Restart both devices before erasing anything. If your Apple Watch still will not connect, the safest full reset is to unpair it from the paired iPhone in the Apple Watch app and then pair it again. Unpairing erases the watch, creates a current backup, and removes Activation Lock. If the old iPhone is unavailable, you can erase the watch directly, but Activation Lock remains and you will need the associated Apple Account and password.
A reset can repair corrupted pairing data, but it is not the first-line fix for every red iPhone icon, red X, or failed connection. Use the decision flow below to avoid losing watch settings, Health data, or access to a cellular plan unnecessarily.
First, confirm that the Apple Watch is actually disconnected
On the watch, open Control Center by pressing the side button. A red iPhone icon or red X indicates that the watch and iPhone are not currently connected. When the connection returns, the iPhone icon is green. In the disconnected state, notifications, messages, and calls may not arrive on the watch.
These indicators are symptoms to investigate, not proof of a failed Bluetooth radio or other hardware defect. A watch that shows a normal clock face while you are trying to pair it for the first time may already be paired with another iPhone; in that case, it must be erased before it can be paired with yours. Apple describes the connection indicators and initial pairing symptoms in its Apple Watch connection troubleshooting guide and pairing instructions.
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- 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.
What should you do before resetting?
- Bring the devices close together. Keep the iPhone and watch next to each other while checking the connection.
- Check the iPhone. Open Control Center and verify that Airplane Mode is off, Wi-Fi is on, and Bluetooth is on.
- Check the watch. Press the side button to open Control Center and verify that Airplane Mode is off.
- Restart both devices. Try the Apple Watch again in the Watch app after both have restarted.
Apple’s current procedure emphasizes checking Bluetooth in the iPhone’s Control Center and restarting the devices. Do not begin by repeatedly turning Bluetooth off and on in the iPhone’s Settings app; that is not Apple’s primary troubleshooting step for this problem. See Apple’s current connection guidance for the supported sequence.
Restart versus force restart
A normal restart does not erase data. On the watch, hold the side button until the sliders appear, tap the power button, drag Power Off, and then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
Use a force restart only when the watch is frozen, will not respond, or a normal restart is unavailable:
- Hold the side button and Digital Crown together.
- Keep holding them for at least 10 seconds.
- Release both controls when the Apple logo appears.
Apple’s restart instructions distinguish a force restart from the ordinary restart procedure.
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The terms are easy to confuse, but they have different consequences. The most important distinction is that erasing the watch does not necessarily remove Activation Lock.
| Action | Data erased? | Activation Lock removed? | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal restart | No | No | A temporary software or connection glitch |
| Force restart | No | No | The watch is frozen or will not respond |
| Erase directly on the watch | Yes | No | The paired iPhone is unavailable and the owner can enter the Apple Account later |
| Erase from the Watch app without unpairing | Yes | No | The owner wants to erase the watch while retaining the pairing relationship or cellular plan |
| Unpair from the paired iPhone | Yes | Yes | A persistent pairing problem, or preparing the watch for sale or transfer |
| Reset during stalled pairing | Yes, if the watch is already in pairing mode | It depends on how the watch was previously associated | The pairing animation will not complete |
For a watch that is already paired with your iPhone, unpairing from that iPhone is normally the correct reset. It backs up the watch before erasing it and removes the Activation Lock association. An erase performed on the watch itself is useful when the iPhone cannot be used, but it does not make the watch free of the previous Apple Account. Apple explains these differences in its unpairing and erasing instructions.
Update iOS and watchOS when possible
Software incompatibility or an incomplete update can prevent pairing. If the iPhone and watch are functional enough to update, install the latest available iOS on the iPhone and the latest watchOS supported by the watch.
For an iPhone-based watchOS update:
- Connect the iPhone to Wi-Fi.
- Charge the Apple Watch to at least 50 percent.
- Keep the watch near the iPhone and on its charger.
- Allow several minutes to an hour for the process.
- Do not restart either device, quit the Watch app, or remove the watch from its charger while the update is installing.
If an update file is stuck, open Watch app > My Watch > General > Storage, delete the update file, and try again. See Apple’s watchOS update requirements and troubleshooting.
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Do not reset solely because an update is unavailable. The watch may simply be too old for the requested watchOS version, or the iPhone may not meet the requirement.
Current compatibility note for US readers
As of August 9, 2026, Apple lists watchOS 26.6 as the latest watchOS release, released July 27, 2026, and lists iOS/iPadOS 26.6 as current. These version numbers will change, so install the newer versions shown on your own devices rather than treating them as permanent. watchOS 26 supports Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) and later, Apple Watch Series 6 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra and later. Installing watchOS 26 requires an iPhone 11 or later, or an iPhone SE (3rd generation or later), running iOS 26. Older watches can remain usable with older supported iPhone and watchOS combinations, but not every Apple Watch can run the newest software. Check Apple’s release list and Apple Watch compatibility list before troubleshooting an apparent update or pairing failure.
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![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.
Back up the Apple Watch before you erase it
Apple Watch backups are largely automatic. When the watch and paired iPhone are near each other, the watch backs up to the iPhone. When you unpair the watch through the Watch app, the iPhone makes a current backup before erasing the watch.
An iCloud backup of the iPhone, or a computer backup of the iPhone, also includes Apple Watch data. To preserve Health and Fitness data, use iCloud or an encrypted computer backup. A non-encrypted computer backup does not provide the same Health and Activity data protection. Apple’s Apple Watch backup guide and new-iPhone transfer guidance describe these requirements.
What a backup does and does not restore
A backup can restore much of the watch’s configuration, including app settings, watch-face customizations, notification settings, app layout, music and synced photo settings, time zone, and eligible Health and Fitness data.
It does not restore everything. You will need to:
- Re-add Apple Pay cards.
- Re-pair Bluetooth accessories.
- Set a new watch passcode.
Bluetooth pairings, Apple Pay cards, and the watch passcode are not included in the Apple Watch backup. Information already synchronized through iCloud, such as Messages, is not treated as watch-backup data either.
Family Setup exception: A watch configured for a family member through Apple Watch For Your Kids does not follow every ordinary paired-watch backup assumption. Apple says these watches back up directly to the family member’s iCloud account, and some features depend on the companion iPhone. See Apple’s Family Setup information before erasing one.
Preferred reset: unpair the watch from the paired iPhone
Use this method when the iPhone that is paired with the watch is available. It is the cleanest solution for persistent connection failures and the required preparation before selling or giving away the watch.
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- Keep the iPhone and Apple Watch close together.
- Open the Apple Watch app on the iPhone.
- Tap My Watch.
- Tap All Watches.
- Tap the information button next to the watch.
- Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
- Tap Unpair [watch name] to confirm.
- On a GPS + Cellular model, choose Keep Plan if you intend to pair the watch with the same or another iPhone. Choose Remove Plan if you are selling or giving away the watch, or will no longer use that cellular service.
- Enter the Apple Account password when asked. This disables Activation Lock.
- Wait for the watch to erase and return to its setup screen.
Unpairing erases the watch and returns it to factory settings, but it also preserves the possibility of restoring the backup that was just made. The Apple Account password is not an optional step: it is what confirms that you are authorized to remove the watch from the account.
Erase from the Watch app without unpairing
If you specifically want to erase the watch but keep the pairing relationship or cellular plan, the Watch app also provides an erase option under My Watch > General > Reset > Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings. This erases content but does not remove Activation Lock. For an ordinary pairing failure, use Unpair Apple Watch instead. The options and their consequences are covered in Apple’s official reset and unpairing instructions.
Pair the Apple Watch again
After the watch displays its setup screen:
- Turn on the Apple Watch and keep it near an unlocked iPhone.
- Wait for Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch, then tap Continue.
- If the prompt does not appear, open the Watch app and tap All Watches > Add Watch.
- Tap Set Up for Myself.
- Center the watch’s pairing animation in the iPhone camera viewfinder.
- If the camera cannot read the animation, tap Pair Apple Watch Manually and follow the prompts.
- Choose Restore from Backup and select the most recent backup, or choose Set Up as New Apple Watch.
- Install any required iOS or watchOS update.
- Sign in with the associated Apple Account if prompted.
- Keep the devices close together while content and settings synchronize.
It is normal for apps, settings, and iCloud data to continue appearing after the watch face returns. Avoid judging the repair until the initial synchronization has finished. Apple’s pairing guide includes the manual-pairing option and the setup choices.
Restore a backup or set up as new?
Restore from Backup is the convenient choice when you want your previous watch faces, app layout, settings, and eligible data back. Choose Set Up as New Apple Watch when the watch repeatedly failed after restoring, because a clean setup can help determine whether a corrupted setting or backup is being carried forward. The trade-off is that setting up as new requires more configuration and does not restore the old watch’s settings automatically.
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- 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 old or paired iPhone is unavailable
If you own the Apple Watch but no longer have the paired iPhone, erase the watch directly:
- Open Settings on the Apple Watch.
- Tap General.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter the watch passcode if requested.
- On a cellular model, choose whether to keep or remove the plan.
- Tap Erase All.
This erases the watch but does not remove Activation Lock. During setup, enter the Apple Account email address or phone number and password that were used to set up the watch. A direct erase is therefore appropriate for an owner who has lost or replaced the old iPhone, but it is not a way to bypass account security. Apple documents this path in its Apple Watch erasing instructions.
Remove the watch through Find My when necessary
If the old iPhone is gone and you need to prepare the watch for transfer, sign in to iCloud.com, open Find My, choose All Devices > Apple Watch > Erase, and then select the option to remove the watch after erasure. This removes the watch from the account when the paired iPhone is no longer available. Apple’s Activation Lock guidance explains the Find My removal process.
Forgotten Apple Watch passcode: use the charger-based erase
A forgotten watch passcode cannot be recovered. The watch must be erased, and Activation Lock will remain enabled afterward.
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- Place the Apple Watch on its charger and leave it there.
- Press and hold the side button until the power button appears.
- Press and hold the Digital Crown until Erase all content and settings appears.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap Reset again to confirm.
- Set up the watch again and restore from a backup when prompted.
You will need the Apple Account credentials associated with the watch during reactivation. Follow Apple’s forgotten-passcode procedure rather than trying repeated guesses that could delay setup.
If pairing is stuck on the animation
If the watch remains in pairing mode and the animated pattern appears frozen:
- Leave the watch in pairing mode.
- Press and hold the Digital Crown.
- Tap Reset when it appears.
- Bring the iPhone near the watch and start pairing again.
Apple provides this specific stalled-pairing reset because the watch is already in setup mode. Do not use the procedure for a normally functioning watch unless you are prepared for it to be erased.
If the watch is stuck on the white Apple logo during transfer
When moving the watch to a new iPhone, a black screen with a white Apple logo can indicate that the transfer has stalled. Apple’s recovery steps are:
- Press and hold the Digital Crown and side button together until the watch restarts.
- Release both controls.
- Firmly press the screen, or press and hold the Digital Crown.
- Tap Reset.
- Pair the watch again.
If a new-iPhone transfer ends with Pairing Not Complete, open Watch app > My Watch > All Watches, select the watch, and tap Finish Pairing. Apple’s new-iPhone transfer troubleshooting covers both conditions.
Red exclamation point or iPhone-and-watch recovery animation
An iPhone-and-watch animation or a red exclamation point is a recovery or restore state, not an ordinary Bluetooth disconnection. Use Apple’s recovery procedure:
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- 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.*
- Put an iPhone near the Apple Watch.
- Make sure the iPhone runs iOS 15.4 or later, is connected to Wi-Fi, has Bluetooth on, and is unlocked.
- Put the Apple Watch on its charger.
- Double-click the watch’s side button.
- Follow the instructions that appear on the iPhone.
If recovery fails, try a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network instead of 5GHz. Avoid captive-portal networks, such as hotel or public Wi-Fi that requires a browser sign-in, and 802.1X networks commonly used by corporate or school systems. A personal 2.4GHz network is a useful diagnostic alternative. If the red exclamation point continues after the recovery attempt, the watch may require service. See Apple’s Apple Watch recovery instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the Apple Watch will not turn on or charge
Do not reset a watch that may simply be out of power. A red lightning bolt means the watch does not have enough power to turn on. A blank screen or charging-cable icon can require up to 30 minutes of charging before the watch responds.
- Use the Apple Magnetic Charging Cable or the USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable appropriate for the watch.
- Reposition the watch on the charger so the magnets align correctly.
- Clean the back of the watch and the charger.
- Try another charging cable and power adapter if available.
- If the watch still does not respond, hold the side button and Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
These steps come from Apple’s charging and power troubleshooting guide. A watch with no power cannot complete a pairing reset, so charging comes before connection diagnosis.
Moving an Apple Watch to a new iPhone
If both iPhones are available, update the old iPhone and watch before beginning. Back up the old iPhone, and make sure Health is enabled in iCloud or that you use an encrypted computer backup. Keep the watch unlocked, on your wrist, and near the new iPhone during setup.
Use the normal pairing process on the new iPhone and select the most recent watch backup when it is offered. If no backup appears:
- Update both devices if they support newer software.
- Confirm that the backup completed on the old iPhone.
- If no usable backup exists, set up the watch as new.
If the new iPhone reports Pairing Not Complete, use Watch app > My Watch > All Watches, select the watch, and tap Finish Pairing. Apple’s Apple Watch transfer guide explains the backup and new-iPhone process.
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On a GPS + Cellular Apple Watch, choose Keep Plan if you will pair the same watch with the same iPhone or move it to another iPhone. Choose Remove Plan when selling or giving away the watch, or when you will no longer use its cellular service.
Removing the plan from the watch may not cancel the carrier subscription. US carrier billing, cancellation rules, and fees vary, so contact the carrier separately if you are ending service. Apple provides additional Activation Lock and cellular-plan guidance and the plan choices in its unpairing instructions.
Activation Lock and used Apple Watches
Activation Lock is linked to Find My on the paired iPhone. The associated Apple Account email address or phone number and password are required to unpair the watch, pair it with a new iPhone, or turn off Find My.
A factory erase does not bypass Activation Lock. If you bought the watch used and it asks for someone else’s Apple Account, the previous owner must remove it from their account. Ask the seller to unpair it from their iPhone or remove it from Find My before completing the purchase. Do not accept an Activation-Locked watch on the assumption that Apple or a reset can unlock it; a legitimate bypass is not available for a watch still linked to another person’s account. Apple’s pairing guidance and Activation Lock documentation describe this requirement.
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![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.
Last resort: reset the iPhone’s network settings
Resetting network settings is not a standard Apple Watch reset and should be a late-stage diagnostic, after restarting both devices, checking software compatibility, and attempting the normal unpair-and-pair process.
On the iPhone, go to:
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings
This removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, VPN settings, and APN settings. You may need to reconnect other accessories and networks afterward. If the iPhone is managed by a school or employer, resetting network settings can disrupt managed configurations; consult the administrator first. Apple lists the consequences in its network-settings reset guide. This step may help with a network configuration problem, but Apple does not guarantee that it will fix an Apple Watch pairing failure.
When to contact Apple or the carrier
Seek Apple service when:
- The red exclamation point persists after the official recovery procedure.
- The watch will not charge, show the charging indicator, or respond after charging, cable checks, and a force restart.
- The watch repeatedly disconnects after a clean unpair-and-re-pair process on current compatible software.
- The watch has physical damage or other persistent hardware symptoms.
Contact the cellular carrier separately for plan cancellation, billing, or activation problems. If Activation Lock belongs to a previous owner, the seller must remove it; service cannot substitute for the account holder’s authorization.
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Will resetting an Apple Watch delete Health and Fitness data?
It can, if the data was not synchronized or included in an iCloud backup or encrypted computer backup. Before unpairing, confirm that the iPhone is backed up and that Health is enabled in iCloud, or use an encrypted computer backup. Apple Pay cards, Bluetooth pairings, and the watch passcode are not restored from an Apple Watch backup.
Does erasing an Apple Watch remove Activation Lock?
No. Erasing directly on the watch removes its content but leaves Activation Lock enabled. Unpair the watch from the paired iPhone, or erase it through Find My and remove it from the account, to remove the association. The associated Apple Account credentials are required.
Should I choose Keep Plan or Remove Plan when resetting a cellular Apple Watch?
Choose Keep Plan if you will continue using the watch with the same or another iPhone. Choose Remove Plan if you are selling or giving it away or will no longer use the service. Removing the plan from the watch may not cancel the carrier subscription, so contact the carrier separately.
Can a used Apple Watch with Activation Lock be unlocked after a factory reset?
No. The previous owner must unpair the watch or remove it from Find My. Do not complete a purchase unless the seller can remove the watch from their Apple Account.
The Bottom Line
The safest order is: check power and connection settings, restart both devices, update compatible software, then unpair from the paired iPhone and pair again. Use a direct watch erase only when the old iPhone is unavailable or the passcode is forgotten, and remember that those methods leave Activation Lock in place. Preserve an iCloud or encrypted iPhone backup first, choose the cellular-plan option carefully, and seek service if recovery, charging, or clean re-pairing continues to fail.
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