Issue Setting Up Apple Watch Cellular - "Couldn't Sync iCloud Data" Error

I am facing the same issue. I am setting up apple watch SE 2 for my son as a stand alone device. Just created a brand new apple ID for him. Still encounters the same error message. He doesn't have any other apple device besides this apple watch that I am trying to set up for him. I can't imagine what kind of icloud data he could have. Very frustrating.

Imagine having to spend your Christmas eve troubleshooting how to setup an Apple Watch for my daughter.

The installation was going just fine before I had to stop for lunch. I made it so far that it was asking me to setup her contacts. Once I returned from lunch the setup timed out. I had to restart. Now it is unable to login because of an issue to sync data. I log on to her new Icloud account and it is empty. There is nothing to sync. Clicking the button to delete all data on the icloud account from the Watch does not work. It just fails. I have now taken an ipad and logged on with her account. Even here it is asking me to delete all data on the icloud account before it can proceed. Seems to work since I can continue. Return back to the watch, same problem.

Since I am running out of options other then setting up the watch on a different icloud account altogether or creating a new icloud account, I guess i need to visit the store tomorrow when they opened. What a miserable experience.

[Edited by Moderator]

Now I have solved this problem!The cause of this issue is that the Apple account you created/separately logged in to on your Apple Watch is unable to sync iCloud, the solution is to just log in to the Apple account you logged in to on your Apple Watch on another Apple device (iPhone or iPad) and follow the instructions to sync or delete the data that can't be synced!

I was having the same issue and ended up going to the Genius Bar at my local Apple Store and they were able to figure it out. The issue was I had another Apple device (iPad in my case) with the Apple ID I was attempting to set up on the Apple Watch, and that other Apple device did not have a passcode setup/enabled. Once I put a passcode on the other Apple device, I was then able to enter that passcode on the new Apple Watch when asked and everything else in the setup completed as normal. Hope this helps.

Having the same issue, were you able to resolve it?

Having the same problem for iOS18.1 iPhone14 Pro Apple Watch SE（Second generation） watch os 11.1

This worked for me. I was trying to set up an Apple Watch with a Child (Family Member) account. The Child had no other Apple devices. I had to find a spare device (iPad), wipe it, and set it up using the same Child's Apple Account account. After the iPad completed setup, there was a prompt to wipe the Child's iCloud data, so I did that. Afterward, I was able to pair the Apple Watch using the Child account.

Having the same issue! Would love to get this addressed.

I am facing the same issue. Iphone 15 pro max and Apple Watch SE 2!

OK after hours and hours this worked for me. I just searched for “iCloud data” in iPad settings (one that was signed into my child’s iCloud account). I selected “Advanced Data Protections” and followed the prompts to delete any backups (like Health Data, etc). This didn’t change anything on her iPad and I was able to MANUALLY (not QR code) sync her watch. Ignore as many prompts as you can (set up later) and that worked for me.

I have this same problem. As far as I know my kid never had any iCloud account before and I don’t have any other device for him to login an iCloud account on. So…for now his new watch is a brick. What a frustrating experience for everybody.

Amazingly this worked. Signed out on an old ipad, signed back in with his apple ID. It took awhile to log out of icloud, then log back in. Still had one more false start, where it said it could sync icloud data, but i just started the process over (for like the 15th time) and it finally let me proceed.

Have been an apple user for many (many) years and this is easily the worst set-up process for an apple device. Really convoluted and bad. Apple REALLY needs to fix this. It's Christmas day and I just spent two hours setting up a WATCH. A @^%$%&* watch. Really absurd.

So thank you for saving me!

Here’s what I did. Who knows why it worked but hope it’s helpful:

• kept iPhone logged in to my Apple ID
• on an iPad I logged out of my Apple ID and logged into my son’s Apple ID. That had already been created awhile ago and was on Family Sharing
• on the iPad it took awhile to sign me out because it said it had to clear iCloud data. But finally did.
• I then followed prompts to unpair the watch and start all over.
• the first time it got me further but stalled out when it asked me for the passcode for the iPad.
• so I started over again
• this time it accepted the passcode and it allowed me to fully set up
• he’s now happily riding around on his bike showing it off to his friends and I’ve texted him to see it in action. 👍🏼🙂

I'm not sure why this process is so convoluted or what the iPad had to do with anything in the universe. But after two wasted hours that’s what finally worked.

I wish you luck and definitely sympathize.

Dear Watch OS team, please fix this mess. Signed: lots of frustrated parents who you hung out to dry on Christmas.

I tried the top ranking reply by signing my other kid out of an iPad and the new one into the iPad and deleted iCloud account. And it still says cannot connect to server.

This worked for me