How to pair my Apple Watch to my new iPhone

Posted by Lourie Helzer on Monday, May 27, 2024
Now that you have your brand-new, shiny iPhone in your hands, it's time to pair it with your trusty Apple Watch. And since we know how complicated this process can be, we have made this step-by-step guide to show you how to pair your Apple Watch with your new iPhone. So, without further ado, let's dive in.Jump to:

Backing up your data before pairing your Apple Watch to your new iPhone


To ensure a smooth transition and avoid any loss of data when you pair your Apple Watch to your new iPhone, it's important to back up your data beforehand. Here's how to do that:
  • Check whether your old iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi and has enough battery. If it's low on battery, plug it into a power source before you start the process
  • Make sure that your old iPhone and Apple Watch are up to date
  • Open the Settings app on your old iPhone
  • Tap on your name at the top of the screen
  • Tap "iCloud."
  • Scroll down and tap "iCloud Backup"
  • Tap "Back Up Now" and wait for the backup to complete

    • By backing up your old iPhone to iCloud, you'll ensure that your data, including your Apple Watch backup, will be transferred to your new iPhone when you restore from the iCloud backup during the setup process.

    How to unpair your Apple Watch from your old iPhone


    If your Apple Watch is currently paired with your old iPhone, you'll need to unpair it before you can pair it with your new phone.

    Here's how to unpair your Apple Watch from your old iPhone:

  • Make sure your old iPhone and Apple Watch are close together
  • On your old iPhone, open the Apple Watch app
  • Tap on "My Watch" at the bottom of the screen
  • Tap on All Watches
  • Tap the info button (the small "i" in a circle) next to the name of your Apple Watch
  • Tap "Unpair Apple Watch"
  • Confirm by tapping "Unpair [Your Apple Watch Name]"
  • If your Apple Watch has an active cellular plan, you will be prompted to choose whether you want to keep or remove your plan. Choose to keep it
  • Enter your Apple ID password to deactivate Activation Lock

    • How to pair your Apple Watch with your new iPhone


    Now that you've got everything ready, it's time to pair your Apple Watch with your brand-new iPhone. To do that:
  • Make sure your new iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data and has Bluetooth enabled
  • Keep the watch and your iPhone close to each other
  • Open the Apple Watch app on your new iPhone
  • Tap Start Pairing. If the app asks, choose Set Up for Myself
  • Align the watch's face with the viewfinder on your iPhone's screen
  • When the devices pair, you will be asked whether you want to set up your Apple Watch as a new one or restore it from a backup. Choose Restore from Backup
  • Choose the backup you just did
  • Tap Continue
  • Agree to the Terms and Conditions and set your preferences in the next steps

    • If the pairing animation doesn't show for some reason or your phone doesn't recognize the smartwatch, tap Pair Manually, and then just follow the prompts to pair your smartwatch.

    Can I pair my Apple Watch with an Android phone?


    No, the Apple Watch is only compatible with iPhones. You cannot pair it with an Android phone.

    Do I need to unpair my Apple Watch before pairing it with a new iPhone?


    Yes, you need to unpair your Apple Watch from your old iPhone before pairing it with a new one. Your Apple Watch can’t be paired with two iPhones at the same time.

    What should I do if my Apple Watch won't pair with my new iPhone?


    If you're having trouble pairing your Apple Watch with your new iPhone, try these troubleshooting steps:
  • Make sure your iPhone is compatible with your Apple Watch. You can check the compatibility on Apple's official website
  • Ensure both devices have the latest software updates installed
  • Restart both your iPhone and Apple Watch and try pairing them again
  • If the problem persists, contact Apple Support for further assistance

    • Will I lose my data if I unpair my Apple Watch from my old iPhone?


    No, you won’t lose the data stored on your Apple Watch. Even if you have forgotten to create a backup before initiating the unpairing process, the OS automatically backs up your Apple Watch when you start the unpairing. This backup can then be used to restore your data when you pair your watch with your new iPhone.

    Can I pair my Apple Watch with more than one iPhone?


    No, you can't. Your Apple Watch can only be paired with one iPhone. So if you want to use it with another iPhone, you need to unpair it from the old phone first and then pair it with your new one.

    Can I unpair my Apple Watch if I don't have my old iPhone?


    Yes, you can unpair your Apple Watch if your old iPhone isn't in your possession anymore. However, we must also note that this will erase all the data saved on your Apple Watch.

    To unpair your Apple Watch without your old iPhone:

  • Go to the Settings app on your Apple Watch
  • Tap General
  • Tap Reset
  • Choose Erase All Content and Settings
  • If your Apple Watch has an active cellular plan, you will be prompted to choose whether to keep or remove the plan. If you plan to pair the watch with a new iPhone, keep it. If you don't, remove it. However, if you decide to remove the plan, you might also need to tell your carrier to end your cellular subscription
  • Tap Erase All. This will reset your Apple Watch to its factory settings

    • We must note that this doesn't deactivate the Apple Watch's Activation Lock. To remove the lock as well:
  • Go to appleid.apple.com
  • Log in with your Apple ID and password
  • Tap on the downward arrow
  • Tap Devices
  • Choose your Apple Watch
  • Tap Remove from account
  • Choose Remove

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