Apple Watch Won't Pair or Connect to iPhone? 9 Tips to Fix It

Apple Watch comes with plenty of useful features, but sometimes it may fail to pair or connect with your iPhone. When this happens, the watch loses most of its functionality - you can still track workouts or check the time, but you won’t receive calls, messages, or notifications.

The good news is that pairing problems are usually easy to fix. In this article, we will explore several easy methods to fix this problem and get your Apple Watch paired with iPhone again. Keep reading!

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

There are several things that can prevent your Apple Watch from pairing with iPhone. Some of them are as follows:

• Apple Watch doesn't work with older iPhones (like iPhone 5 or earlier) and iOS versions.
• Both the iPhone and the Apple Watch need to be in good condition to pair. Make sure that they are fully charged.
• Apple Watch connects with the iPhone through Bluetooth, and the distance between them should be 10 meters (33 feet) or less. Sometimes the range can vary depending on the Wireless interference.
• If your Apple Watch has suffered hardware damage, such as from a drop, it may fail to pair.
• Sometimes, the issue might not be with the watch at all - your iPhone could be the reason the pairing isn’t working.

Common Solutions to Fix Apple Watch Won't Pair with iPhone

The good news is there are a number of practical fixes you can try. Below are some of the common solutions to help get your Apple Watch paired successfully with your iPhone.

Move Your iPhone Closer to Apple Watch

Before doing anything else, make sure that both devices are within 30 feet or 10 meters. As mentioned earlier, Wi-Fi interference may prevent the 2 devices from connecting even when they are in the range. So, try to place them as close as possible.

Check the Settings on iPhone and Apple Watch

If Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is disabled, or if either device is in Airplane Mode, your iPhone and Apple Watch won’t pair. So, make sure the settings are correct for a stable connection.

• On your iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center. Confirm that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled (icons in blue) and Airplane Mode is off (icon in gray).
• On your Apple Watch, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center. Check that Wi-Fi is on and Airplane Mode is off - the icons look the same as on your iPhone.

Restart Your iPhone and Apple Watch

Restarting devices sometimes help to solve the pairing issue. Consider restarting both iPhone and Apple Watch if they are not pairing.

To restart the iPhone:

• Press and hold the Volume Up and Side buttons together.
• When the slide to power off slider appears, swipe it to turn off your iPhone.
• Wait about 30 seconds, then press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo shows to restart.

To restart Apple Watch:

• Tap and hold the side button (not the crown) until the power off slider appears.
• Slide the red icon from left to right to turn off the device. Press the side button again to turn it on.

Unpair the Apple Watch from Old iPhone

Has your Apple Watch already been paired with another iPhone? If so, you will need to unpair it from the old device, then connect to the new iPhone. Here is how to unpair Apple Watch:

1. On your old iPhone, open the Watch app and go to My Watch > All Watches.
2. Click the i icon next to the watch you want to unpair, then click Unpair Apple Watch.
3. Click again to confirm and wait till you unpaid the watch. Then you can pair it with the new iPhone.

Advanced Fixes If Your Apple Watch Is Still Not Connecting to iPhone

If your Apple Watch still won’t connect to your iPhone after trying the fixes above, here’s what you can do next to get them paired again.

Check Your Apple Watch Connection

If you don't get calls or notifications on the watch for hours, it might be disconnected from your iPhone. To check if your Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone:

• Press the Side button and open the Control Center.
• The phone is connected if you see a green icon, and the red icon means it's disconnected.
• Just reconnect the device if the icon is red.

Update Your iPhone and Apple Watch

Your Apple Watch may fail to connect if your devices are running outdated software. If pairing issues persist, update both your iPhone and Apple Watch to the latest iOS and watchOS versions.

• To update your iPhone, open Settings and go to General > Software Update. Press Download and Install or Install Now if there is any update available.

• To update the Apple Watch, open the Watch app and then tap General > Software Update. If a watchOS update is available, click Download and Install.
• If you are using WatchOS 6 or newer, you can update it directly by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your Apple Watch.

Reset iPhone's Network Settings

Your iPhone relies on both Bluetooth and network settings to connect with your Apple Watch. If pairing fails, it’s possible that your network settings were changed. Resetting them can often fix the issue. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings of the iPhone and go to General.
2. Then click on Transfer or Reset iPhone and select Reset.
3. Find and press on Reset Network Settings. Enter the passcode and confirm the operation.

Reset Your Apple Watch

If none of the fixes have worked and your Apple Watch still won’t pair, you may need to reset it. Keep in mind this will erase all data on the watch, so back it up first. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch, then open Settings.
2. Go to General > Reset, and select Erase All Content and Settings > Erase All.
3. This will reset only the Apple Watch without affecting the paired iPhone.

Apple Watch Won’t Pair with iPhone: What’s Next?

If your Apple Watch won’t connect because of an issue with your iPhone, consider using FoneGeek iOS System Recovery. This professional software is designed to fix all iPhone and iPad system issues and restore your device to normal without losing any data. It can resolve problems like iPhone black screen, stuck on Apple logo, boot loops, and more.

FoneGeek iOS System Recovery is user-friendly and highly effective. Follow these simple steps to use it:

Step 1. Download and install FoneGeek iOS System Recovery on your Windows/Mac PC.

Step 2. Launch the program and select Standard Mode. Connect your iPhone with PC using a USB cable.

Step 3. When the software detects the device, it will show available firmware versions. Select the matching firmware and press Download.

Step 4. When the download is completed, press Fix Now to begin solving the Apple Watch not pairing issue.

Your Apple Watch Is Paired with iPhone!

We’ve covered 9 solutions to help you fix Apple Watch pairing issues with your iPhone and hope this guide helps you resolve the problem. If the issue lies with your iPhone, you can also try FoneGeek iOS System Recovery. Share your experience or feedback with us in the comments below.