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How to Unpair an Apple Watch: iPhone Steps, Reset Options, and Activation Lock

Use the paired iPhone to unpair an Apple Watch, erase it, and remove Activation Lock. If the iPhone is unavailable, a watch-only erase leaves the lock enabled.
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To fully unpair an Apple Watch, use the paired iPhone: open the Apple Watch app, go to My Watch > All Watches, tap the information button beside the watch, then choose Unpair Apple Watch and confirm. This erases the watch and removes Activation Lock, making it the right option before a sale or gift.

Unpair your Apple Watch with the paired iPhone

  1. Keep the Apple Watch and its paired iPhone close together.

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  2. On the iPhone, open the Apple Watch app and tap My Watch, then All Watches.

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  3. Tap the information button beside the watch you want to unpair.

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  4. Tap Unpair Apple Watch and confirm. If prompted, enter the Apple Account password to turn off Activation Lock.

Apple says the iPhone attempts to create a backup of the watch during this process. Unpairing erases the watch and removes Activation Lock. Apple’s unpairing instructions and handoff checklist describe this process; labels can vary with software version and region.

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Choose what happens to the cellular plan

If the watch has a cellular plan, choose to keep it when you intend to pair that same watch with the same iPhone again. Choose to remove it if you are selling or giving away the watch, or pairing it with another iPhone. Removing a plan from the watch does not necessarily cancel the carrier subscription. Contact the carrier to cancel service; fees and steps vary by carrier and region.

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If you no longer have the paired iPhone

You can erase the watch directly, but this is not equivalent to unpairing. On the watch, open Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, then confirm. The erase removes the watch’s content, but leaves Activation Lock enabled. You will still need the Apple Account and password associated with the watch to clear the lock and set it up again.

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If the watch is being sold or given away, remove it from your account before handing it over. If you have already given it away, Apple documents erasing it and removing it from your account through Find My on iCloud.com. A buyer should ask the previous owner to remove Activation Lock; if setup requests that owner’s Apple Account password, the lock is still active. Apple’s guidance for erasing a watch explains the distinction.

If you forgot the watch passcode

Put the Apple Watch on its charger. Hold the side button until the power control appears, then press and hold the Digital Crown until the erase option appears. Choose Reset and confirm. This resets the watch, but does not bypass Activation Lock. To remove the lock, the watch must be unpaired through its paired iPhone or removed from the associated account.

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Unpairing versus erasing

Option When to use it What happens to Activation Lock
Unpair from the paired iPhone Preferred before selling or gifting; also use when you want to pair again with the same iPhone. Removed as part of unpairing, after account authentication if prompted.
Erase directly on the watch Use when the paired iPhone is unavailable or you need to reset a watch you are keeping. Remains enabled; the associated Apple Account is still needed.

Before you hand the watch to someone else

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