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How To Turn On (And Set Up) Your New Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is more than just a basic smartwatch; it’s also a fitness partner that offers meaningful health insights and a means of connecting to the people and things you care about the most. This gadget is designed to integrate seamlessly with your iPhone. However, adopting new technology can take time and effort.

To turn on your Apple Watch, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. In order to set up a new device, keep it close to your iPhone and wait for the “Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch” prompt to appear. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Once you’ve got the basics set up, you can personalize the settings on your Apple Watch to match your unique needs and lifestyle. Let’s take a closer look at the process of turning on and setting up your watch so that you can get started right away.

How to Turn On a New Apple Watch

New Apple Watch

Although your Apple Watch (on Amazon) will come out of the box with some battery life, it’s best to fully charge the wearable device before using it for the first time.

Set your watch on the magnetic charger and leave it there until it’s fully charged. If it doesn’t power on automatically after placing it on the charger, turn the device on by pressing the side button until the Apple logo appears.

The side button is located on the right side of the watch’s body below the Digital Crown.

How to Set Up a New Apple Watch

To set up and use your new Apple Watch, you’ll need a recent iPhone model like the iPhone 8 or later, with iOS 16 or newer installed. Before you start the process:

  • Update your iPhone to the latest iOS version
  • Ensure that your iPhone’s Bluetooth is turned on
  • Connect your iPhone to a cellular network or WiFi

The following are the steps to set up your Apple Watch before use:

1. Turn on Your Apple Watch

Press and hold the side button on your Apple Watch until it displays the Apple logo on its screen to turn it on. Wait a few seconds for the device to power on, then wear the watch on your wrist.

2. Hold the Apple Watch Close to Your iPhone

Hold the watch close to your iPhone and wait for the “Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch” prompt to appear on the phone. Tap “Continue” once you see the message.

If the message doesn’t appear, open the Apple Watch app on the iPhone, navigate to “All Watches,” and tap “Add Watch.”

Based on whether the Apple Watch is yours or a family member’s, you can tap “Set Up for Myself” or “Set Up for a Family Member.”

Ensure the smartwatch and iPhone remain close together until you complete the steps.

3. Pair Your Apple Watch with iPhone

Apple Watch and iphone

Position your iPhone so that the Apple Watch gets displayed in the viewfinder of the Apple Watch app.

Center the watch face in the viewfinder on your iPhone and wait for a notification that the Apple Watch is paired.

If you can’t use your iPhone’s camera, the paring animation doesn’t appear on the phone’s screen, or your iPhone is unable to read the animation on the Apple Watch, choose “Pair Manually” at the bottom of your phone’s screen, then follow the prompt.

4. Set Up as a New Device or Restore the Watch From a Backup

Select “Set Up as New Apple Watch” if this is your first Apple Watch. If prompted, update to the most recent version of watchOS on your Apple Watch.

If you’ve paired another Apple Watch with your current iPhone, you will see the prompt “Make This Your New Apple Watch” on your screen. Tapping “Apps & Data and Settings” allows you to view the configurations that the Express Setup will make for your new watch.

Once you’re ready, select “Continue.” Choose your preferred settings for your new watch by selecting “Customize Settings.”

Then, select a backup from a previous Apple Watch backup or “Set Up as New Apple Watch” for fast customization. When your iPhone prompts to update iOS, select “Update Now.”

Tap “Continue” after deciding which wrist you wear the new Apple Watch, read the Terms and Conditions, and tap “Agree.”

5. Sign in with Your Apple ID and Create a Passcode

Enter your Apple ID password if prompted to, or sign in manually from the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Some features won’t work on your Apple Watch unless you sign in to iCloud.

Although you can skip creating a passcode, you’ll need the passcode to enjoy some features such as Apple Pay.

6. Customize Settings

Choose the font size and boldness that works best for you.

You can see which settings are synced between your Apple Watch and iPhone if you didn’t use Express Setup. Your Apple Watch will have its Find My, Location Services, WiFi Calling, and Diagnostics settings synchronized with your iPhone.

7. Complete Cellular and Apple Pay Setup

Only Apple Watch models with cellular capabilities can be configured for cellular use.

After that, you’ll be prompted to add a card to your Apple Pay account. Then, the iPhone guides you through customizing settings like the Always On screen and the orientation of your apps. 

8. Finalize Setup and Start Using Your Apple Watch

Your Apple Watch will show the watch face after it completes the pairing process, and the wearable is now ready to use.

Why Isn’t My Apple Watch Turning On?

If your Apple Watch fails to turn on, it may be a minor issue with a simple solution. The most common reason the Apple Watch won’t turn on is a lack of battery power.

So, first check if your charger is working correctly, and purchase a new one (on Amazon) if not.

The watch may also fail to power on because it froze or is in Power Reserve Mode. Troubleshoot this issue by force restarting the device or using a different charger.

Contact Apple Support or visit your nearest Apple Store if the Apple Watch won’t turn on after trying to troubleshoot it.