The Apple Watch needs to pair with an iPhone in order to function properly. If the devices aren’t paired, your data may fail to sync, and you might not receive calls and notifications as usual. So, what should you do if the watch keeps unpairing?
If your Apple Watch and iPhone aren’t pairing, check that the devices have sufficient power and are otherwise functioning. Make sure the Apple Watch is within 33 ft (10m) of your iPhone, and that the iPhone is running iOS 8.1 or later. Try rebooting, updating, and resetting the devices if necessary.
It’s a real drag when you can’t access the various features on your Apple Watch simply because you’re unable to pair it with your iPhone. Let’s take a closer look at how to fix this problem and why it might occur.
Why Does My Apple Watch Keep Unpairing?
There are several reasons why your Apple Watch (on Amazon) and iPhone might not be pairing as they should. Here are a few of them:
- Your Apple Watch might not be compatible with older iPhone Models (iPhone 5 or earlier). Your phone must also be running on iOS 8.1 or newer.
- Both of your devices must be in optimal condition in order to pair properly. They should have sufficient power and be functioning normally (besides the pairing issue).
- Your Apple Watch must be within Bluetooth range of your iPhone (33 feet or 10 meters). Wireless interference may prevent a proper connection even inside that range, so you may consider moving the devices even closer.
Troubleshooting Steps for Pairing an Apple Watch
Before You Begin: Check Settings
A few connectivity issues can create pairing problems between your Apple Watch and iPhone. Follow these primary solutions before trying anything else.
First, move your Apple Watch closer to your iPhone. The optimal distance is about 30 feet or 10 meters. Move the devices even closer to ensure there is no WiFi interference.
Second, check that you have enabled your phone’s Bluetooth. Swipe up/down your screen to open the Control Center. You can also go to Settings > Bluetooth. The Bluetooth icon will be blue when turned on and gray when off.
Other Bluetooth devices connected to your iPhone may prevent it from pairing with your watch. Disconnect these first and try pairing your watch again. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the information (i) button next to each device. Tap Disconnect to unpair the device.
Also, having Airplane Mode on will disable all wireless transmission, including Bluetooth and WiFi. Disable Airplane Mode to connect your Apple Watch. Swipe up/down on your screen to open the Control Center and look for the Airplane mode icon. Disable it if it’s on.
Unpair Both Devices
You may have paired your Apple Watch with another iPhone, and that could be causing the problem. Unpair it from your old phone and connect it to the new one to fix the problem.
- Open the Watch App on your old phone.
- Go to the My Watch tab and tap All Watches.
- Check whether your Apple Watch is on the list. If it is, tap the information (i) icon next to it to unpair.
- Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
You can now pair it with your new device.
Reboot Both Devices
A quick reboot will often fix any glitches preventing the two devices from pairing.
To reboot your Apple Watch:
- Hold the Side button until the Power Off slider appears.
- Swipe it to the right to switch off your watch. Wait for a few seconds and power it back on. To do so, press the Side button until your watch turns on.
Restarting different iPhone models follows the same concept but slightly different procedures.
Here’s how to reboot 1st Gen iPhone SE, 5, or earlier models:
- Press and hold the top button until the Power Off slider appears.
- Swipe it to the right to switch off your phone.
- Wait for a few seconds and power it back on. To do this, press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears.
Here’s how to restart the 2nd Gen iPhone SE (on Amazon), or the iPhone 6, 7, and 8:
- Press and hold the side button until the Power Off slider appears.
- Swipe it to the right to switch off your phone.
- Wait for a few seconds and power it back on. To do this, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
Here’s how to reboot iPhone X (on Amazon), or the 11, 12 and later models:
- Press and hold the Power and either volume buttons until the Power Off slider appears.
- Swipe it to the right to switch off your phone.
- Wait for a few seconds and power it back on. To do this, press and hold the side button (right side) until the Apple logo appears.
Update Operating Systems
Outdated OS versions are known to be full of bugs and glitches. Consider updating both your watch and iPhone to their latest versions.
Here’s how to update your iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Select General.
- Tap Software Update.
- Download and install any available update.
Here’s how to update your Apple Watch:
- On your iPhone, open the Watch App.
- Go to General and then select Software Update.
- Download and install any available update.
If your watch is running watchOS 6 or a newer OS, you can conduct the update directly from your Apple Watch:
- Go to Settings.
- Select General and tap Software Update.
Reset Network Settings
Resetting your phone’s network settings can do the trick. Here’s how to do it:
- On your phone, go to Settings.
- Select General.
- Scroll down and tap Reset.
- Select Reset Network Settings.
- Follow the next few on-screen instructions to complete the process.
Reset Apple Watch
Still no progress? Consider resetting your Apple Watch as a last resort. You will lose all your watch’s data unless you perform a backup. Backing up your phone will also back up your watch.
Here’s how to reset your Apple Watch:
- On your phone, open the Watch App and go to My Watch. For watchOS 6 or later versions, you can also open Settings on your watch.
- Select General and tap Reset.
- Tap Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings.
- A message will pop up asking whether you wish to proceed. Again, tap Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings.
Follow the next on-screen instructions to complete the process. After that, you can set up your watch as a new device or use your recent backup.
When to Get Professional Help
If you’re still having problems even after following all of the above troubleshooting tips, it’s time to contact Apple Support.
Schedule an appointment and visit your local Apple Store. The experts at the Genius Bar will help you fix the problem.