How do you pair apple watch with new phone

For people upgrading to a new iPhone, it may seem like a daunting task to transfer their existing Apple Watch to their latest device. After all, after the initial setup process, most people never have to worry about their Apple Watch's connection to their iPhone. To make the process easier, Apple created Quick Start — a simple setup tool that can transfer data from an old device to a new one — and the feature is available on iOS 11 or later devices. Unfortunately, there is no similar feature for the Apple Watch since a large part of the device's functionality is tied to a paired iPhone. In some cases, an Apple Watch can be transferred to a new iPhone with Quick Start, but there are important things to know before starting the process.

Apple introduces new iPhones each year, and select cellular carrier trade-in deals can make it possible for people to upgrade on a routine basis. At the company's 'Far Out' event in Sept. 2022, it announced four new iPhones to replace the outgoing iPhone 13 lineup. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are marginal improvements over last year's iPhone 13 and 13 mini, but for users upgrading from prior generations, it can make a noticeable difference in daily use. Apple's higher-end iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max add the Dynamic Island, a fluid user interface that adapts based on currently running apps. With these new models on the market, users will need to transfer their Apple Watch to a new iPhone.

Before a user can pair an Apple Watch with a new iPhone, a few steps need to be taken. First, Apple Watches are protected by Activation Lock — a security measure that ties an Apple device to an Apple ID — so users will need their Apple ID and password to continue. Both the new and old iPhones must be charged to 50 percent and connected to WiFi, and the Apple Watch must be unlocked and connected to WiFi. Most importantly, users should update their old iPhone and Apple Watch before starting the transfer process. If an Apple Watch is not up-to-date before it is unpaired from an older iPhone, it will prevent it from being set up with a new iPhone. The process could take hours to complete, so Apple recommends the process be completed overnight — perhaps in the days before a new iPhone is ordered.

How To Transfer An Apple Watch & What Could Go Wrong

• If your Apple Watch isn't pairing, you'll see a red iPhone icon or red X on your watch face.
• Moving your devices closer together or restarting them can resolve your issue.
• If all else fails, reset your Apple Watch and try re-pairing it to your iPhone. 

When your Apple Watch isn't paired to your iPhone, the number of features it has decreases dramatically. 

Sure, you can still record a workout and check the time, but you won't get any notifications, messages, or calls on your watch. 

The good news is that — in most cases — Apple Watch pairing issues can be fixed in a matter of minutes. Just follow the steps outlined below to reconnect your devices.

1. Move your iPhone closer to your Apple Watch

There's a chance your phone is simply too far away from your Apple Watch, or that it's in a bag or drawer that is blocking a clear signal. 

Because the watch and phone pair via Bluetooth, proximity is key. So, get them closer together and see if that alleviates the issue.

2. Check the settings on both devices

If your phone has Wi-Fi or Bluetooth turned off — or if either of your devices are in Airplane Mode — they won't be able to pair. Make sure all settings are set properly to facilitate the connection. 

On the iPhone, you can quickly check this in the Control Center. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen and ensure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on (the icons will be blue) and Airplane Mode is off (the icon will be gray). On the Apple Watch, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the Control Center.

3. Turn your devices off and on again

There's no doubt that you've heard this tech troubleshooting tip before, but it's a popular one for a reason. 

To turn off your iPhone, hold down the side lock button and volume up buttons until the slide to power off toggle appears. Slide the power button to turn the phone off. Hold the side button until the Apple logo appears to turn the phone back on. 

You can shut down your Apple Watch by holding down the side button (not the crown) and then swiping the power off slider. Press and hold the side button to turn the watch back on.

4. Reset your Apple Watch 

If you've followed all of the previous steps and you're still having issues, it's time to reset that watch. This fix should resolve the pairing issue, but it will wipe saved data off the watch, so you should back it up before doing so. 

In the watch's Settings app, choose General, then Reset, then Erase All Content and Settings.

5. Unpair your iPhone and Apple Watch, then pair them again

In the Watch app on your iPhone, tap All Watches, the information button next to your Apple Watch, then Unpair Apple Watch.

Now everything should be just like new, and you'll be able to pair your Apple Watch and iPhone.

How do I pair my Apple Watch to a new phone?

Why won't my Apple Watch pair with my new phone?

How do I pair an already paired Apple Watch?