Guides

Why Won’t My Apple Watch Pair with My New iPhone?

by Jenny Xiao on Oct 11, 2024

Why Won’t My Apple Watch Pair with My New iPhone?

I get it—there’s nothing more frustrating than getting a brand new iPhone and having trouble pairing your Apple Watch with it.

Luckily there are a couple of easy workarounds you can try before loosing your cool or reaching out to Apple support.

 

Reasons Why My My Apple Watch Pair with My New iPhone

Reasons_Why_My_My_Apple_Watch_Pair_with_My_New_iPhone

There are 4 main reasons why an Apple Watch won't pair with a new iPhone and a few fixes which i'll mention below that are guaranteed going to get your iPhone and Apple Watch to pair.

First up we have compatibility where not all Apple Watches play nice with every iPhone. Make sure your devices are compatible by checking Apple’s website.For example, if you're going to pick up a Series 7 and you have an iPhone 6, then you would not be able to pair the two devices together.

  • Check out this list to see whether your Apple Watch and iPhone are compatible.
  • Apple Watch Model

    Compatible iPhone

    Compatible iOS

    Compatible watchOS

    Ultra 2

    iPhone XS or later

    iOS 17 or later

    watchOS 10 or later

    Series 9

    iPhone XS or later

    iOS 17 or later

    watchOS 10 or later

    Ultra

    iPhone 8 or later

    iOS 16 or later*

    watchOS 9 or later**

    SE (2nd generation)

    iPhone 8 or later

    iOS 16 or later*

    watchOS 9 or later**

    Series 8

    iPhone 8 or later

    iOS 16 or later*

    watchOS 9 or later**

    Series 7

    iPhone 6s or later

    iOS 15 or later*

    watchOS 8 or later**

    SE (1st generation)

    iPhone 6s or later

    iOS 14 or later*

    watchOS 7 or later**

    Series 6

    iPhone 6s or later

    iOS 14 or later*

    watchOS 7 or later**

    Series 5

    iPhone 6s or later

    iOS 13 or later*

    watchOS 6 or later**

    Series 4 (GPS + Mobile)

    iPhone 6 or later

    iOS 12 or later*

    watchOS 5 or later**

    Series 4 (GPS)

    iPhone 5s or later

    iOS 12 or later*

    watchOS 5 or later**

    Series 3

    iPhone 6s or later

    iOS 11 or later*

    watchOS 4 to watchOS 8.8.1

    Series 2

    iPhone 5 or later

    iOS 10 or later*

    watchOS 3 to watchOS 6.3

    Series 1

    iPhone 5 or later

    iOS 10 or later*

    watchOS 3 to watchOS 6.3

    Apple WatchApple Watch (1st generation)

    iPhone 5 or later

    iOS 8.2 or later*

    watchOS 1 to watchOS 4.3.

  • If the two devices are compatible then it could be that your Bluetooth:on the iPhone is off. Double-check that Bluetooth is turned on for your iPhone (Settings > Bluetooth) and this should help fix the issue.
  • The problem could also be that your iPhone is on Airplane Mode: I know this is a no brainer, but it's quite possible and if your Airplane Mode is turned on, switch it off to restore connection.
  • Lastly, it could be because your Apple Watch is running low on juice. Low battery can sometimes cause connection issues, so it's best to charge the Watch and then try pairing the two.
  • If you've tried all these methods and are still unable to pair your iPhone and Apple Watch, try these troubleshooting tricks that will restore connection.
  • Troubleshooting Apple Watch and iPhone Not Pairing

  • Restart Both Devices

  • Restart_Apple_Watch
    • Restart your iPhone: Hold the side button and swipe to power off, then restart.
    • Restart your Apple Watch: Press and hold the side button, then slide to power off. Hold the button again to power it back on.

    Software Updates

    • For iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
    • For Apple Watch: Open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap "My Watch," and navigate to General > Software Update.

    Unpair and Re-Pair Your Apple Watch

    1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
    2. In the "My Watch" tab, tap your watch's name.
    3. Tap the info icon (i) and select “Unpair Apple Watch.”
    4. Follow the on-screen instructions to pair it again.

    Reset Network Settings

  • Reset_Network_Settings_on_iPhone
    • Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

    This action will delete all saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, so be sure to have them handy.


  • Takeaway
  • When your Apple Watch refuses to pair with your new iPhone it’s usually something simple.

  • From checking compatibility and software updates to restarting and resetting network settings, these steps should help you resolve the issue quickly.

  • Just remember to stay patient and work through each solution one by one. If all else fails, reaching out to Apple Support can provide the extra help you need.

  • With a little troubleshooting, you'll have your Apple Watch and iPhone synced up and ready to go in no time.

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