNet?
It never has been resolved. But of course like an idiot, I’m still paying $10 a month for that watch and it’s sitting in a desk drawer. I got it for my 10-year-old son so I can monitor his location in case of emergency.

I’ve technically been on firstnet for a couple years, but only within the last 12 to 18 months figured out on my own that I wasn’t getting the technical benefits of network priority because the idiots at AT&T told me I didn’t need a special SIM card, which of course you do
 
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