How to Unpair Apple Watch
Learn how to unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone step by step. Covers unpairing with and without your iPhone, Activation Lock, backups, and cellular plans.
Whether you are upgrading to a new Apple Watch, selling your current one, switching iPhones, or just trying to fix a stubborn software issue, the first thing you need to do is unpair your watch.
Unpairing does three important things at once. It backs up your watch data to your iPhone, erases the watch completely, and turns off Activation Lock so the watch is ready for a fresh start.
The whole process takes a few minutes and you only need your iPhone and your Apple Account password. If you do not have your iPhone available, we will cover that too.
Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together
Before you start, make sure your Apple Watch is on your wrist (or at least nearby and awake) and your iPhone is unlocked and within Bluetooth range. Both devices need to communicate during the unpairing process. If your Apple Watch has a passcode, make sure you know it. You will also need your Apple Account password to disable Activation Lock.
Open the Watch app on your iPhone
Tap the Watch app on your iPhone. It has an icon that looks like a side view of an Apple Watch. Once the app opens, you should be on the My Watch tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap All Watches at the top of the screen to see every Apple Watch paired to your iPhone.
Tap the info button next to your watch
Find the watch you want to unpair in the list. Tap the info button (the small circled "i" icon) to the right of the watch name. This opens a detail screen with your watch's name, model, and storage information.
Tap Unpair Apple Watch
Tap Unpair Apple Watch near the bottom of the screen. A confirmation prompt will appear asking if you are sure. Tap Unpair [your watch name] to confirm. If your Apple Watch has a cellular plan, you will be asked whether to keep or remove the plan.
Good to know: If you plan to pair this same watch again later (after a software update or troubleshooting), keep your cellular plan. If you are selling or giving the watch away, remove it.
Enter your Apple Account password
Your iPhone will ask you to type your Apple Account password (formerly Apple ID). This step disables Activation Lock, which is the security feature that prevents anyone else from using your watch without your permission. Type your password and tap Unpair. The process begins immediately.
Heads up: Do not skip this step. If Activation Lock stays on, the watch cannot be set up by a new owner. This is the most common reason people get stuck when selling or giving away an Apple Watch.
Wait for the unpair to finish
Your iPhone automatically creates a backup of your Apple Watch before erasing it. This backup includes your watch face layout, app settings, Health and Fitness data, and notification preferences. The Apple Watch will show a progress wheel and eventually restart to the pairing screen. The whole process usually takes a few minutes. Do not move the devices apart or close the Watch app until it finishes.
Unpair directly from the watch without your iPhone
If you do not have access to the iPhone your watch is paired with, you can erase the watch from the watch itself. On your Apple Watch, open Settings, then tap General, scroll down and tap Reset, then tap Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode if prompted. If your watch has a cellular plan, choose whether to keep or remove it. Then tap Erase All to confirm. The watch will reset to factory settings. However, Activation Lock will still be active. To remove it, sign in at iCloud.com/find, click All Devices, select your Apple Watch, and click Remove from Account.
Heads up: Erasing from the watch does not create a backup. Your watch data will be lost unless you already have a backup from a previous unpairing through the iPhone.
Unpairing sounds dramatic but it is really just a clean reset with a built-in safety net. Your data gets backed up automatically, your watch goes back to factory settings, and Activation Lock comes off so nobody gets stuck. If you are handing the watch to someone else, double-check that the pairing screen appears after the process finishes. That is how you know everything was removed properly and the new owner can set it up without any issues.
Questions we get asked about this
Answers from experience, not a textbook.
Yes. Unpairing completely erases your Apple Watch and restores it to factory settings. All your apps, data, settings, and watch faces are removed from the watch itself. However, when you unpair through the iPhone Watch app, a backup is automatically saved to your iPhone first. You can use that backup to restore everything if you pair the watch again or set up a new one.
Absolutely. Bring your Apple Watch close to your iPhone and follow the pairing prompts that appear on the screen. During setup, you will be asked whether to set up as a new watch or restore from a backup. If you choose to restore, all your previous settings, apps, and health data come back.
During the unpairing process, you will be asked whether to keep or remove your cellular plan. If you are keeping the watch and plan to pair it again, keep the plan. If you are selling, trading in, or giving the watch to someone else, remove the plan so the new owner can set up their own. You can also contact your carrier later to remove the plan manually.
Activation Lock is a security feature tied to your Apple Account. It prevents anyone else from using your Apple Watch if it is lost or stolen. When you unpair through the iPhone Watch app and enter your password, Activation Lock is automatically turned off. If you erase the watch directly without using the iPhone, Activation Lock stays on and the watch cannot be set up by someone else until you remove it from your account at iCloud.com.
No, you do not need to unpair before a software update. Updates are installed through the Watch app on your iPhone or directly on the watch through Settings > General > Software Update. Unpairing is only needed when you are selling the watch, switching to a new iPhone, or troubleshooting a problem that a restart did not fix.
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