There are times when you might need to unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone. Whether you’re selling your watch, giving it to someone else, or simply switching to a new iPhone, unpairing ensures a clean slate and protects your personal data. With or without your iPhone, you can use this instruction to figure out how to unpair Apple Watch. We’ll also discuss a few additional topics, such as cellular plans and activation lock.
Unpairing with your iPhone
If you have your iPhone handy, this is the preferred method for unpairing your Apple Watch. It’s straightforward and allows you to create a backup of your watch’s data (if desired).
What you’ll need:
Your iPhone
Your Apple Watch
Both devices with at least 50% battery life
Steps:
Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
iPhone Watch App
Tap the “My Watch” tab.
Tap “All Watches” at the top of the screen.
Locate the Apple Watch you want to unpair. Tap the small “i” icon next to it.
On the next screen, tap “Unpair Apple Watch.”
A confirmation message will appear. Tap “Unpair [Your Watch Name]” to confirm.
For cellular models, you’ll be prompted to choose whether to keep or remove your cellular plan. If you plan to pair the watch with another iPhone with cellular service, choose “Keep Cellular Plan.” Otherwise, select “Remove Cellular Plan.”
If prompted, enter your Apple ID password to disable Activation Lock. This prevents anyone else from using your Apple Watch without your permission.
Tap “Unpair” one last time to finalize the process.
Your Apple Watch will now reset to factory settings and will no longer be paired with your iPhone.
Unpairing without your iPhone
If you don’t have your iPhone or can’t access it, you can still unpair your Apple Watch directly on the device itself. However, this method will erase all your data and settings, and you won’t be able to create a backup.
What you’ll need:
Your Apple Watch
Your Apple Watch charger
Steps:
Place your Apple Watch on its charger.
Press and hold the side button. This is the button below the digital crown.
Swipe right on the “Power Off” slider.
Tap “Erase All Content and Settings.”
Enter your Apple Watch passcode if prompted.
For cellular models, choose whether to keep or remove your cellular plan.
Tap “Erase All” to confirm.
Your Apple Watch will now begin the erasing process. Once complete, it will restart and be set to factory settings.
Additional Considerations
Backing up your Apple Watch: If you’re unpairing with your iPhone, you’ll have the option to back up your watch’s data before erasing it. This backup can be used to restore your watch to its previous state when you pair it with a new iPhone.
Cellular plans: For Apple Watch models with cellular connectivity, you’ll need to decide whether to keep or remove your cellular plan during the unpairing process. If you plan to pair the watch with another iPhone with cellular service, choose to keep the plan. Otherwise, you might need to contact your carrier to cancel your cellular subscription.
Activation Lock: Unpairing your Apple Watch disables Activation Lock. This means anyone can set up and use the watch. If you plan to sell or give away your watch, it’s important to erase it completely to remove your data and re-enable Activation Lock.
Conclusion
How to unpair Apple Watch is a simple process that can be done with or without your iPhone. When giving your watch to a new owner or exchanging iPhones, you can make sure that everything goes smoothly by following the instructions provided in this tutorial. Remember to consider backing up your data and managing your cellular plan if applicable.