How to pair and unpair an Apple Watch

What is important to know

Apple positions its watch as an iPhone companion, so you can’t do without the initial binding to a smartphone. Apple Watch requires an iPhone 6s or later. Android smartphones are not officially supported and cannot be connected.

In addition, the firmware version of the watch must match the software of the phone. For example, watchOS 7 will use iOS 14, but watchOS 8 already needs iOS 15. If you have an Apple Watch with up-to-date firmware, but you don’t have an iPhone yet, you will have to update the software on your smartphone to create a pair (Settings → General → Software Update → Download and Install).

To make it work, you also need to charge both gadgets by at least 50%. In addition, you will need to take care of the Internet connection and make sure that Bluetooth is working on the smartphone.

Multiple iPhones can be connected to one different Apple Watch and wear them alternately, for example, under a certain style of clothing. In this case, notifications will only come to the active watch that is on the wrist.

Breaking a pair may be needed to bind to another iPhone or to sell in the secondary market. The procedure is necessary to delete your personal data. In addition, without it, Apple Watch will not be able to connect to another device.

How to Pair Your Apple Watch for the First Time

Turn on the watch by holding the side button until the Apple logo appears. If this does not happen, recharge them by magnetizing them to the tablet of the power device.

Wait until the screen prompts you to bring your iPhone to the watch, and then do it and tap "Continue" on your smartphone.

If you don't see a sync prompt after that, or if you accidentally swipe it off, lock your iPhone screen, then unlock it and bring it up to your watch again. Alternatively, open the Watch app on your smartphone, navigate to the My Watch tab, and tap Pair.

Select "Set up for yourself" or "Set up for a family member" depending on whose Apple Watch. Put the gadget on your wrist and point your smartphone camera at it.

Tap "Set up as new Apple Watch" if you haven't had a watch before. To transfer settings from a previous gadget, tap "Restore from backup" and select the one you need from the list. Indicate on which hand you wear the watch.

Accept the terms of use and wait for the login. In some cases, you will need to enter a username and password from Apple ID.

Optionally turn on GPS workout tracking and use Siri. Later, the options can be changed in the settings.

Choose a comfortable font size for you and set a passcode. The latter will be needed for data protection, it will need to be entered when you take off and put on your watch.

Optionally, turn on automatic software updates and add a card to pay with Apple Pay.

Also, depending on your preferences, activate the emergency call function and add to the watch applications, which support Apple Watch, from those installed on the iPhone.

Wait for the synchronization to finish. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, but you can minimize the Watch app on your iPhone and do other things.

How to pair with a second Apple Watch

Open the Watch app on your iPhone, switch to the My Watch tab, and tap All Watches.

Tap "Add Clock" and create a pair in the same way as described in the previous section.

All synchronized clocks will be displayed in this menu, and to switch between them, just select the ones you need in the list.

How to unpair your Apple Watch

Launch the Watch app and on the My Watch tab, tap All Watches. Tap on the i icon next to the device you want to unpair.

Tap Unpair Apple Watch and confirm, then enter your Apple ID password and tap Unpair again.

After that, the watch cannot be used until you connect it to another device.

Artyom Kozoriz