[2025] iPhone Won't Pair with Apple Watch? 12 Tips to Fix It

When it comes to smartwatches, Apple Watch is one of the most popular choices in the market. It is an incredible accessory to take photos, make phone calls, track health, etc. However, there are times when Apple watch won't connect to iPhone.

You may ask, "Why is my Apple Watch not pairing?". In this article, we will explore some methods to fix this problem and get your Apple Watch paired with iPhone. Keep reading!

Why Won't My iPhone Pair with Apple Watch?

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

• Apple Watch is not compatible with the older iPhones (iPhone 5 and earlier) and iOS versions.
• Both the iPhone and the Apple Watch need to be in optimal 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. Make sure both devices are close enough.

Primary Methods: Check Apple Watch and iPhone Settings

In addition to the reasons above, there are many other things causing the connectivity issues between Apple Watch and iPhone. Here are some of the primary solutions you can consider trying when the Apple Watch won’t pair with iPhone.

1. 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 then 2 devices from connecting even when they are in the range. So, try to place them as close as possible.

2. Check Wifi and Bluetooth on iPhone

The main reason behind the connection issue between Apple Watch and iPhone is Wifi and bluetooth. So make sure that the Bluetooth and wifi are turned to allow the pairing of the 2 devices.  

• Open the Control Center on iPhone and enable the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
• The 2 icons will become blue when being enabled.

4. Ensure the Airplane Mode Is Turned Off

As Airplane Mode disables all the wireless transmission, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, you need to keep it off while connecting the Apple Watch.

• Simply open the Control Panel by swiping up/down the screen.
• Now find the Airplane mode icon and make sure that it is gray.
• If the icon is orange, then the mode is on. In this case, you can turn it off by pressing the Airplane icon for once.

5. Ensure the Apple Watch Isn’t Already Paired

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

• On your old iPhone, open the Watch app and go to My Watch > All Watches.
• Click the i icon next to the watch you want to unpair, then click Unpair Apple Watch.
• Click again to confirm and wait till you unpaid the watch.

Now you can pair it with the new iPhone.

In-depth Approaches to Fix Apple Watch Won’t Pair Issue

Here are some advanced tips that you may find useful when being unable to pair an Apple Watch with your iPhone.

1. 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. You can check the connection status by following the steps below.

• Slide the Apple Watch screen app to open on 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.

2. 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:

• Tap and hold the power button. If there is no power button, press the side button along with either volume button.
• Hold the button until the slider appears. When you see the slider, drag the red icon to the right.
• This will turn off the device. Then turn it on again by holding the side button or power button.

To restart Apple Watch:

• Tap and hold the side button 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.

3. Update Your iPhone and Apple Watch

If you are still unable to pair the devices, consider updating them to the latest version.

• 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.

4. Reset iPhone's Network Settings

Resetting iPhone Network settings sometimes may help to solve the Apple Watch not pairing issue. Here is how to do this:

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

5. Erase Your Apple Watch

If the problem persists, consider removing all settings and content of your Apple Watch. This might help to solve it.

• To do this, open the Watch app from your iPhone and go to General.
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone and press Erase All Content and Settings.

6. Reset Your Apple Watch

If you have tried all the solutions and still cannot solve the pairing issue, consider resetting the Apple Watch. Here is how to do this:

• Connect the Apple Watch with an USB charger.
• Open the Power Off screen by pressing and holding the side button.
• Tap and hold on to the Digital Crown and then select Reset.

The Apple Watch will be reset, and you need to reconnect it with your iPhone once it turns on.

My Apple Watch Won’t Pair: What’s Next?

FoneGeek iOS System Recovery is professional software developed to fix all system issues of iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. It can help you bring the device back to its normal state without data loss. You can fix a variety of issues using this software, such as iPhone black screen, iPhone stuck on Apple logo, boot loop, etc.

It is pretty easy to use FoneGeek iOS System Recovery, and it performs efficiently in most cases. Follow these simple steps:

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 your computer detects the device, it will show available firmware versions. Select the preferred 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 have discussed the best solutions you can try when your Apple Watch isn't paired with your iPhone and hope you can solve this issue with the help of the guide.