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Apple Watch Series 6 Review Source: Lory Gil / iMore

If you're the lucky owner of one of the best new iPhones, you may be wondering what to do about your Apple Watch. Here's how to move your current wearable to your new iPhone! Here's how to transfer an Apple Watch to a new iPhone.

Want to find out how you can pair a new watch with an existing iPhone? Here's how to set that up.

How to prepare to transfer an Apple Watch to a new iPhone

Apple Watch Se Watch Faces Source: Luke Filipowicz / iMore

Unlike your iPhone, there's no easy way to manually make a backup of your Apple Watch to iCloud. That's because Apple Watch backups aren't even really backups at all: Your Watch borrows most of its data from its paired iPhone, and as such, that data is all saved to your iPhone's iCloud or iTunes backup.

Your Watch will regularly sync health and app data it gathers to your iPhone (and, via your phone, iCloud) when you're connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. But you can't choose when you'd like to sync that information — it happens in the background — unless you manually unpair your Apple Watch, which will then automatically sync its latest data to your iPhone.

When moving an existing Apple Watch to a new iPhone, there are two ways to prepare.

iCloud and Automatic Setup

Since iOS 11.2, Apple has allowed you to use Automatic Setup to move your iPhone backup and your Apple Watch to a new iPhone without the unpairing-repairing dance. But to make sure your Apple Watch and iPhone get moved over properly, I recommend the following:

Make sure your watch is up-to-date is by enabling iCloud Health sync
Make a backup of your existing iPhone right before you plan to transfer to your new iPhone

Unpair/repair

If you're not restoring your new iPhone from your old iPhone's backup, the best way to move your Watch is to force a backup. You do this by unpairing your Watch from your existing iPhone; follow the instructions in our backup article to do so (don't forget to make sure you've enabled Health data to sync in iCloud first):

How to back up your Apple Watch

How to switch your Apple Watch to a new iPhone

Depending on which method you use for setting up your new iPhone, you'll follow slightly different steps for setting up your Apple Watch.

If you choose Automatic Setup

iPhone pairing Source: iMore

Follow the steps from our iPhone Automatic Setup guide.
Press Continue when you see the prompt, "Do you want to use (name of Apple Watch) with this iPhone?"

If you choose Unpair/repair

Unpair Apple Watch Source: iMore

Make sure you've unpaired your Watch from your existing iPhone.
Set up your new iPhone from an iCloud or iTunes backup or from scratch.
Once your iPhone has finished the setup process, open the Watch app. (You can also bring your Apple Watch near your iPhone to bring up a similar interface to the AirPods pairing screen, which will then launch the Watch app.)
Set up your Apple watch from scratch or from an existing backup.

Warning: If you don't have iCloud health sync enabled and set up your iPhone and Apple Watch from scratch, you will lose your health data.

How to change your Apple Watch's LTE account to a new iPhone

If you've purchased an LTE Apple Watch, you'll likely have a cellular plan for that Apple Watch attached to your iPhone's account. Good news: You shouldn't need to move the plan over when you move to your new iPhone. Just follow the steps above, and you should be all set.

That's because your iPhone's phone number and plan stay the same, even if you switch to a new iPhone (with a new SIM card inside it).

If you're moving to a new carrier along with your new iPhone, however, you'll need to check in with your new carrier for the easiest way to switch. Most likely, you'll need to do the following:

Cancel your existing Apple Watch plan by calling your current carrier (but don't cancel your iPhone plan just yet).
Follow your new carrier's instructions for setting up your new plan and iPhone and transferring your old number over (if applicable).
Set up your Apple Watch by following the steps above.
Add a new cellular account to your Apple Watch.

How to transfer your Apple Watch to a new iPhone with no backup

If you're thinking about starting over on your new iPhone from scratch, without a backup, you have two options.

Option one: If you don't care about any of your Health data and the like, you can start from scratch on both devices. You'll lose your downloaded apps and your health data, including all saved workouts, GPS routes, heart rate data, and achievements.

Option two: If you want your Health data, you can transfer it to a clean-install iPhone and Apple Watch — but only if you use iCloud and iOS 11 or later. To do so, you'll want to have the Health toggle switched on in Settings > iCloud. If you have a lot of Health data, you may need to wait for a good while before everything syncs, so make sure not to erase your old iPhone before this is done.

Once your Health information has synced, follow the steps below to set up your Apple Watch:

Follow the unpair/repair instructions above to unpair your Watch.
Once you've finished setting up your iPhone, open the Watch app. (You can also bring your Apple Watch near your iPhone to bring up a similar interface to the AirPods pairing screen, which will then launch the Watch app.)
Follow the instructions: How to set up and pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone

Troubleshooting tips for transferring your Apple Watch to a new iPhone

Apple Watch Source: iMore

Are you running into issues moving your Apple Watch over from one device to another? Here are a few suggestions.

I can't pair my Apple Watch to my new iPhone!

You may still need to disable Activation Lock on your old iPhone. Check to see if your old device is still paired; worst case, try to reset your Apple Watch from the Watch itself.

How to use Activation Lock on Apple Watch

My health data disappeared!

Did you back up via iCloud or encrypted iTunes backup or sync your Health data separately via iCloud? If not, your data hasn't been saved to your backup or your iCloud account. Fixing this requires either making a new backup of your iPhone and watch (and restoring your new iPhone from that backup), using a third-party option like Health Data Importer, or waiting on iCloud to finish backing up your Health data.

How to save and back up your Health data on Apple Watch

Questions?

Do you have any additional questions or concerns about transferring an Apple Watch to a new iPhone? If so, let us know!

Updated December 2020: Updated for iOS 14.

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