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If you still have the iPhone paired with your Apple Watch, unpair it in the Apple Watch app to erase the watch and remove Activation Lock. If you are moving to a new iPhone, first try Apple’s transfer flow to keep using the watch. If the old iPhone is unavailable, you can erase the watch itself, but Activation Lock remains; Find My on iCloud.com is the remote option when you no longer have the watch or phone.
Choose based on what you can access and whether you are keeping or transferring the watch. “Unpair” through the paired iPhone erases the watch and removes Activation Lock. Erasing from the watch resets it but leaves the lock in place. A remote Find My erase and account-removal flow is a separate fallback.
| Situation | Recommended route | Activation Lock |
|---|---|---|
| You have the old and new iPhones and want to keep using the watch | Transfer during setup of the new iPhone | Follow the pairing prompt; unpair from the old iPhone if the new phone asks you to start pairing |
| You have the old paired iPhone and are preparing the watch for another owner | Unpair in the Apple Watch app | Removed during unpairing |
| You do not have the old iPhone but can access the watch | Erase the watch in Settings | Remains; the associated Apple Account is still needed |
| You no longer have the watch or have already handed it over | Erase and remove it through Find My or Find Devices on iCloud.com | Follow the current removal instructions; timing depends on the device’s connection status |
Before switching to a new iPhone
Prepare the transfer before erasing anything. Have the Apple Account password and watch passcode available. Apple recommends connecting both iPhones to Wi-Fi, charging the watch and new iPhone to at least 50%, updating the old iPhone and watch, and backing up the old iPhone. Apple says backing up the iPhone also backs up the Apple Watch.
To protect Health and Activity information, make sure Health syncing is on when using iCloud, or encrypt a computer backup. Set up the new iPhone from the most recent backup. Keep the unlocked watch on your wrist and near the new iPhone, then open the Apple Watch app and follow the prompt to use the watch. If the new iPhone instead asks you to start pairing, unpair the watch from the old iPhone and set it up again.
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Way 1: Unpair from the old paired iPhone
Best for: preparing a watch for sale, gifting, or service, or starting over when the transfer prompt on a new iPhone does not appear.
Keep the iPhone and Apple Watch near each other. On the old iPhone:
- Open the Apple Watch app.
- Tap My Watch, then All Watches.
- Tap the information button next to the watch you want to remove.
- Tap Unpair Apple Watch, then confirm the watch name.
- If the watch has a mobile plan, keep it if you will pair the watch again; remove it if you are selling or giving it away.
- Enter the Apple Account password associated with the watch to disable Activation Lock, then confirm unpairing.
Unpairing erases the watch, restores factory settings, and removes Activation Lock. The iPhone may create a watch backup as part of the process. Apple’s current screen instructions take precedence if labels or options differ.
Removing a mobile plan from the watch does not necessarily cancel the carrier subscription. Contact the carrier separately if you want to cancel service or stop billing.
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Way 2: Erase the watch when the old iPhone is unavailable
Best for: you can access the watch, but not the old paired iPhone.
On the watch, open Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Enter the passcode if requested, choose whether to keep or remove the mobile plan, then confirm Erase All.
This erases the watch but does not remove Activation Lock. To activate it again, you need the Apple Account and password associated with the watch. If you are giving the watch to someone else, the account owner must also remove the watch through Find My or iCloud.com; a local erase alone does not release it.
Pairing with a replacement iPhone after erasing
- Sign in to the new iPhone with the Apple Account associated with the watch.
- Open the Apple Watch app and start pairing.
- When offered, choose an available backup to restore.
Way 3: Erase and remove the watch through Find My
Best for: the watch has been lost, handed over, or is no longer accessible to you. Sign in to Find My or Find Devices on iCloud.com with the Apple Account associated with the watch, select the watch, and follow the on-screen instructions to erase it and then remove it from the account or device list.
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- Go to iCloud.com and sign in with the associated Apple Account.
- Open Find My or Find Devices from the available menu.
- Select the Apple Watch from the device list.
- Choose Erase and complete the confirmation steps.
- After the erase, select the option to remove the watch and follow the remaining prompts.
If the watch is offline, the remote erase begins the next time it connects. Apple’s iCloud guidance says removing an offline device can remove Activation Lock immediately while the device may remain in Find My for 30 days. If it reconnects after that period while still signed in to the same account, it may reappear and Activation Lock may be reenabled. Follow the current instructions shown by Apple for the device’s status.
This is an account-owner process, not a way to bypass someone else’s Activation Lock. If a used watch asks for a previous owner’s account, ask that owner to remove it from their account.
If you forgot the Apple Watch passcode
You can erase the watch without its passcode, but this does not bypass Activation Lock. You will still need the Apple Account associated with the watch afterward.
- Put the Apple Watch on its charger.
- Hold the side button until the power control appears.
- Press and hold the Digital Crown until Erase All Content and Settings appears.
- Tap Reset, then tap Reset again to confirm.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming an erase removes Activation Lock: a watch-only erase leaves the lock active. Unpair using the paired iPhone or have the account owner remove it through Find My.
- Forgetting the Apple Account password: it is needed to disable Activation Lock in the unpairing process and to set up an erased watch that remains locked.
- Assuming removal of a mobile plan stops billing: contact the carrier to cancel the subscription if needed.
- Inserting something into the case openings: Apple Watch has no SIM slot or reset button. Do not insert objects into the openings.
FAQ
How do I unpair my Apple Watch from an old phone?
On the paired iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, tap My Watch > All Watches, tap the information button beside the watch, and choose Unpair Apple Watch. Enter the associated Apple Account password when prompted.
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Can I pair my Apple Watch with a new iPhone without unpairing first?
When moving to a new iPhone, restore the iPhone backup and follow the Apple Watch app’s prompt to use the watch. If the new iPhone asks you to start pairing instead, unpair the watch from the old iPhone and set it up again.
Does erasing an Apple Watch remove Activation Lock?
No. Erasing it in Settings resets the watch but leaves Activation Lock. The associated Apple Account is still required unless the account owner removes the watch through Find My or the paired-iPhone unpairing process.
What happens to my mobile plan when I unpair?
Keep the plan if you will pair the watch again; remove it from the watch when selling or giving it away. Contact the carrier separately to cancel the subscription if needed.
Can I unpair an Apple Watch if I forgot its passcode?
You can erase it while it is on its charger by holding the side button until the power control appears, then holding the Digital Crown until the erase option appears. This does not remove Activation Lock.
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