The Tool Desk
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If that prompt does not appear, open the Apple Watch app on the new iPhone. Pairing Not Complete means you should tap Finish Pairing. If the app says Start Pairing, unpair the watch from the old iPhone, then pair it with the new iPhone and restore the latest backup. If the old iPhone is unavailable, erase the watch directly and restore whatever backup is available.
Do not trade in, erase, or hand over the old iPhone until the watch, Health history, notifications, and—if applicable—cellular service have all been checked.
First, choose the right Apple Watch scenario
The correct method depends on whether the watch is already configured and whether the old iPhone is available. Apple Watch can be paired with only one iPhone at a time, although one iPhone can manage multiple watches. See Apple’s Apple Watch security documentation and its guide to pairing another watch.
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#1 Best Overall
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| New or factory-reset Apple Watch | Use the normal Apple Watch app flow: My Watch → All Watches → Add Watch or Pair New Watch, depending on the software version. |
| Existing watch and old iPhone available | Use Apple’s automatic transfer process during new-iPhone setup. This is the least disruptive option and should be tried before erasing the watch. |
| Existing watch but old iPhone is lost, broken, erased, traded in, or unavailable | Erase the watch directly, then pair it to the new iPhone and restore the latest available watch backup. |
| Used Apple Watch | The previous owner must remove Activation Lock. A seller’s direct erase of the watch is not enough. |
| Family Setup or Apple Watch For Your Kids | Use the family member’s and organizer’s Apple Account and management settings. This is not the same as transferring a personal Apple Watch. |
Check compatibility before pairing
For the watchOS 26 setup path, Apple lists these supported watch families:
- Apple Watch Series 6 or later
- Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) or later
- All Apple Watch Ultra models
watchOS 26 requires an iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26 or later. The newer Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 also require an iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26 or later. Older Apple Watch models have lower software ceilings, so an older watch may not work with an iPhone running the newest iOS even if the phone itself is current. Check Apple’s Apple Watch and iPhone compatibility table for the exact model combination.
As of August 9, 2026, Apple lists iOS 26.6 and watchOS 26.6 as the latest stable versions. watchOS 27 is a preview scheduled for fall 2026, not the stable software baseline for this procedure. Software availability can change after publication.
Check the software versions
- iPhone: Go to Settings → General → Software Update.
- Apple Watch: On the old iPhone, open Apple Watch → My Watch → General → Software Update.
- Watch model and version: Check Apple Watch → My Watch → General → About, then compare the model with Apple’s compatibility table.
Update the old iPhone and Apple Watch before migration. Apple warns that outdated software can prevent the newest watch backup from appearing during setup. Updates may take several minutes or, in some cases, up to about an hour; do not interrupt an update simply because it is taking longer than expected.
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Have these items ready:
- Your Apple Account email address or phone number and password
- The Apple Watch passcode
- Both iPhones connected to Wi-Fi
- The old iPhone, unlocked and working, if possible
- The Apple Watch and new iPhone charged to at least 50 percent
- Time to install updates and complete the transfer without moving the devices away from each other
Apple’s new-iPhone Apple Watch transfer checklist specifically calls out the Apple Account password, watch passcode, Wi-Fi, and at least 50 percent charge for the watch and new iPhone.
Confirm that Health data is syncing
On the old iPhone, open Settings → [your name] → iCloud → See All → Health and make sure Health is enabled. Depending on the iOS version or region, the same control may appear under Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Saved to iCloud → Health.
Health and Fitness data is especially important to check before erasing anything. It can be restored through iCloud when Health synchronization was enabled, or through an encrypted computer backup. A normal, unencrypted Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes backup does not preserve the required Health and Activity information.
Create a fresh iPhone backup
Back up the old iPhone to iCloud or to a computer before beginning. If you use Finder on a Mac, Apple Devices on a Windows PC, or iTunes on an older computer, enable backup encryption. Apple explains the computer-backup process in its transfer and backup instructions.
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Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Do not erase the old iPhone yet. Keeping it intact gives you another chance to create a current backup if the watch transfer fails or data does not appear.
Recommended method: transfer an existing watch during new-iPhone setup
This is the preferred route when the old iPhone is available. Apple designed the process to migrate the watch while the new iPhone is being restored, rather than requiring an immediate factory reset.
1. Start Quick Start
- Turn on the new iPhone and place it near the old iPhone.
- Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on the old iPhone.
- Follow the Quick Start instructions on the new iPhone.
- Choose to transfer directly from the old iPhone or download from the latest iCloud backup.
- Keep both iPhones close together and connected to power until the transfer finishes.
Quick Start time depends on the amount of data and network conditions. If the prompt disappears, restart both iPhones and try again. Apple’s Quick Start guide contains the current setup instructions. Quick Start cannot transfer from a current iPhone when the new device is enrolled in Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager; in that situation, follow the organization’s administrator-approved migration procedure.
2. Accept the watch transfer
When the new iPhone asks whether you want to use the Apple Watch:
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- Unlock the watch with its passcode.
- Keep it close to the new iPhone.
- Tap Continue on the new iPhone.
- Follow the remaining onscreen instructions.
Do not assume the watch is fully migrated just because the iPhone setup has finished. Allow the watch backup, apps, settings, and iCloud data to finish restoring.
3. Finish the transfer in the Apple Watch app if necessary
If the iPhone copied the old iPhone’s content but did not finish adding the watch:
- Open the Apple Watch app on the new iPhone.
- Tap My Watch.
- Tap All Watches.
- Look for Pairing Not Complete.
- Put the watch on your wrist and unlock it.
- Tap Finish Pairing.
This is the normal recovery path for an incomplete migration. See Apple’s troubleshooting guide for pairing with a new iPhone.
Rank #3
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31YiTby0pOL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
If the new iPhone says Start Pairing
Start Pairing means the automatic transfer did not take over the existing watch. If the old iPhone is still available, use it to unpair the watch properly. This erases the watch but also finalizes a current backup and removes Activation Lock, making the watch ready for a new pairing.
Unpair from the old iPhone
- Open the Apple Watch app on the old iPhone.
- Tap My Watch.
- Tap All Watches.
- Tap the information button next to the watch.
- Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
- Confirm Unpair [watch name].
- If the watch has cellular service and you will use it with the same iPhone and carrier, choose to Keep Plan.
- Enter the Apple Account password when asked.
After unpairing finishes, bring the erased watch near the new iPhone. Follow the pairing animation, then choose the most recent watch backup when the restore option appears. Apple’s full procedure is in Unpair and erase your Apple Watch.
Unpairing from the paired iPhone is different from erasing through the watch’s Settings app. The former creates or finalizes the backup and removes Activation Lock; the latter only resets the device.
If the old iPhone is unavailable
Use this method if the old phone was lost, damaged beyond use, erased, traded in, or sold before the watch was unpaired.
Erase the watch directly
- On the Apple Watch, open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter the watch passcode if requested.
- If the watch has cellular service, choose whether to keep or remove the plan.
- Tap Erase All.
Then:
- Set up the new iPhone and sign in with the same Apple Account previously used with the watch.
- Open the Apple Watch app.
- Pair the watch when prompted.
- Choose the latest watch backup if one is offered.
Erasing directly on the watch does not remove Activation Lock. You will need the Apple Account and password associated with the watch during reactivation. Any information recorded after the last successful backup may be lost. Apple documents this scenario in its new-iPhone pairing troubleshooting guide and unpair and erase instructions.
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An Apple Watch backup is useful, but it is not a complete security-credential clone of the watch. Do not expect every setting and pairing to return automatically.
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| App settings | Built-in and third-party app settings can be restored from the watch backup. |
| Notifications | Notification settings can be restored, although it is worth checking them after migration. |
| Home Screen | The Home Screen layout can be restored. |
| Watch faces | Watch-face settings and customizations can be restored from backup. |
| Health and Fitness | Can return through iCloud Health synchronization or an encrypted computer backup. It is not guaranteed if neither exists. |
| Activity Sharing | Activity Sharing data is not stored in iCloud. It will not be recovered from iCloud if it was not included elsewhere in a usable backup. |
| Music and photos | Music settings, synced media, and the synced photo album can be included in the backup. |
| Time zone and general settings | These can be restored. |
| Apple Pay cards | Cards are excluded from the watch backup for security. Add them again in the Apple Watch app. |
| Bluetooth pairings | Bluetooth pairings are not included. Reconnect accessories as needed. |
| Watch passcode | The passcode is not included. You will need to set or enter it again. |
| Messages | Messages stored through iCloud synchronization are handled separately from the watch backup. |
| Cellular plan | Plan handling depends on whether the carrier and iPhone remain the same. Verify it under My Watch → Cellular. |
Apple’s Apple Watch backup documentation lists the included and excluded information. Apple also says that Health and Activity content cannot be recovered when the old iPhone is gone and the data was neither synchronized to iCloud nor included in an encrypted computer backup.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Gq8SToFJL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Set up cellular service after the move
Pairing and cellular activation are related but separate. A watch can pair successfully while its cellular plan still needs attention.
Same iPhone carrier
If you are continuing with the same iPhone and carrier, choose to keep the plan when unpairing from the old iPhone. After pairing, open Apple Watch → My Watch → Cellular and confirm that the plan is active.
New iPhone carrier
If the iPhone carrier has changed, the old watch plan may need to be removed and a new plan added through the Apple Watch app. Apple generally requires the iPhone and Apple Watch to use the same carrier, except for watches configured through Apple Watch For Your Kids. Eligibility can also depend on country or region, account type, corporate-account restrictions, prepaid service, and carrier fees. Use Apple’s cellular setup guide and check with the carrier if the plan is missing or activation fails.
Do not confuse keeping a cellular plan while migrating an existing watch with transferring a cellular plan to a different Apple Watch. The latter is a separate device and carrier-management situation.
Used Apple Watch: remove Activation Lock first
If the watch asks for the previous owner’s Apple Account, it is protected by Activation Lock. This is an ownership-security feature, not a pairing glitch.
The previous owner must unpair the watch from their iPhone and remove it from their Apple Account. Erasing the watch directly is insufficient because Activation Lock remains enabled. If you bought the watch second-hand and the seller cannot remove the lock, do not keep troubleshooting or pay for a repair as though it were a software problem; contact the seller and request that they complete the removal. Apple explains the requirement in its guides to Activation Lock on Apple Watch and preparing a watch for sale or transfer.
New or factory-reset watch: use the ordinary pairing flow
If this is a genuinely new watch or one that has already been erased and is not Activation-Locked, you do not need the migration procedure above.
Best Value
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
- Open the Apple Watch app on the new iPhone.
- Tap My Watch → All Watches → Add Watch, or choose Pair New Watch when that label appears.
- Hold the watch near the iPhone.
- When the pairing animation appears, center it in the iPhone camera viewfinder.
- Follow the prompts to sign in, create a passcode, choose settings, and install available watchOS software.
If the camera cannot read the animation, tap Pair Apple Watch Manually at the bottom of the pairing screen and follow the prompts. If the watch shows a normal watch face rather than the pairing animation, it is still paired with an iPhone; erase its content and settings before trying again.
Family Setup and Apple Watch For Your Kids
A watch configured for a family member is managed differently from a personal watch paired to its owner’s iPhone. Its data backs up directly to the family member’s iCloud account, it may use a different carrier from the managing iPhone, and some companion-iPhone features are unavailable. Use Apple’s Family Setup documentation rather than applying the personal-watch transfer steps mechanically.
Pairing problems and the correct recovery step
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| The new iPhone never asks to use the watch | Open Apple Watch → My Watch → All Watches. If Pairing Not Complete appears, keep the watch unlocked and tap Finish Pairing. If the app says Start Pairing, unpair the watch from the old iPhone and pair it again. |
| The camera cannot read the pairing animation | Tap Pair Apple Watch Manually at the bottom of the pairing screen. |
| A watch face appears instead of the pairing animation | The watch is still paired. Erase its content and settings, then pair it again. If it belongs to someone else, make sure Activation Lock has been removed first. |
| Black screen with a white Apple logo | Hold the Digital Crown and side button until the watch restarts. After it restarts, firmly press the display or hold the Digital Crown, tap Reset, and pair again. |
| The watch is stuck on the Apple logo | Force-restart it by holding the Digital Crown and side button. If it remains stuck, unpair and pair it again or check for available software updates. Apple’s stuck Apple logo guide has the current recovery steps. |
| A red iPhone icon or red X appears | Keep the devices close together, turn off Airplane Mode, confirm that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, and restart both devices. If it continues, unpair and pair again. See Apple’s connection troubleshooting guide. |
| An iPhone-and-watch animation or red exclamation point appears | Put the watch on its charger. Bring an unlocked iPhone with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled nearby. Double-click the watch side button and follow the iPhone prompts. If the process fails on a 5 GHz, captive, or 802.1X network, Apple suggests trying a 2.4 GHz network. See Apple’s restore-screen instructions. |
| The watch asks for a previous owner’s Apple Account | Activation Lock is still enabled. The previous owner must unpair the watch and remove the lock; erasing it alone does not solve the problem. |
| The watch passcode is forgotten | Put the watch on its charger. Hold the side button until the power button appears, then hold the Digital Crown until Erase all content and settings appears. Reset it and restore from a backup. Activation Lock remains unless it was properly unpaired. Follow Apple’s forgotten-passcode instructions. |
| Health or Activity data is missing after a computer transfer | Confirm Health is enabled in iCloud on both phones. If the computer backup was not encrypted, create an encrypted backup on the old iPhone and restore again. If the old phone is gone and the data was not synced or backed up properly, it may be unrecoverable. |
| The watch backup does not appear | Update both the iPhone and watch, then try the pairing process again. Apple says outdated software can prevent the latest backup from appearing. |
Verify the move before erasing the old iPhone
Do not judge the transfer solely by whether the watch displays a face. Check the entire connection and data path:
- The watch appears in Apple Watch → My Watch → All Watches on the new iPhone.
- The watch is connected to the new iPhone. Open Control Center on the watch and look for the green connected-iPhone indicator; Apple documents the connection icons in its connection guide.
- Recent Health history, workouts, rings, and other important Fitness information are present.
- Important watch faces, complications, apps, and settings have returned.
- Apple Pay cards have been added again.
- Notifications, calls, and messages work as expected.
- Bluetooth accessories have been paired again if needed.
- Cellular service is active and calls or data work away from the iPhone, if the watch has cellular capability.
- The watch completes at least one normal use cycle before the old iPhone is traded in or erased.
If something is missing, keep the old iPhone and create a new backup rather than repeatedly erasing the watch. A clean setup is an option, but it should be a deliberate choice: setting up as new can omit restored watch faces, app arrangement, settings, workouts, and other backup content. Health data may still return through iCloud if it had already synchronized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unpairing an Apple Watch erase it?
Yes. Unpairing from the paired iPhone erases the watch, but it also creates or finalizes a current backup and removes Activation Lock. Afterward, pair it with the new iPhone and choose the latest backup. Apple Pay cards, Bluetooth pairings, and the watch passcode must be set up again.
Can I pair an Apple Watch to a new iPhone without the old iPhone?
Yes. On the watch, go to Settings → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings, then pair it to the new iPhone and restore the latest available backup. Direct erasure does not remove Activation Lock, so sign in with the associated Apple Account. Data recorded after the last backup may be lost.
Will Health and Activity data transfer to the new iPhone?
It can, if Health was syncing to iCloud or was included in an encrypted computer backup. Activity Sharing data is not stored in iCloud. If the old iPhone is unavailable and the data was not synchronized or included in a suitable backup, Apple says it cannot be recovered.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Why does the Apple Watch app say Start Pairing instead of Continue?
The automatic transfer did not complete. If the old iPhone is available, open Apple Watch on that phone, choose My Watch → All Watches, tap the information button next to the watch, select Unpair Apple Watch, and then pair the erased watch with the new iPhone and restore its backup.
The Bottom Line
The safest sequence is: back up first, transfer automatically during new-iPhone setup, and erase only when the transfer requires it. Keep the old iPhone until Health data, watch settings, Apple Pay, notifications, and cellular service have been verified. If the old phone is unavailable, erase the watch directly and sign in with the same Apple Account, remembering that Activation Lock and backup limitations still apply.
