So you’ve just scored a new Apple Watch, and now you need to figure out how to pair it with your iPhone to track your steps, check your texts, or take calls on the run. But working through the process of configuring two different devices might seem like it's more trouble than it's worth.
Fortunately, that's not the case. Pairing an Apple Watch to an iPhone is a fairly straightforward process.
It’s important to note, though, that not every iPhone is compatible with an Apple Watch—you need an iPhone 8 or newer, running on iOS 16 or later. You can also use a setup assistant on both devices to help pair your Apple Watch and iPhone.
Read below to learn how to pair an Apple Watch to an iPhone.
How to Connect Apple Watch to iPhone
Here’s how to connect your Apple Watch to your iPhone:
- Put your Apple Watch on your wrist, adjusting the band size until it fits comfortably.
- Press and hold the side button to turn on your Apple Watch.
- Place your iPhone next to your Apple Watch.
- A pairing screen will appear on your iPhone. Click Continue.
- Alternatively, you can open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and click Pair New Watch.
- Click Set Up for Myself.
- When instructed, hold your iPhone above your Apple Watch so that you can see it through the viewfinder in your Apple Watch app.
- Click Set Up Apple Watch.
- Follow the instructions on your devices to complete the pairing and setup.
How to activate data on Apple Watch
Once you’ve got your iPhone and Apple Watch paired, you may want to activate data on your new watch so you can reply to texts, make calls, stream, and more. Here’s how:
- Open your Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- Click My Watch then choose Cellular.
- Press Set Up Cellular.
- Follow your carrier-specific instructions. Some carriers may prompt you to contact them for assistance.
How to Unpair Your Apple Watch and iPhone
If you want to unpair your iPhone and Apple Watch, follow these simple steps:
- On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app.
- Click My Watch.
- Select All Watches at the top of your screen.
- Click the info button (“i” enclosed with a circle) next to the Apple Watch you wish to unpair.
- Click Unpair Apple Watch.
Ready for an Upgraded iPhone?
If you just grabbed a new Apple Watch, you might want a new iPhone to match. If you find yourself ready for an upgrade, check out our updated list of the best iPhone deals in Canada or take a look at prices for the new iPhone 14 below.
iPhone 14 128GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 14 256GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 14 512GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 14 Plus 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 14 Plus 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
FAQ: Pairing an Apple Watch and iPhone
Here are some frequently asked questions that can help you to troubleshoot Apple Watch pairing. If you attempt to pair your Apple Watch and iPhone and you encounter a message that says, “Unable to Connect to Apple Watch,” find your answers here.
Why is my Apple Watch not pairing?
There could be several reasons why your Apple Watch isn’t pairing with your iPhone.
The first reason may be that your Apple Watch is already paired to the iPhone. If this is the case, you will see a watch face when you place the Apple Watch in the Watch app viewfinder. If you have the iPhone the watch is paired to, simply unpair them. If you no longer have that iPhone, follow these steps to reset your Apple Watch:
- Click Settings on your watch.
- Select General then Reset.
- Click Erase All Content and Settings.
- Click it again to confirm this choice.
- Wait for the watch to unpair with the old iPhone.
- Once it unpairs, you can pair it again with your current iPhone using the Apple ID and password you used to set up the watch.
If you attempt the pairing process with the iPhone camera but nothing pops up, click Pair Apple Watch Manually at the bottom of your iPhone screen. Then follow the prompts.
Another reason is that the pairing process may have stalled for several minutes. If so, reset your Apple Watch by pressing and holding the Digital Crown while your Apple Watch and iPhone are in pairing mode. Click Reset when it appears on your watch screen. Once your watch resets, try pairing again.
Why won’t my Apple Watch connect to my new Phone?
When you get a new iPhone, you’ll need to unpair your Apple Watch with the old phone and pair it with your new iPhone. However, if this isn’t working, you may have the wrong Apple ID and password. You need the one you used to pair your old iPhone and watch. You’ll also want to check that both of your iPhones are connected to Wi-Fi during this process. If not, that might be the issue.
Another common problem is that your iPhone and Apple Watch may be below 50 percent charged, which will prevent them from pairing.
How do I pair an already-paired Apple Watch?
Your Apple Watch can only be paired with one iPhone at a time. If you want to transfer iPhones, you’ll first need to unpair your Apple Watch with the old phone before pairing it with the new one.
How do I manually reset my Apple Watch?
If your Apple Watch is frozen or stops responding, you can manually reset it by following these steps:
- Press and hold the side button of your Apple Watch until the Power Off slider appears.
- Drag the Power Off slider from left to right.
- Once your Apple Watch is off, press and hold the side button again to turn it back on.
If that doesn’t solve your problem, you can try a hard reset. Follow these instructions:
- Press and hold the side button and Digital Crown for 10 seconds or longer.
- When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.
Before you attempt to reset your Apple Watch, take it off the docking station—you can’t reset it while it’s charging.
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