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If you forgot the numeric passcode used to unlock your Apple Watch, Apple’s official fix is to erase the watch and set it up again; the passcode cannot be viewed or reset in place. If the prompt is for your Apple Account password instead, reset that password separately. Erasing also does not normally remove Activation Lock.
First, identify which password you forgot
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A short numeric code requested to unlock the watch | Apple Watch passcode | Erase and set up the watch again. Apple’s passcode-reset instructions. |
| A password prompt during setup, pairing, or a request involving iCloud or Find My | Apple Account password (formerly Apple ID password) | Reset the Apple Account password; erasing the watch does not reset it. Apple Account password recovery. |
| A request for the account originally used to set up an erased watch | Activation Lock | Enter that account’s credentials, or have the previous owner remove the lock if the watch is used. About Activation Lock. |
An iPhone passcode is different again: it may be requested when you change your Apple Account password on a trusted iPhone, but it is not the watch passcode.
Reset the Apple Watch directly, without its passcode
Use this route if the paired iPhone is unavailable or the watch cannot communicate with it. Keep the watch on its charger throughout the process. The button sequence is in order: show the power controls first, then open the erase option with the Digital Crown.
- Place the Apple Watch on its charger and leave it connected.
- Press and hold the side button until the power button appears in the upper-right corner.
- Press and hold the Digital Crown until Erase all content and settings appears.
- Tap Reset, then tap Reset again to confirm.
- Wait for the erase to finish, then set up the watch again. Restore from a backup if setup offers one.
This erases the watch but does not remove Activation Lock. Apple Watch has no physical reset button; do not insert a pin or other object into openings in the case. Apple’s guidance on Apple Watch buttons and openings.
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Reset from the paired iPhone
If the iPhone paired with the watch is available and working, the Apple Watch app is another reset route. Keep the devices close together. This is often the more useful option when you plan to keep using the watch because Apple’s setup process may create or use a backup through the paired iPhone.
- Open the Apple Watch app on the iPhone.
- Tap My Watch, then General.
- Scroll down and tap Reset.
- Tap Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings, then confirm by tapping the erase option at the bottom.
- If prompted, enter your Apple Account password.
- On a GPS + Cellular model, choose whether to keep or remove the cellular plan.
- Wait for the erase to finish, then set up the watch and restore from a backup if offered.
If the iPhone cannot find or communicate with the watch, use the direct-on-watch method above. Apple also documents erasing when you cannot use the paired iPhone: Erase Apple Watch without the iPhone.
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What is erased, and what can be restored?
Resetting removes the watch’s media, personal data, settings, apps and other locally stored content, as well as Apple Pay cards. Content stored in iCloud is not deleted merely because the watch is erased. If a backup is available, it may be offered during setup; restoration depends on what that backup contains, so do not assume every recent change will return. Apple’s reset guidance and Apple’s unpairing and backup guidance.
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If setup asks for an Apple Account password
That prompt is usually Activation Lock, not a sign that the passcode reset failed. Erasing without unpairing normally leaves the lock enabled. Enter the Apple Account email address or phone number and password originally used to set up the watch. Apple’s Activation Lock guidance.
Reset the Apple Account password on a trusted iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings.
- Tap your name, then Sign-In & Security.
- Tap Change Password.
- Enter the device passcode and follow the onscreen instructions.
Use a borrowed Apple device or the web
On a borrowed iPhone or iPad, open the Apple Support app, scroll to Support Tools, tap Reset Password, then Help Someone Else. Enter the Apple Account email address or phone number and follow the prompts. Apple says information entered through the borrowed device is not stored on it. You can also go to iforgot.apple.com. See Apple’s password-reset options.
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If Apple Account recovery is necessary
Try a trusted device, the Support app on a borrowed device, or an account recovery contact before beginning account recovery. Apple says recovery can take several days or longer, and Apple Support cannot shorten the security waiting period. Apple’s account recovery guidance. If repeated incorrect credentials have locked or disabled your account, regain account access before trying Activation Lock setup again: If your Apple Account is locked or disabled.
Selling, gifting, or transferring the watch? Unpair it
Erasing and unpairing are not interchangeable. To transfer ownership and remove Activation Lock, unpair the watch from its paired iPhone and complete the process with the associated Apple Account credentials.
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- Keep the watch and paired iPhone close together and open the Apple Watch app.
- Tap My Watch, then All Watches at the top.
- Tap the information button next to the watch, then tap Unpair Apple Watch.
- Confirm. On a cellular model, choose whether to remove the plan.
- Enter the Apple Account password when prompted to disable Activation Lock, then complete unpairing.
Unpairing erases the watch and removes Activation Lock when completed with the associated account credentials. Apple’s unpairing instructions.
Bought a used Apple Watch that is still locked?
If setup requests the previous owner’s Apple Account, a reset alone will not make the watch usable. Contact the seller and ask them to remove the watch from their account; the buyer cannot legitimately clear another owner’s Activation Lock. Apple’s instructions for preparing an Apple Watch for a new owner.
Troubleshooting the reset
The erase option does not appear
- Confirm the watch is on its charger and stays connected to power.
- Hold the side button until the power controls appear before pressing and holding the Digital Crown.
- If the sequence was interrupted, start again and wait for Erase all content and settings to appear.
The watch is disabled after incorrect attempts
The same erase-and-reset process applies if too many incorrect passcodes disabled the watch. If Erase Data was enabled, Apple Watch can erase itself after 10 failed passcode attempts; this is an optional security feature, not a required reset step. Apple Watch passcode and security settings.
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Activation Lock remains after erasing
Use the Apple Account originally associated with the watch. For a used watch, the previous owner must remove it from their account. If you cannot access your own account, use the password-recovery options above.
Button labels or screens look slightly different
Apple’s interface can vary slightly by watchOS or iOS version. Follow the sequence and labels shown on your device; do not use objects in the case openings as reset tools. Apple Watch hardware guidance.
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