This way you can start using and pair your new Apple Watch

Get Apple Watch up and running

If you have purchased a new Apple Watch, you must first pair it with your iPhone before you can use it. In this tip we explain how it works if you have bought an Apple Watch for the first time, and then what to do if you already have an Apple Watch and want to transfer the data from your current smartwatch.

• Pair new Apple Watch
• Switching from an earlier Apple Watch:
  • Keep using your old Apple Watch
  • Stop using your old Apple Watch
• Set with backup

Apple has made a (English) video in which they explain how to pair a new Apple Watch.

Here are the steps you need to take when using an Apple Watch for the first time:

1. Remove the Apple Watch from the packaging.
2. Press the flat button on the side to turn on.
3. Wait for the Apple logo to appear on the screen.
4. An animation will now appear on the screen, which looks like a spherical galaxy.
5. The iPhone recognizes that there is an Apple Watch nearby that needs to be paired. A notification appears on the screen. If not, open the Watch app on iPhone and tap Add Watch.
6. Choose Configure for myself. The iPhone will now look for an Apple Watch nearby that is sending a signal to pair. You can also set up an Apple Watch for family members, but we’ll discuss that in a separate tip.

8. The iPhone recognizes that an Apple Watch is nearby and opens the camera. Point the iPhone camera at the animation.
9. If the Apple Watch has been recognized, you will receive a message that the pairing was successful.
10. You now need to set up a passcode.
11. You also indicate whether you want to set up a new Apple Watch or restore the backup of an existing Apple Watch. Because you are a new user, you choose to set up new. If you already have an Apple Watch, you can read below what you need to do.
12. You then indicate a few preferences, for example which wrist you want to wear and whether you want to install apps.
13. You’re done and ready to enjoy your new Apple Watch. If necessary, you can place the Apple Watch on the supplied charger for a while, so that you can be sure that the battery is fully charged.

Also read our explanation Apple Watch for beginners if you are looking for a manual with all the basic steps.

Switch to another Apple Watch

Already have an Apple Watch? Then you can make the switch to your new Apple Watch in two ways. You can rearrange it if you want to start with a clean slate. Or you can make a backup of your current Apple Watch first. You do this by disconnecting the Apple Watch, but if you also want to continue using the previous Apple Watch, simply make a backup of your iPhone. It may sound strange, but in both cases a full backup of your Apple Watch is made.

The choice is yours: do you want to continue using your old Apple Watch, in addition to the new one you purchased? It is possible to pair multiple Apple Watches with your iPhone. Or are you going to erase and dispose of your old Apple Watch?

Option 1: You continue to use your previous Apple Watch

If you want to keep your old Apple Watch, do the following:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
2. Tap Back Up Now.

Both your iPhone and Apple Watch data are now backed up. Then follow the steps in setting up with backup.

Option 2: You are going to dispose of your previous Apple Watch

Suppose you just got a new Apple Watch and want to give away or sell your old Apple Watch: how do you ensure that all data is transferred properly, so that, for example, all your settings on your new Apple Watch are the same as on your old one? Follow these steps to start using your brand new Apple Watch without losing the data from your old Apple Watch:

1. First make a backup of your current Apple Watch by unpairing it. On your iPhone, go to the Watch app and tap All Apple Watches at the top.
2. Tap the i symbol on the right side and choose Unpair Apple Watch.
3. Follow the steps and a backup will be made automatically on your iPhone.

Then follow the steps in setting up with backup

Link with backup

You are now going to pair your new Apple Watch with a backup of your old Apple Watch.

1. Unpack your new Apple Watch, put it on your wrist and turn it on using the side button.
2. Set the language and region on the Apple Watch.
3. Hold your iPhone near the Apple Watch and tap Continue. You can also open the Watch app on the iPhone, go to All Apple Watches and choose Add Watch. Then tap Configure for myself.

4. Point your iPhone’s camera at your Apple Watch’s screen. Then, on your iPhone, select Restore from Backup.
5. You will now see a list of available Apple Watch backups. It may happen that the watchOS version on your new Apple Watch is older than the watchOS version of the Apple Watch you have backed up. If that is the case, first set up your new Apple Watch as new, update it to the latest version, disconnect it again and then follow these steps to restore the backup.
6. Choose the previously made backup and wait for it to be restored. Then follow the steps on the Apple Watch and the paired iPhone.

Your new Apple Watch is now set up with the most recent backup of your previous Apple Watch. If you have disconnected your previous Apple Watch, it has now been reset to factory settings and you can now sell it, for example. If you also want to use this Apple Watch, you can pair it again with your iPhone and switch between two Apple Watches and use them both. In our separate tip you can read how to use multiple Apple Watches.

Please note that sometimes not all data can be transferred. For example, you cannot transfer watch faces from a special Apple Watch (such as the Hermès version) to a standard version of the Apple Watch. These dials are exclusive to the Hermès versions. Initially, the dials were also exclusive to the Nike versions, but they can now be used by everyone.

We also have a comprehensive Apple Watch getting started guide if you’ve never paired an Apple Watch before. We also have a separate tip for people who have a new iPhone and want to connect their existing Apple Watch to it. So this is the exact opposite of what we discussed above.