Did not unpair watch from old phone and won’t pair to new one
I didn’t unpair my watch from my old phone and I want to pair it to my new iPhone 14 but it is not being recognized by the watch app. How can I pair my existing watch with my new phone?
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The Apple Support Community will permanently close on November 20, 2026. Starting today, the site will no longer accept new posts and is available in a read-only state.
You can continue to find trusted guidance and support on the official Apple Support site.
We want to thank the community members who have contributed their time and expertise to help others with their Apple products.
I didn’t unpair my watch from my old phone and I want to pair it to my new iPhone 14 but it is not being recognized by the watch app. How can I pair my existing watch with my new phone?
Activation Lock is designed to prevent anyone else from using an Apple Watch if it's ever lost or stolen.
About Activation Lock on your Apple Watch - Apple Support
Activation Lock is an anti-theft feature that cannot be bypassed. Only the previous owner can remove the lock by using their Apple ID & password. Apple will not help you find the previous owner. If the previous owner cannot or will not remove the lock, then the watch is useless to you or anyone else. Try to get a refund (through eBay) or dispose of the watch properly. In the future, see the 'Before you buy a watch from a third-party' section in:
If you are the ORIGINAL owner, then see the 'Start a support request' section in:
How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support
Here are two ways to unpair your watch if you no longer have the paired iPhone:
Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support
Activation Lock is designed to prevent anyone else from using an Apple Watch if it's ever lost or stolen.
About Activation Lock on your Apple Watch - Apple Support
Activation Lock is an anti-theft feature that cannot be bypassed. Only the previous owner can remove the lock by using their Apple ID & password. Apple will not help you find the previous owner. If the previous owner cannot or will not remove the lock, then the watch is useless to you or anyone else. Try to get a refund (through eBay) or dispose of the watch properly. In the future, see the 'Before you buy a watch from a third-party' section in:
If you are the ORIGINAL owner, then see the 'Start a support request' section in:
How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support
Here are two ways to unpair your watch if you no longer have the paired iPhone:
Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support
Did not unpair watch from old phone and won’t pair to new one