I ordered a new iPhone directly from Apple. I will be upgrading from an older iPhone. I also have an Apple Watch. We are also switching cellular providers when I do this since my current provider charges way too much for 5G service. Anyone know what the best way to accomplish this in the least amount of steps?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
I actually checked with Apple support and the recommendation was to:
1) unpair the Apple Watch
2) backup the old iPhone
3) turn on the new iPhone and copy from the old iPhone to the new one
4) get the new cellular plan working
5) pair the Apple Watch to the new iPhone and restore its data.
That’s what I did and t took awhile, but it all worked out in the end.
I actually checked with Apple support and the recommendation was to:
1) unpair the Apple Watch
2) backup the old iPhone
3) turn on the new iPhone and copy from the old iPhone to the new one
4) get the new cellular plan working
5) pair the Apple Watch to the new iPhone and restore its data.
That’s what I did and t took awhile, but it all worked out in the end.
You will need to unpair the Apple Watch from your current iPhone. Then you'll need to establish cellular service with your new carrier (assuming your watch is cellular) and then set up the watch on your new phone.
Moving data from one phone to another is actually pretty easy. See this link --> Transfer data from your previous iOS device to your new iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
The very first thing it tells you to do is unpair your watch from your previous phone.
A watch is not locked to a carrier. I've moved my watch to a new phone, but I've never changed the carrier in the process. From memory, when you are setting up the watch on the new phone, you will be asked if you want to keep your cellular plan. Clearly, you won't want to do that. What I don't know is when or how you get the new carrier on your phone. You should have that discussion with your new cellular provider to know how that will work. And you should also make absolutely certain they DO support Apple Watch. As an example, for some time Spectrum has supported iPhone. However, they did NOT support Apple Watch until very recently.
There is not one word in that link which says your Apple Watch will come over using Quick Start. Using Quick Start is great and what I use. But you still need to unpair the Apple Watch from your current phone.
Here's a more complete link for you --> How to pair your Apple Watch with a new iPhone - Apple Support
The added complication you have is your are not transferring the same cellular service to the watch.
Hi there,
With the new carrier, you will use their SIM card for your new iPhone.
Remove or switch the SIM card in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
Step 6 under How to Use Device-to-Device Migration:
If you have an Apple Watch and you're setting up a new iPhone, you'll be asked if you'd like to transfer your Apple Watch data and settings.
I don't want or need to use their sim card. I want to use the esim in the phone. What I'm really concerned about is restoring everything from my old phone to the new one and the Apple Watch switching to the new carrier.
I've seen that page, but I've also seen https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210216 which indicates that you can transfer watch data directly from one phone to the other (and the publication date is newer than the page you referenced. That's part of why I am confused. But I appreciate the suggestion.
Agreed, but can't I just then go to the watch settings and drop the cellular plan from there? The watch shouldn't be locked to the provider, so should I be able to do that? I'm just trying to find the least complicated and drawn out way to do this and I appreciate your input.
I already verified that they support Apple Watch. And I believe that you just go to Settings, Cellular to possibly drop the old provider and pick a new provider on the new phone. I guess I can contact my new provider-to-be to see what they have to say. Thanks for your help. I'll post back when I figure it all out.
I'm glad it all worked out for you. I was hoping to hear back from you. You were right that Quick Start does move the watch over to a new phone without having to unpair the watch. In your case, you were changing cellular plans, so unpairing would be required. In my case, I wasn't changing cellular plans. Quick start asks if you want to move your watch over, you tap yes and everything moved over seamlessly.
Good. I'm sure it will all go smoothly for you. And if it doesn't, there is little that can't be fixed one way or the other.
Good luck with the migration.
Upgrading iPhone and changing cellular provider at the same time
