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World desk6 min

How to Transfer Your Data and Settings to a New Smartwatch

The right smartwatch transfer depends on whether you’re changing phones, watches, or both. Back up first, then follow your brand’s steps and check what the backup excludes.
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Back up your current watch before pairing, resetting, or trading it in. Then follow the workflow for your specific transfer: moving a watch to a new phone is not always the same as restoring a watch backup onto a replacement watch. Check the backup date, sign in with the same account on the new setup, and review what the backup excludes before you begin.

First, identify what you’re changing

Use the workflow that matches your situation. A direct phone transfer may preserve a watch’s current setup, while replacing the watch may require restoring a backup. Changing both devices can involve both steps.

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What is changing? What to do
Phone only; keep the same watch Use the maker’s watch-to-new-phone workflow. Back up first because some workflows may reset the watch.
Watch only; keep the same phone Back up the old watch, then restore that backup while setting up the replacement.
Both phone and watch Back up the watch and phone as applicable, set up the new phone with the correct account, then pair or restore the watch using its maker’s instructions.

Backups do not necessarily include every item, and support can differ by model, software version, carrier, and account configuration. Do not erase or hand over the old device until you have confirmed the backup completed and checked the new setup.

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Before you start: protect the backup

  • Check that the most recent backup completed and note its date. Recent changes made after that backup may not be recoverable.
  • Make sure you can sign in to the account used for the backup on the new phone or watch.
  • Keep the devices charged and connected as the manufacturer directs. Backups, software updates, account syncing, and restores can take time.
  • Review exclusions that matter to you, such as watch-stored music or separately managed health and fitness information.
  • Do not reset, unpair, or trade in the old watch until the new setup is working and the data you need is present.

Apple Watch: move it to a new iPhone

Apple’s workflow uses the old iPhone backup and the Apple Watch app on the new iPhone. Before starting, have your Apple Account and password and the watch passcode ready. Apple says Wi-Fi should be on for both iPhones and the watch and new iPhone should each be at least 50 percent charged. Update the old iPhone and Apple Watch first.

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  1. Check Health syncing: On the old iPhone, open Settings > your name > iCloud > Saved to iCloud and make sure Health is syncing. If you back up to a computer instead, encrypt the backup; Apple says an encrypted computer backup can retain Health and Activity content.
  2. Back up the old iPhone: Make a current iPhone backup, then set up the new iPhone using that latest backup.
  3. Pair the watch: Keep the unlocked Apple Watch on your wrist near the new iPhone and finish setup in the Apple Watch app. Follow the prompts to restore the watch backup if offered.
  4. Allow time for updates: Apple says updating can take several minutes to an hour.

If you no longer have the old iPhone

Apple’s documented alternative is to erase the watch, sign in to iCloud on the new iPhone, pair the watch, and try restoring its latest available backup. Activity, Workouts, or settings changed since that backup may be missing. Health and Activity data stored in iCloud syncs to devices signed in to the same Apple Account, but Activity Sharing data is not stored in iCloud; Health data may take a few days to appear. If there is no old phone and no usable backup, Apple’s described process cannot recover the missing Health and Activity content. See Apple’s instructions for pairing an Apple Watch with a new iPhone and Apple’s Health data guidance.

Samsung Galaxy Watch: back up, restore, or change phones

Back up or restore a Galaxy Watch

  1. Open Galaxy Wearable on the connected phone.
  2. Go to Watch settings > Account and backup, then choose Backup settings or Back up data. The wording varies by device and software.
  3. Select the data to include and start the backup. To restore on the new setup, return to Account and backup and choose Restore or Restore data.

Samsung lists backed-up categories that can include preloaded-app data and settings, the app list, watch-face settings, and system settings. Music saved directly on the watch is not backed up; songs stored on the phone can be transferred manually. Samsung also warns that some data may not transfer when restoring from a Tizen watch to a Wear OS watch, such as a Galaxy Watch6. See Samsung’s Galaxy Watch backup and restore guidance.

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Move an existing Galaxy Watch to a new phone

  1. On the watch, open Settings > General > Transfer watch to new phone and confirm the check mark.
  2. Open Galaxy Wearable on the new phone and follow setup. Check that the pairing number shown on the phone matches the watch.
  3. If setup offers a restore, select the backup you want to use.

Samsung UK says this transfer may reset the watch depending on model and software, so make the backup before starting. Screen names and availability can vary by watch, carrier, and software. See Samsung UK’s instructions for connecting a Galaxy Watch to a new phone.

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Google Pixel Watch and other Wear OS watches

Move a Pixel Watch to a new phone

Google documents a transfer for Pixel Watch running Wear OS 4 that can move the watch to a new phone without resetting it or losing saved data and settings. Start on the watch with Transfer watch, or use the old phone’s Pixel Watch app > System > Transfer watch > Start Transfer. Follow the prompts; if the old watch used a passcode, enter it on the new watch. Keep the new watch on its charger for automatic restore. Google says the restore includes apps, data, settings, watch face, and tiles. Google also documents restoring an existing watch backup to a new Pixel Watch. See Google’s Pixel Watch transfer and restore instructions.

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What Wear OS backup means

Android’s Wear OS documentation distinguishes cloud backup restored onto a new Wear OS device from moving an existing watch to a new phone. For supported devices running Wear OS 4 or later, automatic backup requires the watch to be charging, connected to Wi-Fi—even if it is an LTE model—and signed in to a Google Account; at least 24 hours must have passed since the previous backup. Individual watch makers determine the setup screens and which devices they support. See Android Developers’ Wear OS backup and restore documentation.

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Garmin: copy settings and device totals

Garmin Support describes manually copying settings, profiles, and device totals back to a Garmin device. These files can include profile settings such as data fields, alerts, and layouts. Connect IQ apps are not included in this manual file backup, so download them again from the Connect IQ Store. Garmin’s steps depend on the model; consult the support instructions for your specific device rather than assuming one menu path applies to every Garmin watch. See Garmin’s device-settings transfer guidance.

What may not transfer—and what to verify

  • Recent changes: A restore can only use what the relevant backup contains; changes made afterward may be absent.
  • Health and activity history: Apple users should confirm Health iCloud syncing or use an encrypted computer backup. Activity Sharing is separate and is not stored in iCloud.
  • Music stored on the watch: Samsung says this is not included in its watch backup.
  • Cross-generation or cross-platform data: Samsung warns that a Tizen-to-Wear OS restore may omit data. Do not assume a backup from one ecosystem can be restored to another.
  • Apps: Garmin Connect IQ apps are excluded from its manual file backup and must be downloaded again.

After setup, check the watch face, tiles or complications, apps, settings, and the specific health or activity records you care about. If something is missing, first confirm you signed in to the right account and restored the intended backup; avoid resetting the new watch again until you know which backup is available.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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