Got a new iPhone and want to keep using your Apple Watch with all your health data, apps, and settings intact? Good news: you can switch your Apple Watch to a new iPhone without losing anything—if you follow the right steps.
Here’s how to safely pair your Apple Watch with a new iPhone, whether or not you have an iCloud backup.
Before you begin
Make sure:
- Your old iPhone is nearby and updated
- Your Apple Watch is on your wrist and unlocked
- Both devices are connected to Wi-Fi and sufficiently charged
- You know your Apple ID password
This process works best if you still have access to the old iPhone.
Option 1: automatic transfer using iCloud
This is the simplest and safest method.
Step 1: back up your old iPhone
Your Apple Watch data is included in your iPhone backup.
- Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup
- Tap Back Up Now
- Wait until the backup completes
Make sure Health data is also being backed up (requires iCloud and two-factor authentication).
Step 2: set up your new iPhone
- Turn on your new iPhone
- Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during setup
- Select the most recent backup
Keep both iPhones and the Apple Watch nearby.
Step 3: automatic re-pairing
- After your iPhone is restored, your Apple Watch will ask to connect
- Tap Continue
- The Watch will sync with the new iPhone, keeping all your data, health records, and watch faces
If this prompt doesn’t appear, manually pair the watch and restore from the latest backup saved during setup.
Option 2: transfer with old iPhone nearby (Quick Start)
If you’re using Quick Start to set up the new iPhone:
- Place your old and new iPhones next to each other
- Follow the on-screen prompts to transfer data
- Your Apple Watch will ask to move to the new phone automatically
- Confirm and wait for the sync to complete
This method also retains all data.
Option 3: no old iPhone or backup (manual pairing)
If you no longer have your old iPhone, but still have your Apple Watch:
- Erase the Apple Watch from its settings:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings
- Then pair it with your new iPhone manually
⚠️ Warning: Without a backup, you’ll lose health history, custom faces, and settings.
Final tips
- After pairing, open the Watch app on your new iPhone to customize settings
- Reinstall any third-party apps if needed
- Ensure iCloud Health sync is on if you’re using it to store fitness data
- Enable iCloud Keychain to restore passwords to Apple Watch apps
Summary
To move your Apple Watch to a new iPhone without losing data, the key is having a fresh backup and doing the pairing process during iPhone setup. If done properly, all your Watch data, rings, workouts, and customizations will follow you seamlessly.
