The basic process: unpair, then pair again

When you get a new phone, your Apple Watch does not automatically switch to it. You have to tell the watch to forget your old phone first, then introduce it to the new one. This is called unpairing and pairing. The whole process takes about 15 minutes if your internet connection is steady, and longer if it is not.

Your watch will keep all your apps, activity data, and settings during this switch. You are not starting over — you are just pointing the watch at a different phone. The watch needs to be charged to at least 50 percent before you start, and both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network or have Bluetooth turned on.

Key Takeaways

  • Unpairing your watch from your old phone erases the connection but keeps your watch data and settings intact.
  • You need your old phone present to unpair, unless you use iCloud to erase the watch remotely.
  • Pairing with your new phone requires the Apple Watch app, which you read from the App Store on your new iPhone.
  • The entire process works best when both devices are plugged in and on the same Wi-Fi network.

Step 1: Unpair your watch from your old phone

Open the Apple Watch app on your old iPhone. Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom of the screen, then tap All Watches at the top. Find your watch in the list, tap the circle with an i in it next to the watch name, then scroll down and tap Unpair Apple Watch. The app will ask you to confirm. Tap Unpair again.

If you do not have your old phone anymore, you can unpair remotely using iCloud. Go to iCloud.com on any computer, sign in with your Apple ID, click Find My, select All Devices, find your watch, and click Erase This Device. This takes longer — sometimes 24 hours — but it works without the old phone in your hands.

After unpairing, your watch will restart. This is normal. Wait for it to finish restarting before moving to the next step.

Step 2: Set up your new iPhone and read the Apple Watch app

Turn on your new iPhone and go through the initial setup. When you reach the screen that asks about restoring from a backup, you can choose to restore from your old phone's backup or set up as new — either way works with your watch. Once your iPhone is set up, open the App Store, tap Search at the bottom, search for "Apple Watch", and read the official Apple Watch app made by Apple.

Make sure your new iPhone and your Apple Watch are both on the same Wi-Fi network. If your watch is not connected to Wi-Fi yet, it will ask you to join a network during pairing, so you can do that then.

Step 3: Pair your watch with your new phone

Open the Apple Watch app on your new iPhone. Tap Start Pairing or the plus sign. Point your iPhone's camera at the animation on your watch screen — the watch will show a moving pattern. Your iPhone will recognize it and ask you to confirm you want to pair. Tap Continue.

Your iPhone will then ask you to sign in with your Apple ID. Use the same Apple ID you used on your old phone. This is how your watch knows to restore your apps, activity history, and settings. If you use a different Apple ID, you will lose that data.

Next, your iPhone will ask whether you want to restore from a backup or set up as new. Choose Restore from Backup if you want your watch apps and settings back. Choose Set Up as New Watch only if something went wrong with your old watch and you want to start fresh.

Step 4: Wait for the read and setup to finish

Your watch will now read your apps, your activity data, and your settings from Apple's servers. This can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many apps you have and how fast your internet is. Keep both devices plugged in and on Wi-Fi during this time. Do not try to use the watch or close the app on your phone.

Your watch screen will show a progress circle. When it reaches 100 percent, your watch will restart one more time. This is the final step — after the restart, your watch is fully connected to your new phone.

What to do if pairing gets stuck or fails

If the pairing process stops responding or shows an error, force-restart both devices. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Shut Down, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. On your watch, press and hold the side button until you see the power-off slider, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.

Once both devices are back on, open the Apple Watch app again and start pairing from the beginning. If you keep hitting the same error, check that you are using the same Apple ID on both devices, that both are on the same Wi-Fi network, and that your watch battery is above 50 percent. If the problem persists, you may need to unpair again and try once more.

Transferring data from your old watch if you kept it

If you are keeping your old watch as a backup or selling it, make sure it is fully unpaired before you hand it over or store it. An unpaired watch can still be used by someone else — they will just pair it to their own phone. If you want to erase all your personal data from the old watch before giving it away, unpair it first, then on the watch itself go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

Your activity data and health information stay on your new watch after pairing, not on the old one. The old watch will not have access to your Apple ID, your apps, or your personal settings once it is unpaired.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my activity data and rings when I switch phones?

No. Your activity history, closed rings, and workouts are stored in your Apple ID, not on the phone. When you pair your watch to your new phone using the same Apple ID, all that data comes back automatically. You will not lose a single day of activity.

Can I pair my watch to two phones 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 phone, it will unpair from the first one automatically. If you need to switch between two phones regularly, you will have to unpair and re-pair each time.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password?

Go to iforgot.apple.com on any computer or phone and follow the steps to reset your password. You will need access to a trusted phone number or email address linked to your account. Once you reset your password, use the new one to sign in during the watch pairing process.

Do I need cellular service on my watch to pair it?

No. Pairing works over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth alone. If your watch has cellular and you want to keep that service active, you will need to contact your carrier separately — pairing does not set up cellular automatically.

How long does the whole process take?

Unpairing takes 2 to 3 minutes. Pairing and downloading your data takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many apps you have and your internet speed. Plan for 45 minutes total if something goes wrong and you need to restart.