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How to recover Apple Watch passcode?

Okay this is a doozy and I’m pretty sure I’ve dug my own grave at this point. But one day the passcode that I’ve always used for my Apple Watch was no longer the passcode and I was locked out. I couldn’t access the watches info in the app on my phone either. I tried holding down the side button and dial until the apple logo came up, then just holding down the dial and I get the red exclamation part saying to go to support.apple.com/watch/restore and it’s stuck there. And then I tried just holding the side button and then the dial and I get the same response. I saw somewhere to try to remove the watch from the app and iCloud (this is where I dug my own grave) so I did. And I’m just still stuck in the same spot. I eventually got the watch to say “press ok to recover” (or whatever the phrasing is for that) and it said to enter a passcode and I put mine in, it spends 2-3 hours going through the loading process and then says it failed. I’ve tried using 1111, 0000 and 1234 as well and that’s a no go.

Anyone have any ideas?? I’m at my wits end. There’s gotta be some kind of resolution. I don’t love anywhere near an Apple Store either so I’m really trying to just figure it out at home.

Thank you in advance for any help and insight!


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Aug 17, 2023 1:06 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 26, 2024 10:33 AM

I have an older watch (series 5) and the above advice didn't work for me. I called in and they used a different method:

1) connect to charger

2) hold crown and side button at the same time for a few seconds then let go

3) then I saw the apple logo and was told to press and hold the side button until a red button showed up prompting me to erase and reset the watch


Hope this helps!

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28 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 26, 2024 10:33 AM in response to Shelbyb764

I have an older watch (series 5) and the above advice didn't work for me. I called in and they used a different method:

1) connect to charger

2) hold crown and side button at the same time for a few seconds then let go

3) then I saw the apple logo and was told to press and hold the side button until a red button showed up prompting me to erase and reset the watch


Hope this helps!

Aug 17, 2023 1:08 PM in response to Shelbyb764

Hi there


Please try and follow these steps to see if you can fix this issue


  1. Put your watch on its charger and keep it there until you complete these steps.
  2. Press and hold the side button until you see the power button in the upper-right corner of the display.
  3. Press and hold the Digital Crown until you see Erase all content and settings.
  4. Tap Reset, then tap Reset again to confirm.
  5. Wait for the process to finish, then set up your Apple Watch again. When asked, restore from a backup.


How to recover Apple Watch passcode?

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