Pairing your Apple Watch to your iPhone is now easier than ever, thanks to Apple’s efforts to make their devices work seamlessly together. But when it comes to unpairing your Apple Watch, it can be a bit trickier. In this guide, we’ll show you the steps for both pairing and unpairing.
First, let’s walk you through the process of unpairing your Apple Watch. If you’re looking to pair a new Apple Watch, you can skip ahead for those instructions.
How to Unpair an Apple Watch
To ensure a smooth transition to a new Apple Watch and prepare your current one for sale or gifting, it’s important to unpair it from your iPhone first.
Skipping this step and attempting to reset your Apple Watch to factory settings can lead to an Activation Lock, as your Apple ID and phone will still be linked to the watch. Trust me, you don’t want to deal with this kind of headache. I may or may not have experienced it once when I exchanged an Apple Watch at Best Buy.
Steps to Unpair Your Apple Watch
Here’s the step-by-step guide:
- Step 1:Place your iPhone and Apple Watch close together. They need to be in proximity to the unpairing process.
- Step 2: Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Just tap the Watch app icon to open it.
- Step 3: Tap “All Watches” at the top left of your screen. This will show you a list of all the Apple Watches associated with your Apple ID. Find the one you want to unpair.
- Step 4: Tap on the “Info” button next to the watch you wish to unpair. The Info button is located to the right of the Apple Watch you want to disconnect.
- Step 5: Look for and tap “Unpair Apple Watch.” It should be the last option on the settings page for the selected Apple Watch.
- Step 6: Confirm the unpairing by tapping “Unpair” again when prompted.
- Step 7: You’ll be asked to enter your Apple ID password as a security measure to finalize the unlinking of your Apple Watch.
By following these steps, you’ll create a backup of your Apple Watch data and settings. This backup is valuable if you intend to reset your Apple Watch without losing your data or if you’re upgrading to a new Apple Watch.
How to Pair an Apple Watch
Before you attempt to pair your Apple Watch, it’s essential to ensure that your iPhone’s iOS is up-to-date. You can do this by checking your iPhone’s settings. Also, make sure Bluetooth is enabled, and your iPhone is connected to a network, either through Wi-Fi or cellular data.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to pairing your Apple Watch:
- Step 1: Turn on your Apple Watch by pressing and holding the side button. The watch will enter pairing mode and prompt you to bring it close to the iPhone you want to pair with.
- Step 2: Hold your iPhone close to the Apple Watch until your iPhone recognizes the watch. When prompted, tap “Continue.”
- Step 3: Select the “Set Up for Myself” option. If you’re setting up the watch for someone else, there’s an option for that too.
- Step 4: Point your iPhone’s camera at the animation displayed on the Apple Watch. Your iPhone will scan this animation to complete the pairing process. If you can’t use the camera for any reason, choose the manual setup option and follow the on-screen prompts.
- Step 5: Wait for the pairing to complete. Once the Apple Watch and iPhone are successfully paired, a screen like the one shown in the picture will appear. You will then be prompted to complete the setup, allowing you to customize your preferences, install new apps, and start using your Apple Watch.
FAQ
What Is Activation Lock?
It is a safety feature for your Apple Watch (and other Apple devices) that stops someone else from using your watch if it’s lost or stolen. If you reset your Apple Watch without unpairing it from your iPhone, it will stay connected to your Apple ID and iPhone. To avoid this, unpair it from your iPhone before resetting it.
Do I need to unpair my old Apple Watch before setting up a new one?
If you’re getting a new Apple Watch, it’s a good idea to unpair your old one from your iPhone, unless you want to use both watches together.
How can I unpair my Apple Watch without my iPhone?
In case you can’t access your iPhone (like if it’s lost or stolen), you can go to iCloud, sign in with your Apple ID, and navigate to Settings to remove your Apple Watch from “My Devices.” This prevents Activation Lock, just like the regular unpairing process explained earlier.
