How to make your Apple Watch forgot your old phone?
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If you’ve recently upgraded to a new iPhone, you might find that your Apple Watch still remembers and tries to connect to your old device. This can cause frustrating issues such as failed connections, missing notifications, or an inability to pair the watch with your new phone. The good news is that you can make your Apple Watch “forget” your old iPhone completely, clearing all the saved connections and starting fresh. This process involves unpairing, resetting, and reconnecting the watch in the correct sequence to avoid data loss or sync errors.
Before you begin, it’s important to understand how your Apple Watch and iPhone communicate. Your watch is tightly linked to your iPhone through your Apple ID, iCloud, and Bluetooth. When paired, the iPhone automatically backs up your Apple Watch’s settings, health data, apps, and preferences. Therefore, simply disconnecting Bluetooth or turning off your old phone won’t truly separate the two devices. You’ll need to unpair the watch properly to remove all residual links.
This guide will walk you through the full process of making your Apple Watch forget your old phone safely and effectively. You’ll also learn how to back up your data, set up your watch with a new iPhone, and troubleshoot potential pairing issues. Whether you’re preparing to sell your old device or simply upgrading, following these steps ensures your Apple Watch starts with a clean slate.
Step 1: Back Up Your Old iPhone and Apple Watch
Before you unpair anything, make sure your data is safe. Your Apple Watch automatically backs up its data to your iPhone whenever the two are connected. To confirm that your most recent data is saved, open the Watch app on your iPhone and make sure all your apps, faces, and settings appear up to date.
Next, back up your iPhone to iCloud or your computer. This backup includes your Apple Watch information, which will be restored later when you pair the watch with your new iPhone. To create an iCloud backup, go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now. Wait until the backup finishes before continuing.
This step is crucial because once you unpair your Apple Watch, it will erase all data from the device. A current backup guarantees that you can restore your settings later without losing important information like health data, messages, or customized watch faces.
Step 2: Unpair the Apple Watch from Your Old iPhone
Once your data is backed up, it’s time to officially unpair the Apple Watch. Keep both your old iPhone and Apple Watch close together during this process. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, navigate to the My Watch tab, and select your watch at the top of the screen. Tap the info icon (i) next to your watch’s name and choose Unpair Apple Watch.
You’ll be asked to confirm the unpairing. If your Apple Watch is a cellular model, you can choose whether to keep or remove the cellular plan. If you plan to pair the watch with your new iPhone, choose Keep Plan. Otherwise, select Remove Plan.
Your iPhone will then create a final backup of your watch before erasing it. After a few minutes, your Apple Watch will reset to factory settings, completely removing all connections to your old iPhone and Apple ID data.
Step 3: Reset Your Apple Watch Manually (Optional)
If you no longer have access to your old iPhone, you can make your Apple Watch forget the connection manually. On your watch, go to Settings → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings. Confirm your decision when prompted.
If the watch is locked by Activation Lock (which is tied to your Apple ID), you’ll need to enter your Apple ID password to proceed. This security feature prevents others from using your Apple Watch if it’s lost or stolen. After the reset is complete, your watch will restart as a brand-new device ready to pair with any iPhone.
This manual reset is the fastest way to make your Apple Watch forget its previous connections, especially if you sold or gave away your old phone without unpairing properly.
Step 4: Pair Your Apple Watch with Your New iPhone
Now that your Apple Watch is clean and unlinked, you can pair it with your new iPhone. Make sure your iPhone has the latest version of iOS, then place your Apple Watch nearby. Turn on your watch and wait for the pairing animation to appear on your iPhone screen. Tap Continue, or open the Watch app and select Pair New Watch.
You’ll be asked whether you want to set up your Apple Watch as new or restore it from a backup. Choose Restore from Backup if you want to recover your previous settings, health data, and apps. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the pairing and syncing process.
Once setup is complete, your Apple Watch will operate as if it has always belonged to your new iPhone—fully disconnected from your old device.
Step 5: Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your Apple Watch refuses to pair or keeps referencing your old phone, make sure both devices are signed into the same Apple ID and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular. You can also try restarting both devices and ensuring Bluetooth is enabled.
If you’re still stuck, open iCloud.com/find and remove your Apple Watch from your account under All Devices. This will disable Activation Lock completely, freeing your watch from its previous pairing record.
Conclusion
Making your Apple Watch forget your old phone is not as simple as turning off Bluetooth—it requires a proper unpairing and reset process. By backing up your data, unpairing through the Watch app, and then pairing the device with your new iPhone, you can ensure a smooth transition without losing personal information or settings.
With a clean reset and correct setup, your Apple Watch will function just as it should—perfectly synced with your new iPhone and free from any lingering connection to your old one. Taking the time to do this right not only prevents connection problems but also enhances your overall Apple ecosystem experience.