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How To Disconnect An Apple Watch From Your iPhone

There are better situations to be in, but sometimes unpairing your Apple Watch from your iPhone may be the only option. You probably suspect your watch has been stolen or are looking to sell it and want to disconnect your Apple Pay, among other details.

On your iPhone, go to Apple Watch App > All Watches > and tap the info (i) icon. Choose Unpair Apple Watch. Enter your Apple ID and Password if prompted. Tap Unpair Apple Watch. You won’t lose any data as it will automatically be backed up to your iPhone.

You can unpair your watch either from your phone or directly using your watch. We take you through a step-by-step guide on how to do this. We also list a few troubleshooting tips in case you encounter any problems. Enjoy!

How Do You Unpair an Apple Watch from an iPhone?

Apple Watch and iphone

You can unpair your Apple Watch using your iPhone or the watch itself. Using the watch is an excellent alternative if you can’t locate your phone. However, your data won’t be backed up, and you lose, risking everything.

Disconnect Using Your iPhone

Before you begin, ensure your phone is updated to the latest iOS version. Your iPhone and watch should also be in close range. To disconnect your iPhone:

  1. Go to Apple Watch > All Watches > and tap the info (i) icon.
  1. Choose Unpair Apple Watch. If your watch has cellular data capability, choose to either Keep Plan or Remove Plan.
  1. Enter your Apple ID and Password if prompted. This is important if you want to disable features such as Find My Watch or Activation Lock. You can skip it if you are not giving your watch away and will pair it with another iPhone.
  1. Tap Unpair Apple Watch.

Wait for a few minutes as the process takes place. Your Apple Watch data will be backed up to your phone. Once done, your Apple Watch will reboot.

Disconnect Using Your Apple Watch

You can also use the watch itself for the unpairing process. Before you begin, make sure that you fully charge your watch. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Tap the Digital Crown to access the app’s screen.
  1. Go to Settings > General and tap Reset.
  1. Select Erase All Content and Settings.
  1. Enter your password. If your watch has cellular data capability, choose to either Keep Plan or Remove Plan.
  1. Tap Erase All.

Using the iCloud Website

If you had an activation lock, you can still remove it from your iCloud account, but you’ll need to use the iCloud website. Here’s what you should do:

  1. Use a computer or smartwatch and go to the iCloud website.
  1. Sign in using your iCloud credentials.
  1. Next, go to the Find iPhone tab and select All Devices.
  1. Choose your Apple Watch and click Remove from Account.

Unpairing Apple Watch Without Passcode

The above method won’t work if your iPhone has a passcode and you cannot remember it. In such a case, you’ll need to hard reset your Apple Watch. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Hold the Side button and Digital Crown of your watch until you see the Apple logo.
  1. After a few seconds, hold the Side button until the prompt message Erase All Settings appears.
  1. Tap it and then tap Erase All Content and Settings to confirm your selection.

Your watch will reset itself to the factory defaults. As explained above, you can remove the activation lock from the iCloud website. 

What to Do if Your Apple Watch Won’t Disconnect

Here are a few troubleshooting tips to guide you if you encounter any problems.

Move Your iPhone and Apple Watch Closer

If you are using your iPhone for the unpairing process, it needs to be in Bluetooth range with your Apple Watch. So, there’s a chance you’ve placed it too far from your watch where the signal is poor. So, move the two closer before unpairing them.

Configure Settings

Next, confirm that the settings on both devices are correct. For starters, your phone must have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on. Secondly, both devices must not be in Airplane Mode.

On your iPhone, swipe up/down the screen to open the Control Center. The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons should be blue to symbolize that they are on, and the Airplane Mode should be gray.

Restart Devices

Person Holding White Apple Magic Mouse

Restart your phone and Apple Watch to erase or fix any glitches causing the problem.

To restart your Apple Watch:

  1. Press and hold the Side button until the Power Off slider appears.
  1. Swipe it to turn off the watch.
  1. Wait a few seconds and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

Successfully Unpaired

It is that easy! When you unpair your watch and give out the watch, the new owner can’t use your Apple Pay to make purchases. They also cannot access data from your iCloud account. So always back up your data from your phone if you need to perform a factory reset.