The iPhone uses Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi to communicate with the Apple Watch, and issues with either can cause your wearable to disconnect. If your Apple Watch isn't connected to your iPhone, do the following.
Apple Watch requires at least iPhone XS with iOS 17 or later. Apple Watch does not work with iPad or Android-based devices.
The first thing to check is whether the Apple Watch is disconnected from the iPhone. If so, there may be an issue with your Apple Watch not pairing with your iPhone.
You can check the connection status of your watch by opening Control Center by pressing the side button. In addition to having a lot of great shortcuts, this area also displays the watch's connection status at the top of the display.
- A green icon that looks like an iPhone : This icon indicates that your Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone. You can confirm which device you are connected to by clicking on this symbol. If you're having trouble, it's not because your Apple Watch is unpaired from your phone.
- Blue Wi-Fi symbol : When you see this icon, your Apple Watch is connected to a Wi-Fi network. You can tap this icon to turn off Wi-Fi on your Apple Watch, which will force your Apple Watch to try to pair with your iPhone. Make sure your iPhone is nearby. If your watch won't pair, continue with the remaining troubleshooting steps.
- Red icon that looks like an iPhone : If you see this symbol, your Apple Watch is disconnected from your iPhone. You should make sure your iPhone is with you or nearby. If the distance is far enough, there may be issues connecting your iPhone to your Apple Watch.
Things that cause your Apple Watch to unpair with your iPhone aren't always software glitches or hardware failures. The reasons why your Apple Watch won't connect to your iPhone could be as simple as settings on your watch or phone, so we'll take a look at some of the things that could be causing the problem.
- Airplane mode enabled on Apple Watch: Airplane mode turns off all communications, including the ability to pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone. Press the button on the side of your watch to open Control Center, then check for the orange Airplane Mode icon. Tap it to turn off airplane mode: your Apple Watch should connect shortly after turning it off.
- Airplane mode activated on iPhone : This setting is the same as the one on the watch; it blocks all communication. Swipe down from the upper right corner of your iPhone display to open Control Center. Like the watch, the airplane mode icon will be highlighted in orange if activated.
- Bluetooth is disconnected on iPhone : Bluetooth is essential for pairing your iPhone and Apple Watch. Check the Bluetooth status icon from Control Center on both devices. If turned off, the Bluetooth icon will be highlighted in white. Tap it to turn it back on and your Apple Watch should pair within a few minutes.
Now that we've checked out some basic settings, we're going to get back to the oldest troubleshooting step in the book: rebooting the device. If your Apple Watch won't pair, there's most likely a problem on the iPhone side. A quick restart can help you get back up and running in no time.
Press and hold the side button on your iPhone until the Slide to power off icon appears.
Alternatively, tap Settings > General > Shut down .
After sliding the power icon to the right, the iPhone will shut down.
After your iPhone turns off for a few seconds, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
When your iPhone finishes booting, check your Apple Watch connection.
While you can perform these two steps in any order, it's usually best to restart your iPhone and then your Apple Watch. This sequence helps ensure there aren't any lingering issues on your iPhone when the watch boots up. To restart your Apple Watch:
First, press and hold the side button of your Apple Watch.
When prompted, slide the Power Off icon to the right.
After the display dims for a few seconds, press and hold the side button again to turn on your Apple Watch. The Apple logo should appear on the screen immediately. If not, wait a few more seconds and press and hold the side button again.
When your Apple Watch won't pair, restarting the device should resolve most issues. If you're still having issues, it's time to dive into some more in-depth troubleshooting steps.
It's best to make sure you're using the latest version of the iPhone operating system, especially before performing troubleshooting steps that require deleting information from the device.
You can check your iOS version from Settings > General > Software Update . If a newer version of iOS is available, you will be prompted to download and install the update.
Unfortunately, you can't check the version of WatchOS when your Apple Watch isn't paired with your iPhone.
iPhone stores information about all connected networks to make the reconnection process smoother. The data may also be corrupted, causing the iPhone to be unable to connect to the Apple Watch. Resetting this information can help correct the problem.
A network reset means you may need to log into your home Wi-Fi network again, so make sure you have your password handy and prepared.
Launch your iPhone's Settings app.
Select General > Transfer or Reset iPhone .
Click Reset > Reset Network Settings . You may be asked to enter a password to verify your request.
Still can't connect? The final step is to reset your Apple Watch, which will result in the loss of any data on your Apple Watch that has not been backed up. That's why we left it until last.
However, after you unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone, you should be able to restore most of your Apple Watch data from your most recent backup.
Unpairing the process will erase all data on your Apple Watch. Once you're done, you'll have your Apple Watch set up just like you did out of the box. This step should resolve most issues.
Launch the Settings app.
Choose Normal.
Click Reset .
Choose to delete all content and settings .
Launch the Apple Watch app.
In the My Watch tab, select All Watches at the top of the display to see your watch model.
Click the i icon next to the watch.
Select Unpair Apple Watch and tap again to confirm.
If after following these steps, you're still having trouble pairing your Apple Watch with your iPhone, contact Apple Support. You can make an appointment at the Genius Bar at an Apple retail store through the support website or app.
