How to Sync Your Apple Watch to a New iPhone

The basic process: unpair, then pair again

To sync your Apple Watch to a new iPhone, you need to unpair it from your old phone first, then pair it with the new one. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes total. The watch will restore from a backup if you have one, or set up as new if you don't.

Before you start, make sure your new iPhone is turned on and you're signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID you used on your old phone. Your Apple Watch should have at least 50% battery. If you're switching from an old iPhone to a new one, you can unpair the watch from the old phone, or do it directly from the watch itself — either way works.

Key Takeaways

Unpairing your watch from your old iPhone is the first step, and you can do this from the iPhone's Watch app or from the watch itself.
Your new iPhone must be running the same or a newer version of watchOS than your watch, or pairing will fail.
If you have a backup from your old watch, the new pairing will restore your apps, settings, and data automatically.
Cellular Apple Watches need to be re-added to your carrier's account after pairing, even if you keep the same phone number.

How to unpair your watch from your old iPhone

Open the Watch app on your old iPhone. Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom, then tap All Watches at the top. Find your watch in the list, tap the info icon (a small circle with an "i"), and scroll down to Unpair Apple Watch. Tap it, then tap again to confirm. You'll be asked for your Apple ID password — this protects your watch in case it's lost.

If you don't have access to your old iPhone, you can unpair from the watch itself. Go to Settings on the watch, tap General, then Reset, then Erase All Content and Settings. This wipes the watch completely and removes it from your account.

Pairing your watch with your new iPhone

On your new iPhone, open the Watch app and tap Start Pairing. Hold your iPhone's camera up to the watch face — the watch will show an animation. When the pairing code appears on your iPhone screen, tap Set Up for Yourself (not Set Up Family Member, unless you're setting it up for someone else).

Choose whether to restore from a backup or set up as new. If you unpaired cleanly from your old phone, you'll see an option to restore from your most recent backup — this brings back your apps, watch faces, and settings. If you erased the watch or don't have a backup, choose Set Up as New.

Next, sign in with your Apple ID. Your iPhone will then check for a watchOS update. If one is available, it will download and install automatically — this can take 5 to 10 minutes. Don't unplug the watch or close the Watch app during this step.

What to do if pairing fails

The most common reason pairing fails is a watchOS mismatch. Your new iPhone must be running the same version of watchOS as your watch, or newer. Check your watch's current version by going to Settings > General > About on the watch itself. Then check your iPhone's version in Settings > General > About.

If your iPhone is running an older version of watchOS than your watch, you'll need to update your iPhone first. Go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone and install any available updates. This can take 20 to 30 minutes.

If pairing still fails, restart both devices. Hold the side button on your watch until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off the watch. Restart your iPhone by holding the side button and either volume button, then dragging the power-off slider. Wait 30 seconds, then turn both back on and try pairing again.

Restoring your apps and data after pairing

If you restored from a backup, your apps will start downloading automatically once pairing is complete. This can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on how many apps you had. Your watch will show a progress screen — leave it plugged in during this time.

Some apps may need to be re-downloaded manually if they didn't restore. Open the App Store on your watch, go to the Updates tab, and download any apps that show an update available. Apps that require a companion app on your iPhone (like fitness or banking apps) may also ask you to sign in again on the watch.

Cellular watches: re-adding to your carrier

If you have a cellular Apple Watch, you'll need to add it to your carrier's account after pairing, even if you're keeping the same phone number. This is separate from pairing to your iPhone — your carrier needs to know the watch's IMEI number to activate cellular service.

Contact your carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another provider) and tell them you have a new Apple Watch. They'll ask for the IMEI, which you can find in the Watch app on your iPhone under General > About > IMEI. Activation usually takes a few minutes to a few hours. Until it's active, your watch can still use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but not cellular.

Troubleshooting common issues after pairing

If your watch won't connect to Wi-Fi after pairing, go to Settings > Wi-Fi on the watch and manually select your network. Your watch uses the same Wi-Fi networks as your iPhone, but sometimes needs to be told which one to use.

If notifications aren't coming through, check that notifications are turned on for each app. Go to Settings > Notifications on your watch, scroll through each app, and make sure Allow Notifications is toggled on. You can also check the Watch app on your iPhone under Notifications to see which apps are allowed to send alerts.

If your watch is running slowly or apps are crashing, restart it by holding the side button until the power-off slider appears, then drag to turn it off. Wait 10 seconds and turn it back on. If that doesn't help, go to Settings > General > Reset on the watch and choose Reset All Settings (this keeps your data but clears customizations).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my data if I unpair my watch?

No, as long as you unpair cleanly from the Watch app on your iPhone. Your data is backed up to iCloud automatically. When you pair with your new iPhone, you can restore from that backup and get everything back. If you erase the watch without unpairing first, the backup may not be complete.

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 try to pair it to a second iPhone while it's still paired to the first, you'll get an error. You must unpair from the first phone before pairing to the second.

What if I don't remember my Apple ID password?

You'll need to reset it before unpairing. Go to iforgot.apple.com on your computer or iPhone, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the steps to reset your password. You can also go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security on your iPhone and tap Change Password.

How long does the whole process take?

Unpairing takes about 2 to 3 minutes. Pairing takes 5 to 10 minutes. If a watchOS update is needed, add another 10 to 15 minutes. Restoring apps from backup can take 30 minutes to an hour. Total time is usually 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.

Will my watch faces and complications transfer to the new iPhone?

Yes, if you restore from a backup. Your watch faces, complications, and their settings will come back exactly as they were. If you set up as new, you'll start with the default watch faces and need to customize them again.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.