How to Fix Apple Watch Not Pairing with a New iPhone, by 360 Reader on YouTube. 4 min 37 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 37 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Charge both devices and keep them close together. Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the iPhone, and make sure Airplane Mode is off.
Check that your iPhone runs a version of iOS that supports your watch model. Update iOS first if an update is waiting.
If you still have the old iPhone, open the Watch app there, tap All Watches, tap the info button next to your watch and choose Unpair Apple Watch.
If the old iPhone is gone, erase the watch instead. On the watch, open Settings, tap General, then Reset, then Erase All Content and Settings.
Restart both devices. Hold the side button on the watch until the sliders appear, then slide to power off, and do the same on the iPhone.
Bring the watch near the iPhone and open the Watch app. Tap Start Pairing, then hold the watch screen up to the iPhone camera to scan the pattern.
If scanning fails, tap Pair Manually and enter the six-digit code shown on the watch. Finish setup and sign in with your Apple Account.
When prompted, update watchOS from the Watch app under General, then Software Update. Keep the watch on its charger during the update.
If pairing still fails, restart both devices once more and try again. Contact Apple Support if the error repeats.
Tips and common mistakes
Unpairing from the old iPhone first avoids Activation Lock problems on the new one.
Keep the watch on its charger for any watchOS update so the battery does not run out mid-install.
If you erased the watch without unpairing, you may still need the Apple Account that was linked to it.
Move away from other Bluetooth devices during pairing to reduce interference.
Questions
Do I need my old iPhone to pair the watch with a new one?
Not always. If the old phone is gone, erase the watch and set it up again on the new iPhone. You may need the Apple Account that was previously linked to the watch.
Why does the camera pairing fail?
The pattern may be hard to scan in low light or at an angle. Tap Pair Manually and type the six-digit code shown on the watch screen instead.
How long should pairing take?
Usually a few minutes. A watchOS update during setup can add 20 minutes or more, so keep the watch charged and near the iPhone.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
