How to Connect Apple Watch to New IPhone
So you just got a brand new iPhone, but you’re keeping your old Apple Watch. You may have noticed that simply switching your iPhone backup to a new one doesn’t change anything with your Apple Watch. So how can you take your watch with you on a trip?
How Apple Watch Backup Works
There is no separate Apple Watch data backup system like there is for iPhone. Apple consolidates Apple Watch-related data, such as your health stats and app data, with your iPhone’s main backup. If you have a recent iPhone backup on iCloud, you already have a backup of your Apple Watch, even if you can’t access it from the Settings app.
Since the Apple Watch backup is already available in iCloud, it can also be used to restore and pair the Apple Watch after restoring a new iPhone using an iCloud backup. But if you’re doing a fresh installation or skipped these steps, disconnecting and repairing your Apple Watch is also fairly easy. Below we will introduce you to both processes.
Before you do anything, be sure to go to Settings > General > Software Update to update your old iPhone. Then go to the Watch app and from the My Watch tab, select General > Software Update to update your Apple Watch.
Make sure status data is turned on for iCloud updates. Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud and turn on Health .
Then manually back up your iPhone to iCloud by going to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now .
How to Connect Apple Watch to New iPhone Using iCloud Backups
Apple has added a prompt to set up Apple Watch with a new iPhone when restoring from an iCloud backup. If you’re currently setting up your new iPhone, you can also use it to pair with your Apple Watch. If you’ve already set up your new iPhone, see the next section.
When you set up your iPhone and get to the Transfer Apps and Data screen, you can choose to restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup or use your old iPhone to transfer your data. The Mac or PC restore option will also work, but your health data will only appear if you used an encrypted backup .
During the iPhone recovery process, make sure you are wearing your Apple Watch on your wrist and it is unlocked. Once the transfer is complete, you’ll see a new screen that says, “If you have an Apple Watch, you can pair it with your iPhone here.” Click Continue to automatically set up your Apple Watch for your new iPhone. This will also bring up your latest backup of your data.
If you haven’t seen this pop-up, not all hope is lost. After restoring from your backup, open the Watch app on your iPhone. Your iPhone will ask you to confirm that you want to use Apple Watch with your iPhone. Now simply follow the onscreen instructions to complete the setup.
How to Manually Connect Apple Watch to New iPhone (With Data Backup)
The above method is slick, but it doesn’t always work. You may have decided to set up your iPhone as new, without any backups. This will restore your Apple Health data to your new iPhone, as well as your Apple Watch backup, but you won’t be prompted to pair your Apple Watch.
If you open the Watch app after setup and only see the “Start Pairing” option, you’ll have to manually turn off and repair your Apple Watch. However, don’t worry: once the pairing process is complete, you can restore your Apple Watch data and use it as you always have.
First, you need to erase and reset your Apple Watch. This can be done from the Apple Watch itself. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase all content and settings . Then enter your password and click “Erase everything” to confirm. If you have an Apple Watch, save your data plan before deleting it. Your Apple Watch will now be reset to factory settings.
Now you connect your Apple Watch to your iPhone as if it were new. First, turn on your Apple Watch using the side button and place it on your wrist. Then hold your Apple Watch close to your iPhone and wait for the “ Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch ” message. If it doesn’t appear, open the Watch app and select All Watches > Add Watches .
In the pop-up window, click “Continue ” and click “Customize for yourself” . Once setup is complete, you’ll be prompted to hold your iPhone up to an animation on your Apple Watch.
Apple will ask you if you want to make this new Apple Watch an iPhone. Click the “Customize settings” button, and then select one of the backups to restore. Then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the setup. And there you have it: you’ve paired your old Apple Watch with your new iPhone.