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
Sometimes, an Apple Watch will not be transferred properly to a new iPhone. To ensure the user's health and fitness data are saved, open the Settings app on the old iPhone and tap the 'iCloud' tab at the top of the screen. Then, turn on the 'Health' toggle in the list to sync health data through iCloud. Next, ensure that the old iPhone is backed up in iCloud or on a computer. Anytime an iPhone is backed up, it also saves a backup of a paired Apple Watch.
After everything is updated to the latest software and backed up, users can set up their new iPhone. On devices running iOS 11 or later, users can hold their old and new iPhones near each other to use Quick Start. Then, follow the on-screen prompts to transfer the data from the old iPhone to the new one. During this process, Quick Start may ask users to confirm they want to move their Apple Watch to their new device. Tap 'Continue' to transfer the watch to the new iPhone. If this prompt does not appear, open the Apple Watch app on the new iPhone and press 'Confirm' to transfer the Apple Watch.
Sometimes an Apple Watch will not transfer during the setup process, resulting in the Apple Watch app showing the 'Start Pairing' screen. If this appears on a user's new iPhone, the only way to transfer the Apple Watch is to unpair it and completely restart the setup process. After the Apple Watch is erased and restarted, users can follow the on-screen prompts to pair the smartwatch to the new iPhone. During the process, users can choose to restore the Apple Watch with the backup saved earlier. Though it may not always be an easy process, it is possible to transfer an Apple Watch to a new iPhone without data loss.
Source: Apple Support
Next: Apple Watch SE 2 vs. Apple Watch Series 8: Which One Should You Buy
Updated on March 20, 2022 How to manually pair your Apple Watch to an existing iPhone
What to Know
If you've got a new Apple Watch you need to connect to an iPhone, there are a few steps you must complete before
you can use it. This article explains how to pair a new Apple Watch to an existing iPhone automatically and manually and what to do when pairing won't work.
How Do I Connect My iPhone to My Watch?
If you have an existing iPhone and need to connect a new Apple Watch, follow these steps for the quickest set up:
These instructions apply to an Apple Watch running watchOS 8 or higher and iPhone running iOS 15 or higher. For earlier versions of either device, the basic concepts apply, but some specific actions or onscreen buttons may be different.
Put the Apple Watch on your wrist. Turn it on by holding down the side button, not the crown.
Hold the watch close to the iPhone.
When the setup prompt appears on the iPhone, tap Continue.
Apple
If this doesn't appear, open the Watch app on the iPhone, tap All Watches, and tap Pair New Watch.
An animation appears on the Apple Watch. Using the iPhone camera, align the animation in the frame on the iPhone screen. This pairs the watch to the iPhone.
Apple
With pairing complete, choose your settings and configurations for the watch, and sync apps and content to it.
How Do I Manually Pair My Apple Watch?
In some cases, you can't pair the new Apple Watch to your iPhone automatically and will need to do it manually. In that case, follow these steps:
Follow the first 4 steps from the last section. Instead of aligning the animation on the watch in the frame on the iPhone, tap Pair Apple Watch Manually.
Apple
Tap the i on the watch.
On the iPhone, tap the name of the watch displayed on the watch.
On the iPhone, enter the 6-digit code displayed on the watch.
The Apple Watch and iPhone are now paired and you can complete the setup.
Why Is My Apple Watch Not Pairing With My iPhone?
If neither option is working and you can't pair Apple Watch with iPhone, here are some potential causes and solutions:
- Watch Is
Already Paired to Another iPhone: Each Apple Watch can only be paired to one iPhone (though an iPhone can be paired to more than one Apple Watch). If pairing isn't working, your watch might be connected elsewhere. To unpair the watch, you can either remove it from the iPhone it's currently paired to (go to the Watch app > My Watch > All Watches > i > Unpair Apple Watch) or reset it directly on the watch (go
to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings > confirm), but you'll need the Apple ID used to activate the watch originally.
- Activation Lock is Active on the watch: If you bought the watch used from someone and can't pair it, it might be protected by Apple's anti-theft Activation Lock feature. If so, contact the person you got it from and ask them to remove Activation Lock.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Are Disabled on iPhone: The iPhone and Apple Watch communicate over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so if either is disabled, the process won't work. Make sure they're on by opening Control Center and checking that both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are lit up in blue. If they're not, tap the icons.
- Low Watch Battery: If your watch's battery is very low, it may not be able to pair. Put it on the watch charger for an hour or so and try again.
- iPhone Needs an OS Update: If your iPhone's OS is out of date, it might have trouble pairing with a watch running a newer version of the OS. In that case, check for and install the iPhone operating system update and try pairing again.
FAQ
How do I unlock my iPhone with my Apple Watch?
If you want to unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch, first go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Unlock with Apple Watch on your iPhone. When you wear your Apple Watch near your iPhone, it will automatically unlock.
How do I unlock my Apple Watch with my iPhone?
To unlock your Apple Watch with your iPhone, open the Watch app on your iPhone, select your Apple Watch, then tap Passcode > Unlock with iPhone. Alternatively, go to your Apple Watch settings and tap Passcode > Unlock with iPhone.
How do I resync my Apple Watch to my iPhone?
Can I use an Apple Watch without an iPhone?
Can I find my iPhone with my Apple Watch?
Yes. Bring up the quick settings on your Apple Watch and tap the icon that looks like an iPhone with two parentheses on each side. If your iPhone is within range, it will make a sound. You can also find your Apple Watch with your iPhone.
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