To set up a new Apple Watch, update your iPhone first, put the watch on your wrist and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Bring your iPhone close, tap Continue when the pairing screen pops up, choose Set Up for Myself, and line the watch up in the iPhone’s camera viewfinder. Then follow the prompts to sign in, create a passcode and choose your health settings, and keep the two devices together until the watch face appears. An Apple Watch needs an iPhone to set it up; it will not pair with an Android phone.
If a watch arrived as a Christmas present, the steps below follow Apple’s own setup guide and explain each choice in plain English, so you know what you are agreeing to.
Before You Start
- Check your iPhone is supported. Apple’s current setup guide, written for watchOS 27, lists iPhone 11 or later running iOS 27 or later. If your iPhone is older, check Apple’s requirements for your watch model before you open the box, in case you need to return it.
- Update the iPhone. Open Settings > General > Software Update and install anything waiting.
- Bluetooth on, and the iPhone connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
- Charge the watch if it will not switch on. Apple says to charge it first.
- Your Apple Account password, as you will be asked to sign in.
If the watch is second-hand and you see a watch face rather than a pairing screen when it turns on, it is still paired to someone else’s iPhone. Apple says it must be erased first, using the steps in its “Unpair and erase Apple Watch” guide. Ask the previous owner to do this before you accept it.
Step 1: Turn It On and Pair
- Put the watch on your wrist and adjust the band so it fits snugly.
- Press and hold the side button (the long, flat button, not the round Digital Crown) until the Apple logo appears.
- Hold your iPhone near the watch and wait for the pairing screen. Tap Continue. If nothing appears, open the Apple Watch app on the iPhone and tap Start Pairing.
- Tap Set Up for Myself.
- Hold the iPhone so the watch appears in the viewfinder on screen. Pairing then starts.
If the camera will not pick it up, tap Pair Apple Watch Manually at the bottom of the iPhone screen and follow the prompts.
Step 2: New Watch or Replacement?
Your first Apple Watch
Tap Set Up Apple Watch and follow the prompts on both devices.
Replacing an older watch
You will see a screen called Make This Your New Apple Watch. Apple gives you these choices:
- Apps & Data and Settings to preview Express Setup, which copies your previous setup.
- Customize Settings to choose how the new watch is set up.
- Restore from a backup of your previous watch.
- Set Up as New Apple Watch to start completely fresh.
Most people replacing a watch should use the backup or Express Setup, so their watch faces, apps and health history carry over.
Step 3: The Setup Screens
Next, Apple’s guide lists these choices:
- Sign in to your Apple Account. Use the same account as your iPhone.
- Create a passcode. Four digits, or a six-digit long passcode. It protects anything personal on the watch, so do not skip it.
- Text size. The screen is small; it is worth making text bigger if you wear reading glasses.
- Health details, such as date of birth and height. Apple says these are used for fitness and health features, and they are optional.
- Health notifications. Choose which alerts you want.
Mobile (cellular) service
If you bought a cellular model, setup will offer to activate mobile service. You can skip this and do it later in the Apple Watch app. Apple notes two points:
- The watch and iPhone normally need to use the same mobile network.
- The exception is a watch set up for a Family Sharing member, which can use a different network from the managing iPhone.
Cellular service is not available in every country, and your network may charge a monthly fee for it, so check with them before you activate.
Step 4: Wait for It to Sync
Keep the watch and iPhone close together. When syncing finishes, the watch face appears. Apple suggests tapping Get to Know Your Watch on the iPhone while you wait; you can find the same tips later in the Apple Watch app under Discover.
This step can take a while, especially if you are restoring from a backup. Leave the watch on its charger beside the iPhone.
Setting Up a Watch for Someone Else
Apple lets you set up a watch for a member of your Family Sharing group, such as a child or an older parent who does not have an iPhone of their own. That is a different process from Set Up for Myself, and Apple covers it in a separate guide. You will need Family Sharing set up first.
If it is a gift you are preparing on behalf of someone, do not pair it to your own iPhone as a shortcut. It will be tied to your account and they would need to erase it and start again.
First Things to Do After Setup
- Check Find My. Open the Find My app on your iPhone and look at your devices list. Our guide to setting up Find My on your phone explains how this works.
- Make sure your iPhone is backed up. Your watch is set up and managed from your iPhone, so a current iPhone backup is a sensible safety net. See our guide to backing up your phone.
- Turn off the notifications you do not want on your wrist. In the Apple Watch app on the iPhone, open Notifications and switch off the noisy apps. A watch that buzzes for every email is tiring.
- Say thank you. If it was a present, a short message goes a long way; Lovely SMS has a page of thank-you texts for a gift if you are stuck for words.
If Pairing Fails
- Restart both the watch and the iPhone, then try again.
- Check Bluetooth is on and the iPhone is up to date.
- If the watch shows a watch face, it is already paired somewhere and needs erasing.
- Apple’s support article “If your Apple Watch isn’t connected or paired with your iPhone” covers further steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up an Apple Watch without an iPhone?
Not for yourself. Apple’s setup guide uses an iPhone for pairing. A watch can be set up for a Family Sharing member who does not have an iPhone, but that is done from a parent or family organiser’s iPhone.
Does an Apple Watch work with Android phones?
No. Apple’s pairing process requires an iPhone.
Do I have to activate mobile service during setup?
No. Apple says you can activate cellular later in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
Can I move everything from my old Apple Watch?
Yes. When you pair a new watch to the same iPhone, Apple offers to restore from a backup of your previous watch or use Express Setup.
Why does my new watch show a watch face instead of the pairing screen?
Apple says that means it is already paired with an iPhone. It needs to be unpaired and erased before you can set it up.
Source: Apple Support, Set up and pair your Apple Watch with iPhone.
Last updated: November 13, 2026