How to reset your Apple Watch

Knowing how to reset your Apple Watch is crucial whether you’re attempting to solve a technical issue with it, want to give it away, or want to sell it. We’ll demonstrate two quick, simple ways for you.

You could wish to reset your Apple Watch for one of two reasons: either you’re experiencing a technical issue, or you want to transfer ownership of the watch.

Before bringing the iPhone into an Apple Store for repair, resetting it as a technical remedy is often the final step. It’s likely that this will fix any software issues with the watch.

However, you will also need to either start again from scratch or restore data from a backup (more on this later).

It’s crucial to reset your Apple Watch if you want to sell it or give it away so that no one else can access any sensitive information you may have saved on it. This also makes it much simpler for the new owner to sync the device with their own iPhone and iCloud account.

It should always be reset before being sold or given away, period.

Resetting an Apple Watch

Supplies required: The Apple Watch you want to reset, and an iPhone is optional.

Time frame: five to ten minutes.

You can either use your iPhone or only the Apple Watch to do this. Both are easy. We highly advise creating a backup of your Apple Watch before fixing a technical problem. You may then restore all of your applications and data to it by doing this.

We highly advise utilizing the “with iPhone” option if you want to sell or gift the Apple Watch since it will remove the device’s Activation Lock, enabling the new owner to properly pair the watch with their iPhone.

How to reset your Apple Watch using your iPhone

1If you wish to, make a backup of your Apple Watch.
If you want to keep using your Apple Watch and are only seeking to fix a technical issue, then this step is very crucial. It’s generally not essential if you’re selling or giving the item away.

Actually, backing up the iPhone to which your Apple Watch is attached is all that is required to complete the backup procedure. Whether you choose to use Apple’s iCloud backup service or build a local backup on your Mac or PC, both will include a copy of any synced Apple Watch applications and data.

2. In the My Watch tab, locate the individual page for your Watch.

It’s a good idea to keep the two devices fairly near to one another at all times when using the iPhone to reset your Apple Watch. Open the Watch app on your iPhone once they are comfortable. On the bottom left of that page, click the My Watch tab.

You may view information here such as your current watch faces, settings, and more. Tap All Watches in the top-left corner of the app once you’re in the My Watch menu. In order to access the information and settings page for the Apple Watch you’re attempting to reset.

3. Shut off your Apple Watch.

Make sure the backup is complete if you created one since we are now prepared to unpair your Apple Watch. Additionally, by completely wiping off all of the Apple Watch’s data throughout this procedure, whether it be from your iPhone or that of a different user, the device will be ready to connect with an iPhone once more.

Tap Unpair Apple Watch at the bottom of the Apple Watch’s settings and information screen. The final procedure will now start. Additionally, this is the one instance in which the model of Apple Watch you own will affect the selections you see.

For versions with GPS-only: To turn off the activation lock on your Apple Watch and finish the unpairing procedure, enter your Apple ID password.

Choose whether you wish to maintain your Apple Watch’s active cellular plan or cancel it for GPS+Cellular versions. Keep the watch if you intend to keep it and are merely fixing a technical problem. Remove the watch if you’re selling it or giving it away. Once you’ve made this decision, enter your Apple ID password to turn off the activation lock on your Apple Watch and finish the unpairing procedure.