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Watch videos on Apple Watch without your iPhone
Going for a run, at the gym, or just leaving the phone in another room? Apple Watch can stream video on its own. Here's what you need and how it works.
Can Apple Watch play videos without an iPhone?
Yes. Most "video on Apple Watch" apps are remote controls: the video plays on your phone and the watch only shows buttons. A standalone player is different. TubeWrist searches, loads, and plays video on the watch itself, so the iPhone doesn't need to be nearby or even switched on.
What you need
- An Apple Watch on watchOS 10 or later.
- A connection. Any Wi-Fi network your watch has joined, or cellular (mobile data) on a GPS + Cellular Apple Watch; carriers in the US and Australia. Streaming only: there are no downloads, so you need a connection while you watch.
- Bluetooth headphones for sound. watchOS won't play video sound through the watch's own speaker. Pair AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones directly with the watch, not just with your phone.
How much data does it use?
Less than you might expect. TubeWrist caps video at 480p, because the Apple Watch display (about 416×502 points) can't show more. For even less data and battery, switch on audio-only mode and the app streams only the sound.
What works without the phone
Everything: search, browsing, channel pages, live streams, comments, favorites, history, and the queue. Your favorites, history, and searches are stored on the watch, so they're there whether the phone is with you or not. TubeWrist has no account and no server; that data never leaves the watch.
Where the iPhone still helps
Only for buying TubeWrist Pro. The small iPhone companion app handles purchases and restores, because watch-only apps can't sell in-app purchases. Video never plays on the iPhone.
$1.99 · 3 days fully unlocked · watchOS 10+