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Apple Watch How-To: Unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone

When the Apple Watch first launched, we showed you in detail how to pair and set-up the device with your iPhone. Now, we’re going to show you how to unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone. There are several reasons one might want to unpair the two devices…

The process could be a troubleshooting step for users who are experiencing connectivity issues between their Apple Watch and iPhone. The unpairing process could also be useful when selling your Apple Watch or returning it to Apple.

The first step in the unpairing process is to ensure that your Apple Watch and iPhone are close enough together to be connected. Then, you’ll want to open the Apple Watch App on your iPhone.

From there, tap “My Watch” tap at the bottom of the interface, then choose the “Apple Watch” panel, as shown in the screenshots above. Then tap the “Unpair Apple Watch” button. The app will ask you to confirm that you wish to unpair the two devices, which will erase all content and settings from the Watch. Your iPhone, however, will make a backup of your Apple Watch before completing the unpairing process. You’ll later be able to restore that backup to a new Apple Watch if you desire.

If you wish to unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone directly from your wrist as opposed to using the app, you can do so by heading into the Settings app, then choosing General, Reset, and Erase all Content and Settings.

Once the process is complete, you can pair and setup Apple Watch with your iPhone again using these steps.

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Comments

  1. beyondthetech - 10 years ago

    Can anyone confirm that there’s no Activation Lock feature on the WATCH? If someone steals one, can they do a wipe or DFU reset, if they don’t have the passcode? And what if they do, does it require the Apple ID password to unpair?

  2. Fred Nick - 10 years ago

    Tired of all of these articles on Apple junk. Wish you bring some news about the new iPhone.

    • Michael Fisk - 10 years ago

      Like that’s not an Apple product?

    • Edison Wrzosek - 10 years ago

      This site is for all things Apple, not just their iPhone. Don’t like the coverage about the WATCH, go cry to your momma about it, lots of us here want this content, and don’t consider the watch “junk”.

  3. darwiniandude - 10 years ago

    Done this A LOT. Since my 42mm SS link ordered the minute the store went live still hasn’t shipped, my wife has let me borrow her 38mm SS Milanese a few times. Repairing and restoring the backup works wonderfully so neither of us lose any settings when we swap the watch.

    The 38mm Milanese does not fit over my hand, so I have to remove the band entirely then reassemble it on my wrist.

    • matthewhanna123 - 10 years ago

      How long does the process take to load the backup? Reason I’m asking is because it would be nice to pair it to my iPhone 6 Plus and then when I want to go for a run, unpair it and link it to a iPhone 5s.

  4. matthewhanna123 - 10 years ago

    How long does the process take to load the backup? Reason I’m asking is because it would be nice to pair it to my iPhone 6 Plus and then when I want to go for a run, unpair it and link it to a iPhone 5s.

    I feel like I’m in a sci-fi movie when I wear the 6 Plus on my arm. Pew pew!

    Thanks.

  5. Roger Rodrigues - 10 years ago

    Can two watches be paired to one iPhone?

Author

Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is the editor-in-chief of 9to5Mac, overseeing the entire site’s operations. He also hosts the 9to5Mac Daily and 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcasts.

You can send tips, questions, and typos to chance@9to5mac.com.

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