When upgrading to a new iPhone, one of the tasks you’ll need to do is pair your Apple Watch with it. This process ensures that all your apps, data, and settings on your Apple Watch transfer seamlessly. Whether you’re moving from an old iPhone or setting up your Apple Watch with a new device for the first time, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the process.
Step 1: Backup Your Old iPhone
Before pairing your Apple Watch with a new iPhone, it’s crucial to ensure that your old iPhone has a complete backup. This will store all of your Apple Watch data, including apps, health data, and settings. There are two ways to back up your iPhone:
– iCloud Backup:
1. Go to Settings on your old iPhone.
2. Tap [your name], then tap iCloud.
3. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup.
4. Tap Back Up Now.
– iTunes/Finder Backup (for Mac or PC users):
1. Connect your old iPhone to your computer.
2. Open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later).
3. Select your device and click Back Up Now.
Ensure that your Apple Watch is connected to the iPhone during the backup process, as this will also back up your Apple Watch data.
Step 2: Unpair the Apple Watch
Once your old iPhone is backed up, it’s time to unpair your Apple Watch from the old device. Unpairing ensures that all your data from the Apple Watch is backed up, which is necessary for transferring it to the new iPhone.
1. Keep your Apple Watch and old iPhone close together.
2. Open the Watch app on your old iPhone.
3. Tap on your watch at the top of the screen.
4. Tap the i next to the Apple Watch you want to unpair.
5. Select Unpair Apple Watch.
6. If you have a cellular model, choose whether to keep or remove the cellular plan. If you’re moving to a new iPhone, you’ll likely want to keep it.
7. Confirm the unpairing, and your Apple Watch will create a backup on your old iPhone before resetting.
Step 3: Set Up Your New iPhone
Once your old iPhone has been backed up and your Apple Watch is unpaired, it’s time to set up your new iPhone. During the setup, you’ll have the option to restore your new iPhone from an iCloud or iTunes/Finder backup. Choose the backup that contains your Apple Watch data.
Step 4: Pair Your Apple Watch to Your New iPhone
Now that your new iPhone is set up, you can pair it with your Apple Watch.
1. Turn on your Apple Watch and ensure it’s near your new iPhone.
2. Wait for the Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch message to appear on your new iPhone, and then tap Continue.
3. Follow the instructions on the iPhone and watch to complete the pairing process.
4. When prompted, choose to Restore from Backup and select the most recent backup to restore your data and settings to the Apple Watch.
Step 5: Complete the Setup
During the pairing process, you may need to enter your Apple ID password, adjust some settings, and enable services like Siri and Find My iPhone. Once you complete the setup, your Apple Watch will sync all your data, apps, and preferences from the backup, allowing you to continue using it seamlessly with your new iPhone.
Step 6: Reconfigure Cellular (if applicable)
If you have a cellular Apple Watch, you may need to reconfigure your cellular plan. Open the Watch app, go to Cellular, and follow the on-screen instructions to set up cellular service on your new iPhone.
By following these steps, you can easily transfer your Apple Watch to a new iPhone without losing any of your data. Always ensure your devices are properly backed up before starting the process to prevent any data loss.
