How to Pair an Apple Watch With a New iPhone

How to Move Your Apple Watch to a New iPhone

Do these steps in order, starting on your old iPhone.

Step 1: Update Your Old iPhone and Apple Watch

Update your old iPhone and update your Apple Watch to the newest versions available. Apple suggests doing it overnight or when you have time, with both devices charged.

Step 2: Turn On Health Sync and Back Up the Old iPhone

Turn on Health sync first, then back up the old iPhone:

1. On the old iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, then tap Saved to iCloud (if See All shows next to it, tap See All). Tap Health and make sure Sync this iPhone is on.
2. If you back up to a computer instead of iCloud, encrypt the backup so it keeps your Health and Activity content.
3. Back up the old iPhone to iCloud or your computer. Backing up your iPhone also backs up your Apple Watch.

Step 3: Set Up Your New iPhone

Set up the new iPhone and, when you transfer apps and data from a backup, choose the most recent one. If it isn't listed, make sure the iPhone and Apple Watch are up to date. When the iPhone asks if you want to use your Apple Watch, keep the watch on your wrist with its passcode entered, then tap Continue.

Step 4: Open the Apple Watch App on the New iPhone

Then finish in the Apple Watch app:

1. Wear your Apple Watch with its passcode entered, and keep the iPhone nearby.
2. Open the Apple Watch app on the new iPhone.
3. If it asks you to confirm that you want to use your watch, follow the onscreen steps to finish setting up.

If Your Situation Is Different

Apple's troubleshooting page covers each of these three situations separately.

You Don't Have the Old iPhone Anymore

Without the old iPhone, erase the watch, pair it with the new iPhone and restore its backup:

1. On the watch, open Settings, tap General, tap Reset, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.
2. Set up your new iPhone and sign in to iCloud.
3. Open the Apple Watch app on the new iPhone and pair the watch.
4. Restore the most recent watch backup when asked; with no backup, set the watch up as new.

Activity, Workouts and settings that changed since the last backup are lost. Health and Activity data in iCloud returns on its own, though it can take a few days; Activity Sharing data isn't stored in iCloud. Erasing without the paired iPhone leaves Activation Lock on, so you need the Apple Account and password used to set up the watch (see how to remove Activation Lock on an Apple Watch).

The Watch Didn't Finish Pairing During Setup

If your content moved but the watch didn't finish pairing, tap Finish Pairing:

1. On the new iPhone, open the Apple Watch app.
2. Go to the My Watch tab and tap All Watches. Pairing Not Complete appears next to the watch.
3. Put the watch on your wrist and enter its passcode.
4. Tap Finish Pairing to sync your Apple Watch content with the new iPhone.

If pairing stopped during a first-time setup instead, the Apple Watch setup steps cover the whole process.

The Watch Is Stuck on the Apple Logo While Pairing

If the watch stays on the black screen with the white Apple logo, restart it, then reset it:

1. Press and hold the Digital Crown and the side button at the same time until the watch restarts, then release both.
2. Firmly press the screen, or press and hold the Digital Crown.
3. Tap Reset, then bring the iPhone near the watch and follow the onscreen steps to pair it.

How to Check It Worked

The move worked when the watch connects to the new iPhone and your data shows up:

• Control Center on the watch (press the side button) shows the green iPhone icon; a red iPhone icon or red X means it isn't connected.
• In the Apple Watch app, My Watch › All Watches doesn't show Pairing Not Complete next to your watch.
• Your Health and Activity history appears on the new iPhone.

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If Your Apple Watch Won't Pair With the New iPhone

If the new iPhone never asked about your Apple Watch during setup, unpair the watch from the old iPhone, pair it with the new one, and restore it from a backup when asked. A watch that pairs but later drops its connection needs Apple Watch not connecting to iPhone.

Health and Activity Data Missing After the Switch

If Health data is missing after a computer transfer, turn Health on in iCloud on both iPhones: Settings › your name › iCloud › Saved to iCloud › Health. The data then updates on the new iPhone whenever it's on Wi-Fi and signed in to iCloud. Without iCloud, and without the old iPhone to back up, Apple says the content can't be recovered. This covers device settings only and isn't medical advice.

New iPhone Pairing: Quick Answers

How do I relink my Apple Watch to my iPhone?

On the same iPhone, restart both devices; if they still won't connect, unpair the watch and pair it again. First-time pairing is covered in How to Pair an Apple Watch With Your iPhone.

How do I get my Apple Watch to pair again?

Unpair it in the Apple Watch app, which erases the watch and saves a backup to your iPhone, then pair it again and tap Restore from Backup. How to Pair an Apple Watch With Your iPhone has the pairing steps.

How do I reset my Apple Watch to pair again?

Unpairing is the reset: it erases the watch and restores factory settings. Without the paired iPhone, erase it on the watch under Settings › General › Reset, then enter its Apple Account and password to pair it again; How to Unpair an Apple Watch From Your iPhone has the steps.