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How to Reset Your Apple Watch

Unpair the watch, or press the digital crown, then select reset

By Scott Orgera Scott Orgera Writer Scott Orgera is a former Lifewire writer covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE, MCP+I, and MOUS. He is also A+ certified. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 6, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Smart Watches & Wearables Eco Tech Electric Vehicles Working From Home Headphones & Ear Buds Smart Home Smart Watches & Wearables Travel Tech Connected Car Tech iPods & MP3 Players

What to Know

Unpairing: Open Watch app on iPhone > select Watch > information icon > Unpair Apple Watch > confirm.Erase All: Press Digital Crown on Apple Watch > select Settings > General > scroll down and select Reset.Next: Select Erase All Content and Settings > enter passcode > scroll down and select Erase All. This article explains how to reset an Apple Watch to factory settings. The instructions in this article apply to all version of the Apple Watch and WatchOS.

How to Reset an Apple Watch by Unpairing It

Perhaps the quickest way to reset your Apple Watch is by unpairing it from your iPhone. You'd normally do this if you replace one of your devices (either your phone or your watch), but it's also a fast way to clear off the data if you want a fresh start. Here's what to do. Make sure your Apple Watch and iPhone are both powered on and are in close proximity to each other. Open the Watch app on your iPhone. Select the name of the watch you wish to reset, located towards the top of the screen. Tap the information icon, represented by a lower-case "i" inside of a circle and located to the right of your watch's information panel. Select Unpair Apple Watch. If you have a Series 3 or Series 4 Apple Watch with GPS and Cellular, you'll be asked if you wish to keep or remove your cellular plan. If you plan to set up this Apple Watch again, you may want to keep your plan. If you're no longer using the watch, you can choose to remove your plan. However, to fully cancel the plan, you'll also need to contact your cellular provider. A confirmation request will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap the Unpair (name) Apple Watch button. Enter your Apple ID password, if prompted. The unpairing process will now begin and can take several minutes to complete. If successful, the Watch app on your iPhone will return to the Start Pairing screen and the watch itself will reboot and eventually display its initial setup interface. Your Apple Watch has now been reset to its default settings.

How to Reset an Apple Watch by Erasing All Content and Settings

If your watch isn't currently paired with an iPhone or you don't have the phone handy at the moment, you can still perform a factory reset by taking the following steps. Press the Digital Crown to access the Apple Watch's apps screen. Tap Settings. Select General. Scroll down and tap Reset. Tap the Erase All Content and Settings button. Enter your passcode when prompted. If you have a Series 3 or Series 4 Apple Watch with GPS and Cellular, you'll now be asked if you wish to keep or remove your cellular plan. If you plan to set up this Apple Watch again, you may want to keep your plan. If you're no longer using the watch, you can choose to remove it. To fully cancel the plan, you'll also need to contact your cellular provider. A warning message will now appear, detailing the effects of the reset process. Scroll down and tap Erase All. The reset process should begin, with the watch displaying a spinning progress wheel; this can take several minutes to complete. When finished, your Apple Watch will return to the initial setup interface. Your Apple Watch has now been reset to its factory settings. Apple Watch Won't Reset? How to Fix The Problem Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Unpair Apple Watch How to Close Apps on an Apple Watch What Is the 'i' Icon on the Apple Watch? How to Reset iPhone 12 (Restart & Hard Reset) How to Activate Your Apple Watch Step Counter How to Reset Your iPad and Erase All Content How to Erase an Apple Watch How to Set Alarm on Apple Watch How to Factory Reset an iPhone (All Models) How to Silence Your Apple Watch How to Pair and Connect an Apple Watch With a New iPhone How to Back Up Your Apple Watch Apple Watch: Everything You Need to Know How to Reset Your PC in Windows 11, 10 & 8 [Walkthrough] How to Unlock Your Apple Watch with iPhone or Passcode How to Remove Apps from Apple Watch Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies