Disconnecting your Apple Watch, whether you’re upgrading, selling it, or troubleshooting issues, is a straightforward process. This guide will walk you through exactly how to disconnect your Apple Watch, covering both unpairing and erasing methods to ensure your device is properly prepared for its next steps. Unpairing is the recommended method when you have your iPhone, as it not only erases your personal data but also removes Activation Lock, protecting your information. If you don’t have access to your paired iPhone, we’ll also explain how to erase your Apple Watch directly, although keep in mind this method leaves Activation Lock enabled.
Before we dive into the steps on How To Disconnect Apple Watch, let’s cover a few essential prerequisites to make the process smooth and efficient.
Things to Do Before Disconnecting Your Apple Watch
To ensure a seamless disconnection process, consider these points before you begin to unpair or erase your Apple Watch:
- Keep Your Devices Close: If you are unpairing with your iPhone, make sure your Apple Watch and iPhone are near each other throughout the process. This ensures a stable Bluetooth connection and smooth data transfer for backup.
- Transit Cards in Wallet App: If you use transit cards on your Apple Watch through the Wallet app, it’s crucial to remove them before unpairing. This prevents any issues with your transit card balance or usage. You can find instructions on how to remove transit cards from your Apple Watch on Apple Support.
- Understand the Holes: It’s important to know that Apple Watch does not have a SIM slot or a physical reset button. The small holes you see are for the microphone, speakers, and depth measurement on certain models like Apple Watch Ultra. Do not attempt to insert any objects into these holes as it could cause damage.
How to Unpair Your Apple Watch with Your iPhone
Unpairing is the most recommended way to disconnect your Apple Watch when you have your paired iPhone. This method not only erases all your content and settings but also automatically removes Activation Lock, which is essential if you plan to give away or sell your watch. Here’s how to do it:
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Bring Devices Together: Ensure your Apple Watch and the iPhone it’s paired with are close to each other.
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Open the Apple Watch App: On your iPhone, locate and open the Apple Watch app.
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Navigate to All Watches: In the Apple Watch app, tap the “My Watch” tab at the bottom. Then, tap “All Watches” at the top of the screen.
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Find Your Watch and Tap Info: You’ll see a list of your paired Apple Watches. Tap the “i” information button next to the watch you intend to unpair.
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Initiate Unpairing: Tap the “Unpair Apple Watch” option.
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Confirm Unpairing: You’ll be asked to confirm your decision. Tap “Unpair [Your Apple Watch Name]” to proceed.
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Cellular Plan Options (for Cellular Models): If you have a GPS + Cellular Apple Watch, you’ll be prompted to choose whether to keep or remove your cellular plan.
- Keep Plan: Select this option if you intend to pair your Apple Watch with the same iPhone again in the future.
- Remove Plan: Choose this if you don’t plan to re-pair with this iPhone or any iPhone. If you are not pairing with a new device, you may need to contact your cellular carrier to cancel your subscription separately.
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Enter Apple ID Password: To disable Activation Lock, you’ll need to enter your Apple ID password. Type it in and then tap “Unpair”.
During the unpairing process, your iPhone automatically creates a fresh backup of your Apple Watch data. This backup can be used to restore your data to a new Apple Watch later. Once unpairing is complete, your Apple Watch will display the “Start Pairing” message, indicating it has been successfully disconnected and reset to factory settings.
After unpairing, you have the option to set up your Apple Watch again, or power it off if you are planning to sell or give it away.
How to Erase Your Apple Watch Without Your iPhone
If you don’t have access to your paired iPhone, you can still disconnect apple watch by erasing it directly on the device. However, it’s crucial to understand that this method does not remove Activation Lock. Activation Lock will remain enabled, meaning the watch will still be linked to your Apple ID, which can be a concern if you intend to sell or give away the watch. If possible, unpairing with your iPhone is always recommended first. If you understand these limitations and still need to erase without your iPhone, follow these steps:
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Access Settings on Your Apple Watch: On your Apple Watch, press the Digital Crown to access the app menu, then tap the “Settings” app.
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Navigate to Reset Options: In the Settings app, scroll down and tap “General,” then scroll down again and tap “Reset”.
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Choose Erase All Content and Settings: Tap “Erase All Content and Settings”.
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Enter Passcode (if prompted): If you have a passcode set on your Apple Watch, you will be asked to enter it.
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Cellular Plan Options (for Cellular Models): For GPS + Cellular models, you’ll again be given the choice to keep or remove your cellular plan, similar to the unpairing process. Choose based on whether you plan to pair the watch again or not, and remember to cancel your cellular subscription with your carrier if needed.
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Confirm Erase All: Tap “Erase All” to confirm your decision and begin the factory reset process.
After confirming, your Apple Watch will reset to its factory settings. When it restarts, it will display the initial setup screen. Keep in mind that Activation Lock will still be active. To fully remove Activation Lock, unpairing with the original iPhone is necessary. To set up the watch again after erasing, you will need the Apple ID and password associated with the account that enabled Activation Lock.
Erasing your Apple Watch removes all personal data, apps, and settings. While it prepares the watch for a new user in terms of data privacy, it does not fully disconnect it from your Apple ID if Activation Lock remains.
Understanding Activation Lock and Why Unpairing is Better
Activation Lock is a security feature designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch if it’s lost or stolen. When you unpair your Apple Watch with your iPhone, the process automatically communicates with Apple’s servers to remove Activation Lock. This ensures that the next person can use the Apple Watch without any issues.
If you only erase your Apple Watch without unpairing, Activation Lock remains active. This means that if you sell or give away the watch, the new user will not be able to set it up and use it unless you provide them with your Apple ID and password. Therefore, unpairing is always the preferred method of how to disconnect apple watch when possible, as it offers a more complete and secure disconnection.
Further Resources
If you’ve forgotten your Apple Watch passcode and need to disconnect it, Apple provides a separate guide to help you. You can find information on what to do if you forgot your Apple Watch passcode on Apple Support.
By following these detailed steps, you can confidently disconnect your Apple Watch through either unpairing or erasing methods. Remember to prioritize unpairing with your iPhone whenever possible for a complete and secure process.
