How to connect Apple Watch to new iPhone

💡 Need to know

• Keep the old iPhone for now. If you still have it, don’t erase or trade it in until the Apple Watch® transfer is finished.
• Update before you switch. Having current iOS and watchOS software can make the transfer smoother.
• Back up the old iPhone. Your iPhone backup also includes Apple Watch data.
• Have your logins handy. You may need your Apple Account password and Apple Watch passcode during setup.

Getting a new iPhone® is the fun part. Realizing your Apple Watch is still paired with the old one? That’s one more thing to move over before the upgrade feels complete.

At Asurion, more than 30 million people rely on us each year to keep their tech running. Here’s how to pair Apple Watch to a new iPhone while bringing along your watch data, settings, and Activity information.

Before you pair your Apple Watch to your new iPhone

If the old iPhone is still available, resist the urge to wipe it just yet. Apple recommends updating the old iPhone and Apple Watch first, then backing up the iPhone before transferring to the new device. Both iPhones should be connected to Wi-Fi, and the Apple Watch and new iPhone should have at least 50% battery.

If Health data matters—and it probably does if the Watch has been counting every step you take—make sure Health is enabled in iCloud. If you back up the old iPhone to a computer instead, encrypt that backup to preserve Health and Activity data.

Pair Apple Watch during new iPhone setup

The easiest transfer can happen while you’re setting up the new iPhone.

Use Quick Start or restore the new iPhone from your latest backup. If the iPhone asks whether you want to use your Apple Watch, put the watch on, keep it unlocked, and tap Continue. Follow the onscreen prompts and keep the devices nearby while everything transfers.

Give the sync some time after setup. Apps and iCloud data don’t necessarily arrive all at once.

Connect an existing Apple Watch to a new iPhone manually

Already finished setting up the iPhone? You can still connect your existing Apple Watch®.

1. Put on your Apple Watch and unlock it.
2. Keep the watch and new iPhone close together.
3. Open the Watch app on the new iPhone.
4. Follow the prompt to confirm that you want to use your Apple Watch with this iPhone.
5. If asked to restore from a backup, choose the most recent Apple Watch backup.
6. Follow the remaining onscreen instructions, then keep the devices close while they sync.

If the Watch app shows Pairing Not Complete, tap My Watch > All Watches > Finish Pairing. This finishes syncing the Apple Watch content transferred during iPhone setup.

What if the new iPhone says Start Pairing?

If the Watch app asks you to Start Pairing, you may need to unpair your Apple Watch from the old iPhone first.

How to unpair Apple Watch from old phone

1. Keep the Apple Watch and old iPhone close together, then open the Watch app on your old iPhone.
2. Tap My Watch > All Watches.
3. Tap the Info button next to the watch you want to move.
4. Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
5. If you have a cellular model, choose whether to keep or remove your cellular plan. Keep the plan if you’ll continue using this Apple Watch® with the new iPhone.
6. Enter your Apple Account password if prompted to turn off Activation Lock, then confirm the unpairing.

Your iPhone creates a fresh Apple Watch backup during the unpairing process, which you can use when setting up the watch with your new iPhone.

Once it’s unpaired, open the Watch app on the new iPhone and tap Start Pairing. Follow the onscreen instructions and choose your most recent Apple Watch backup when prompted.

What if you don't have your old iPhone?

If the watch is still paired with the missing or unavailable iPhone, erase the Apple Watch first (Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings). Then sign in to iCloud on the new iPhone, open the Watch app, and pair the watch again. Restore from your most recent backup if one is available.

Anything that changed on the Watch after that last backup may not come along. Health and Activity information stored in iCloud can sync back when the new iPhone uses the same Apple Account, although Activity Sharing data isn’t stored in iCloud.

If Apple Watch gets stuck while pairing

A pairing screen that refuses to move doesn’t mean you need to start pressing every button in sight.

If the Watch gets stuck on a black screen with the white Apple logo, hold the Digital Crown and side button together until the Watch restarts. After it restarts, press and hold the Digital Crown, tap Reset, then bring the iPhone nearby and follow the pairing prompts again.

FAQ

Can I pair an existing Apple Watch to a new iPhone?

Yes. You can transfer an existing Apple Watch to a new iPhone and restore its settings and data from a backup. Keeping the old iPhone until the transfer is finished makes the process easier.

Do I have to unpair Apple Watch before pairing with a new iPhone?

Not always. Your Apple Watch can transfer as part of new iPhone setup. If the new iPhone asks you to Start Pairing instead of recognizing the Watch, you may need to unpair it from the old iPhone first.

Will I lose my Apple Watch data when I pair it with a new iPhone?

Not if your data is properly backed up and transferred. Apple Watch data is included when you back up your iPhone, while Health and Activity information can also sync through iCloud when Health is enabled.

Can I connect Apple Watch to a new iPhone without the old iPhone?

Yes. If the Watch is still paired with an old iPhone you no longer have, erase the Apple Watch, pair it with the new iPhone, and restore from an available backup.