How to Transfer Calls From Your Apple Watch to Your iPhone

You can start a call on your Apple Watch and finish it on your iPhone.

By
Emily Price
Emily Price
Writer
  • Harvard University
  • The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Emily Price is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a freelance tech writer who focuses on emerging technology.
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Updated on November 5, 2022

What to Know

  • On Apple Watch, tap three dots > tap Answer on iPhone > accept call on iPhone as normal.
  • Or answer call on Watch > then on iPhone, select green bar.
  • If you can't find your iPhone, swipe down on the Apple Watch face > tap phone icon to ping the phone.

This article explains two ways you can transfer calls from your Apple Watch to your iPhone, plus how to ping the phone when you can't locate it.

How to Transfer a Call from Apple Watch to iPhone Before You've Answered the Call

The Apple Watch is great for taking and receiving hands-free calls, but sometimes it's better to talk on a handset. There are two ways to switch a call from your Apple Watch to your iPhone, depending on whether or not you have already accepted the call or how you feel about putting your caller on hold.

You can transfer a phone call from your Apple Watch to your iPhone before you've answered it.

  1. When you have an incoming call, select More (three dots) on Apple Watch.

  2. Select Answer on iPhone to put the caller on hold until your retrieve your iPhone.

    The More menu and "Answer on iPhone" command on an Apple Watch

  3. On your iPhone, accept the call as you would any other.

How to Transfer a Call from Apple Watch to iPhone After You've Answered the Call

You can also transfer a phone call after you've answered it. This method does not require putting your caller on hold. It is useful if you want to continue talking to your caller while you locate your iPhone.

  1. Answer an incoming call on your Apple Watch.

  2. On your iPhone, select the green bar on the top of the display indicating an ongoing phone call. The call will be transferred from your Apple Watch to your iPhone.

  3. Continue the conversation on your iPhone. There is no need to "hang up" the call on your Apple Watch.

If you're having trouble finding your iPhone while on a call, swipe up on the watch face and select the ping button represented by an iPhone with vibrating lines. Your iPhone will emit a noise to help you locate it. This feature works even if your phone is set to silent.

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