Start again with your Apple Watch with these simple steps.
Performing a hard reset on the Apple Watch is the best solution if you are preparing the smartwatch for someone new or planning to start from scratch yourself.
Doing so restores the factory settings and gives you an Apple Watch setup identical to what you’ll have received.
In this guide, we will detail two methods for resetting the Apple Watch: one for those who have their paired iPhone and another for those who do not.
Both options are essentially hard resets that erase all of your data and settings. The only difference lies in how the Apple Watch’s Activation Lock feature is impacted.
Skip to your preferred route, follow the steps, and explore our other guides below if you need a different kind of Apple Watch explainer.
- How to force an Apple Watch restart
- Restore an Apple Watch backup
- How to pair the Apple Watch
- How to fix Apple Watch ‘ghost touches’
Reset the Apple Watch (if you have the paired iPhone)
If you still have the iPhone your Apple Watch is paired with, follow the steps below. Doing so will erase all content and settings on the smartwatch and disable the Activation Lock. This means it will be ready to give away, sell, or turn off once complete.
- Start by opening the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- From the ‘My Watch’ tab, tap ‘All Watches’ in the top-right corner.
- Tap the ‘i’ icon next to the Apple Watch you wish to reset.
- You should now see ‘Unpair Apple Watch’ at the bottom of the page – select it.
- If you have a GPS + Cellular model, you’ll be prompted to choose whether to keep or remove your mobile data plan. Keep it if you want to pair your Apple Watch and iPhone again. If not, remove it and contact your network provider to cancel it if you don’t plan on pairing a new watch or iPhone.
- Next, you will need to enter your Apple ID password to disable Activation Lock, after which you can finish the process by tapping ‘Unpair’.
Note: Before all your data is erased on the Apple Watch, the iPhone will create a backup. You can use this to set up a new Apple Watch.
Resetting the Apple Watch without the paired iPhone
If you’ve lost your phone—or given it away or sold it before you could erase your Apple Watch (as shown above)—it is still possible to reset your Apple Watch. However, the device’s Activation Lock will remain in place.
To reset the Apple Watch without an iPhone, go from Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
If you have a passcode set up, you’ll need to enter it before proceeding further.
As mentioned in the instructions above, those with a GPS + Cellular model will next need to choose how to manage their plan.
Again, if you want to pair the Apple Watch and iPhone, make sure to keep it. If you don’t, remove it. Then, you’ll simply have to confirm your choice by tapping ‘Erase All’.
