How to connect Apple Watch to a new or old iPhone

If you're the proud owner of an Apple Watch and want to seamlessly pair it with your shiny new iPhone or vice versa, you've come to the right place. This guide walks you through the steps to connect your Apple Watch to your new iPhone, preserving all the custom settings and data from your old device.

Apple's commitment to improving the user experience is evident in the effortless pairing of its devices. Whether it's answering messages, taking calls, or just checking the weather, your Apple Watch is a compact companion that mirrors the capabilities of your iPhone. And now that you've unlocked that connection, you're well on your way to an optimized, efficient, and elevated digital experience.

Before you start, you need to prepare a few things:

Your Apple ID and password, which are needed to turn off Activation Lock. Both your old and new iPhones must be connected to Wi-Fi. Your Apple Watch and iPhone should be at least 50% charged. Your Apple Watch passcode. If you forgot it, resources are available to help you recover it.

Hold your Apple Watch and iPhone close together and open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. If your iPhone asks you to confirm that you want to use your watch, follow the onscreen steps to complete the setup. If your iPhone asks you to start pairing, unpair your Apple Watch so you can set it up. After setup, you can start using your Apple Watch with your new iPhone.

Compatibility check

Before you start the connection process, it is imperative to check the compatibility of your devices. For smooth syncing of your Apple Watch with your iPhone, make sure your iPhone is running iOS 14 or later. Simultaneously, your Apple Watch must be equipped with watchOS 7 or later. This compatibility prerequisite is met by iPhone 6s or later models.

Part 1: Disconnect your Apple Watch from your old iPhone

Connecting your Apple Watch to your new iPhone requires detaching the watch from your old iPhone. Don't worry about losing data, as the unpairing process triggers an automatic backup of your Apple Watch data, facilitating a smooth transition to your new phone.

To disconnect your Apple Watch from your old iPhone:

Open the Apple Watch app on your old iPhone. Tap the "My Watch" button in the lower left corner. Go to the "All Watches" link in the upper left corner. A list of all watches connected to your iPhone will be displayed. Locate the watch you want to unpair, tap the information icon ('i') next to it. As shown in the picture below. Press the "Unpair Apple Watch" button and confirm your selection. Follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the process.