How to Unpair Apple Watch

Unpairing an Apple Watch might seem like a small task, but if you don’t do it properly, you could end up losing important data or even locking yourself out of your own device. Whether you’re selling your Apple Watch, giving it away, troubleshooting an issue, or upgrading to a new model, knowing how to unpair it correctly is essential.

This guide is going to walk you through the whole process—step-by-step, with no fluff, no jargon, and no confusion. We’ll cover how to unpair with or without your iPhone, what happens when you unpair, and how to avoid common mistakes. If you’re switching to a new watch, we’ll even explain how to back everything up and restore it painlessly.

Let’s get into it.

What Does “Unpairing” an Apple Watch Actually Mean?

When you unpair an Apple Watch from an iPhone, you’re doing more than just disconnecting the two devices.

Here’s what really happens:

This isn’t just a Bluetooth disconnect. It’s a full wipe and release, which is why it’s crucial to do it properly.

Why Would You Need to Unpair Your Apple Watch?

There are several good reasons to unpair:

• You’re selling, trading in, or giving away your Apple Watch.
• You’re upgrading to a new Apple Watch model.
• You’re switching phones and need to connect your watch to the new device.
• Your watch is misbehaving and a full reset is your last resort.
• You’re returning the watch under warranty.

Every single one of these requires you to unpair the watch the right way to avoid problems down the road.

How to Unpair an Apple Watch (With Your iPhone Nearby)

This is the best method and the one Apple recommends. Make sure your iPhone and Apple Watch are close together—don’t try this from a different room or a different house.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the My Watch tab if it’s not already open.
3. At the top of the screen, tap on your Apple Watch name.
4. Tap the little “i” (info) icon next to your watch.
5. Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
6. If you have a cellular plan, you’ll be asked if you want to keep or remove the plan.
   • If you’re getting a new watch, choose Keep.
   • If you’re getting rid of the watch, choose Remove.
7. Enter your Apple ID password when prompted to disable Activation Lock.
8. Wait for the unpairing process to finish.

And that’s it. Your watch will erase itself and your iPhone will create a backup just in case you’re setting it up again later.

How to Unpair an Apple Watch Without the iPhone

If your iPhone is lost, broken, or unavailable, you can still manually erase the Apple Watch—but it’s not ideal because it doesn’t remove Activation Lock.

Here’s how to do it:

1. On the Apple Watch, go to Settings.
2. Tap General > Reset.
3. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
4. If prompted, enter your passcode.
5. Confirm that you want to erase everything.

 Warning: This only wipes the watch. If Activation Lock is still on, someone else won’t be able to use the device until you remove the lock using your iCloud credentials.

To remove Activation Lock afterward, do the following:

1. Go to iCloud.com and sign in.
2. Click on Find iPhone.
3. Click All Devices and select your Apple Watch.
4. Click Remove from Account.

Now the watch is fully unpaired and unlocked.

What About Your Data—Is It Safe?

When you unpair your Apple Watch using the iPhone method, your data is automatically backed up to your iCloud account. That includes:

• Watch faces
• App data
• Settings
• Health and fitness data
• Messages and notifications (if saved in iCloud)

But if you unpair without your iPhone, there’s no backup unless you’ve already set up iCloud syncing. So, only use that method as a last resort.

Here’s a quick reference:

Method	Backup Created?	Activation Lock Removed?
Using iPhone	Yes	Yes
On Watch only	No	No (unless done manually via iCloud.com)

What Happens If You Skip These Steps?

If you just factory reset your watch without unpairing it:

• Activation Lock stays on, which will prevent a new user from setting it up.
• Your Apple ID stays linked, which can be a privacy risk.
• The new owner will probably be frustrated and will need to reach out to you.
• If you’re returning the watch to Apple or a retailer, they’ll send it back to you.

Bottom line: always unpair first before selling, giving away, or returning your watch.

Unpairing With a Cellular Plan

If you have an Apple Watch with cellular capabilities, you’ll be prompted to keep or remove your plan. This is important because:

• Removing the plan may cancel the service (check with your carrier).
• Keeping the plan allows you to use it on your new Apple Watch without setting it up again.

Make sure to also contact your mobile provider to confirm what will happen when you unpair.

How to Pair Your Apple Watch Again (After Unpairing)

Once you’ve unpaired your watch, it’s just like new. To pair it again:

1. Turn on the Apple Watch.
2. Make sure your iPhone is nearby and has Bluetooth on.
3. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
4. Tap Start Pairing.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore from backup or set up as new.

Troubleshooting Common Problems When Unpairing

Sometimes, things don’t go smoothly. Here are a few common issues and what to do about them:

What If You’re Trading It In?

Before sending your Apple Watch to Apple Trade-In, a friend, or a reseller:

• Unpair it first, always using the iPhone method.
• Erase it, even after unpairing, just to be sure.
• Remove the Activation Lock, especially if you’re not going to use the same Apple ID again.

Otherwise, you may delay your trade-in value, cause customer complaints, or end up being contacted months later to unlock a device you don’t even own anymore.

Selling Your Apple Watch? Do This First.

Before you put your Watch on eBay, Craigslist, or a resale platform like Swappa or Decluttr, make sure you:

1. Unpair it properly using the Watch app.
2. Erase all data and settings.
3. Remove Activation Lock via iCloud (if needed).
4. Clean the watch physically.
5. Include charger and accessories if possible.
6. Include original box (for better resale value).

If you’re doing all this as a service to someone else and want help marketing your offering professionally, you could even hire someone on Fiverr to write your listing or build your eCommerce page.

Will Unpairing Affect Other Apple Devices?

No. Unpairing your Apple Watch only affects the watch and the iPhone it’s paired with. Your other devices, like MacBooks, iPads, or AirPods, will remain untouched.

However, if you use features like Unlock with Apple Watch on your Mac, you’ll need to reconfigure them after pairing the watch again.

What About Family Setup?

If you’re using Family Setup (where one iPhone controls multiple Apple Watches), you still follow a similar process:

1. Open the Watch app.
2. Go to All Watches.
3. Tap the “i” next to the family member’s Watch.
4. Choose Unpair Apple Watch.

The rest of the process is identical.

Understanding Activation Lock (And Why It Matters)

This is a good moment to explain Activation Lock in more detail. It’s a feature that keeps your devices safe by locking them to your Apple ID, even if they’re erased.

So if someone steals your Apple Watch and tries to reset it, they can’t use it unless they know your Apple ID and password.

This is a powerful tool against theft—but it’s also a big headache if you forget to turn it off before selling or gifting the watch.

To check if Activation Lock is on:

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My Apple Watch on your iPhone.
2. If you see it listed, Activation Lock is still on.

More on Activation Lock here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activation_Lock

Can You Unpair Without a Password?

No. If you’ve got Activation Lock turned on, you need the Apple ID password associated with the watch.

If you bought a second-hand watch and it’s asking for someone else’s password, you’re out of luck unless you can contact the original owner.

This is why you should never buy an Apple Watch that hasn’t been unpaired properly. Always ask the seller to unpair it in front of you.

Apple Watch Models and Unpairing: Any Differences?

All Apple Watch models unpair the same way—whether it’s a Series 3 or an Ultra 2. But there are some differences in how long it might take:

The newer the model, the longer the unpairing process may take—but it’s rarely more than 10 minutes total.

What Does Apple Recommend?

Apple officially recommends using the iPhone method of unpairing, which ensures:

• A clean backup is created.
• Activation Lock is turned off.
• Cellular plans can be managed appropriately.

You can read more on Apple’s support article or reference their guide via Wikipedia’s Apple Watch entry for broader context.

Quick Recap: Unpairing Your Apple Watch – The Right Way

Here’s a simplified checklist:

Step	Action
	Keep iPhone and Watch close together
	Use the Watch app to unpair
	Remove cellular plan if needed
	Enter Apple ID to disable Activation Lock
	Wait for backup and erase process to complete
	Remove from iCloud if unpairing manually

Bonus Tip: Hiring Help for Resale or Setup

If you’re overwhelmed or just want to make sure your Apple Watch setup, sale, or transfer goes smoothly, you can find freelancers on Fiverr who specialize in Apple tech support, listing creation, and device setup.

Final Thoughts

Unpairing your Apple Watch isn’t hard—but it’s easy to mess up if you skip a step or don’t know what you’re doing. The most important things to remember are:

• Always unpair using the iPhone Watch app.
• Don’t forget Activation Lock.
• Back up your data before erasing.
• Be careful when giving or selling your Watch.

When done right, unpairing is smooth, secure, and doesn’t take more than a few minutes. Whether you’re moving on to the next Apple Watch or passing yours to someone else, now you know how to do it properly.