How-To

How to Connect Apple Watch to iPhone

By Adam Davidson

Updated February 6, 2023

When you get a new Apple Watch, you’ll need to pair it with your iPhone to enable all functionality. Here’s how to connect your Apple Watch to an iPhone.

The Apple Watch is one of the most popular wearables out there and it’s not hard to understand why. The device is packed with features, from a heart rate monitor and step counter to an ECG, blood oxygen level detection, and even fall and crash detection. That’s before you even get started on the apps and the sheer convenience of being able to see your notifications on your wrist.

If you’ve got a new Apple Watch, or you’ve upgraded your iPhone, then you’re going to need to connect the two devices. Here’s how to connect your Apple Watch to your iPhone.

How to Connect a New Apple Watch to Your Current iPhone

Pairing your new Apple Watch with your current iPhone is quick and easy to do. If you want to use the watchOS 9, which is currently the latest version, you’ll need an iPhone 8 or later, and you’ll need to be running iOS 16 or later.

If you’re replacing another Apple Watch that you want to sell or give away, you should unpair that Apple Watch first. You should also take a backup of that Apple Watch if you want your new watch to have all of the same settings.

To connect your new Apple Watch to your iPhone:

1. Put your Apple Watch on.
2. Press and hold the side button on your Apple Watch.
3. When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.
4. Bring your iPhone near to your Apple Watch until you see the pairing screen, then tap Continue.
   
5. If the pairing screen does not appear, open the Watch app on your iPhone and select Start Pairing.
   
6. Select Set Up For Myself.
   
7. Your Apple Watch will display a pattern. Hold your iPhone in front of your Apple Watch so that the Apple Watch pattern is aligned with the outline on your iPhone.
   
8. If you took a backup of your old Apple Watch, tap Restore From Backup. Otherwise, select Set Up as New Apple Watch.
   
   
9. If you chose to restore from a backup, select your backup from the list and tap Continue.
   
10. Read the Terms and Conditions and tap Agree once you are happy to proceed.
    
11. Follow the instructions on your iPhone to set up your Apple Watch.
12. Your Apple Watch will now be paired with your iPhone.

How to Connect a New iPhone to Your Current Apple Watch

If you get a new iPhone, and you already have an Apple Watch, you’ll need to pair it with your new phone. You can do this quickly and easily by making a backup of your current iPhone before you replace it.

To pair a new iPhone with your current Apple Watch:

1. Back up your current iPhone to iCloud.
2. Power on and set up your new iPhone.
3. When you reach the Apps & Data screen, select Restore From iCloud Backup and select the backup you just made.
   
4. Carry on working through the iPhone setup.
5. Once the iPhone setup finishes, you will be prompted to pair your Apple Watch to your new iPhone. Tap OK to confirm.
   
   
6. If prompted, enter the passcode for your Apple Watch.
7. Your Apple Watch will now pair with your new iPhone.

How to Pair Multiple Apple Watches

If you have more than one Apple Watch, it’s possible to pair multiple watches to your iPhone. Your iPhone will automatically pair with whichever Apple Watch is on your wrist, or you can select the watch you want to use manually in the Watch app on your iPhone.

To pair additional Apple Watches to your iPhone:

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Ensure that you are in the My Watch tab.
   
3. Tap All Watches at the top of the screen.
   
4. Select Add Watch.
   
5. Follow the instructions on your iPhone to pair the additional Apple Watch.

Get More From Your Apple Watch

Now you know how to connect your Apple Watch to your iPhone, you can start enjoying all the great features that the Apple Watch has to offer. There are plenty of tips and tricks to make your Apple Watch experience even better.

Did you know that you can use your Apple Watch to track your sleep? Or that you can use your Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone even when you’re wearing a mask? It’s also possible to do things the other way around and unlock your Apple Watch with your iPhone to save always entering the passcode.

If you’re looking to make the most of the health features of your Apple Watch, then check out some of the best running apps for Apple Watch.