my apple watch SE keeps unpairing during the setup process.

Hi jgreisel,

We understand that you are unable to pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone during setup. Take a look at the steps and article below to correct the issue.

1. Press and hold the Digital Crown while your Apple Watch is in pairing mode.
2. Tap Reset when it appears on your watch.
3. After your watch resets, you can pair again.

If you can't pair an Apple Watch with your iPhone

Have a good day.

I had this problem too. Tried pairing many, many times and it wouldn't work. Then I unpaired my fitbit from my phone and it worked. So try seeing what else your phone is paired with and unpair unnecessary devices before trying to pair it with the apple watch.

Solved problem

After talking to various people at CS, I eventually ended up with a supervisor who was able to solve the issue for me.

In my case the reason for unpairing was the Norton Software that had firewall/vpn activated. After deactivating these features within Norton, all issues were solved.

Unpair or erase the Watch then try pairing without accepting the offer to restore your Watch backup

After updating with two more updates for both the watch and phone, finally the watch paired and didn't unpair!!

Never EVER use app store security or VPN apps on Apple products.

Just because they are on App Store does not give them any credence.

I'll make an exception fir VPN if you live in a country with repressive governments like Russia or HongKong but even then remove or disable them for updates, pairing etc.

Dear Apple,

Here's an idea. Instead of just replying to these messages with a standard response which clearly does not work how about you advise people that they may want to check that their phone has had the latest updates applied?

Now I'm certainly not saying the following is the only solution to this issue but it appears to have worked for myself and a number of other users when they are trying to set up and pair a new apple watch.

Step 1: Update your phone to the latest IOS version

Step 2: Update your watch to the latest WatchOS version

Step 3: Try the pairing process again.

Thanks for that. Even though we try not to use the "F" word, checking for other paired devices particularly watches is a good strategy!

I just bought my Apple watch series 8 yesterday and am having the same pairing issue. It pairs but then it disconnects. I've tried holding the Digital Crown down and pressing reset, but that doesn't help the recurring issue. I've tried pressing down the Crown and side button at the same time until the apple logo appears but that doesn't help. I've updated my iPhone to the latest iOS 16.1.2 update; still no help.

Same as rswp1024, I updated my phone and both the watches, and was finally able to pair the watch.

My new iphone14 version 16.0.3 keeps unpairing my apple watch in the middle of upgrading my apple watch. My watch was paired with my old iphone 8. I have been unable to use my apple watch for 3 days!!!!!

Same here, I’ve reset the watch a dozen times. Setting it up as a new watch even, but I get the message that it needs to be updated, even though it is and when I get to the “create passcode” point it starts unpairing every time

I am also having this problem - I have a message saying there is a new update available but it will not update. Even if I select the skip update option it pairs with my phone then unpairs

I’m having the same issue. I’ve reset the watch a half dozen times and even tried a different phone, it still keeps rejecting the pairing.

Mine was doing the same, would pair then start to update and then unpair and would need to start over. Same thing. Finally worked after updated phone and repaired