The basic process: unpair, then pair again
When you switch to a new iPhone, your Apple Watch does not automatically connect to it. You need to unpair the watch from your old phone first, then pair it with the new one. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes total and requires both devices to be nearby and charged.
The watch will ask you to restore from a backup during setup, which puts your apps, settings, and data back the way they were. If you skip the backup restore, you will have a blank watch and need to set everything up manually.
Key Takeaways
- You must unpair your watch from the old iPhone before pairing it with the new one, even if you are keeping the old phone.
- Unpairing erases the watch, so make sure you have a backup saved to your Apple ID before you start.
- The new iPhone must have the latest version of iOS and the watch must have the latest watchOS for pairing to work.
- Restoring from backup during setup brings back your apps and settings, but you can also set up the watch as new if you prefer.
Check your software versions before you start
Your new iPhone needs to be running the current version of iOS, and your Apple Watch needs to be running the current version of watchOS. If either one is out of date, the pairing process will fail or get stuck.
On the new iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then Software Update. If an update is available, connect to Wi-Fi and plug the phone into power, then tap Download and Install. On the watch, go to Settings, then General, then Software Update. The watch must be on its charger and connected to Wi-Fi for the update to work.
Wait for both updates to finish before you move forward. This usually takes 5 to 10 minutes per device.
Unpair the watch from your old iPhone
Open the Watch app on your old iPhone. Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom, then tap the watch name at the top. Tap the info icon (a small circle with an i), then scroll down and tap Unpair Apple Watch. You will see a warning that this erases the watch — tap Unpair again to confirm.
The watch will restart and show the Apple logo. This takes a few minutes. Do not interrupt it or try to use the watch while it is unpairing.
If you no longer have access to the old iPhone, you can unpair the watch through iCloud.com instead. Sign in with your Apple ID, go to Find My, select Devices, choose the watch, and tap Remove. This also erases the watch and prepares it for a new pairing.
Pair the watch with your new iPhone
On your new iPhone, open the Watch app and tap Start Pairing. Hold the watch near the iPhone camera and wait for the pairing animation to appear on the watch screen. The watch will show a series of colored circles — keep it still until the animation finishes.
When the animation is done, the watch will ask you to enter your iPhone passcode. Type it in on the watch using the digital crown to scroll and the side button to select. This confirms that you own both devices.
Next, the watch will ask whether you want to restore from a backup or set up as new. If you choose Restore, select the backup from your old watch. This brings back your apps, settings, and data. If you choose Set Up as New, the watch starts blank and you add apps and settings one at a time.
Wait for the restore to finish
If you chose to restore from backup, the watch will download your apps and settings from iCloud. This can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many apps you have and how fast your Wi-Fi is. The watch screen will show a progress bar.
Keep both devices nearby and plugged into power during this time. Do not try to use the watch or close the Watch app on the iPhone until the restore is complete. When it finishes, you will see the watch face and all your apps will be back in their original folders.
Troubleshooting if pairing gets stuck
If the pairing animation does not appear when you hold the watch near the iPhone camera, try moving to a brighter location. The camera needs to see the watch screen clearly. If it still does not work, restart both devices and try again.
If the watch gets stuck on the pairing screen, force restart it by pressing and holding both the side button and the digital crown for 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo. Then try pairing again from the beginning.
If the restore is taking longer than 30 minutes, check that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Open Settings on the iPhone and tap Wi-Fi to confirm. If the watch is connected to a different network, forget that network on the watch and reconnect to the same one as the iPhone.
What to do if you do not have a backup
If your old watch was erased or you did not have a backup saved, you can still pair the new watch to your new iPhone — it will just start blank. Choose Set Up as New during pairing instead of Restore from Backup.
After pairing finishes, you can download your apps from the App Store on the watch or through the Watch app on the iPhone. Your Apple ID will restore any paid apps you bought before, and your health and activity data will sync if you are signed into the same Apple ID.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pair my watch to two iPhones at the same time?
No. An Apple Watch can only be paired to one iPhone at a time. If you want to switch it to a different phone, you must unpair it from the current one first. You can pair it back to the original iPhone later if you need to.
What happens to my health and activity data when I unpair?
Your health and activity data stays in iCloud and syncs back to the new iPhone automatically when you pair the watch. You do not lose any of it. The data is tied to your Apple ID, not to the watch itself.
Do I need to unpair if I am upgrading to a new Apple Watch?
No. If you are keeping the same iPhone and just getting a new watch, you can pair the new watch directly without unpairing the old one. The iPhone will ask which watch you want to use. You can switch between them anytime, but only one can be active at a time.
Why does the watch ask for my iPhone passcode during pairing?
The passcode confirms that you own both devices and prevents someone else from pairing a watch to your iPhone without permission. It is a security step and you cannot skip it.
Can I pair my watch if my old iPhone is broken?
Yes. If the old iPhone is broken or lost, unpair the watch through iCloud.com using Find My, then pair it to the new iPhone normally. You will still be able to restore your backup as long as you are signed into the same Apple ID on both devices.