You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Apple Watch won't re-pair with iPhone 6

We went on vacation for a week and did not take the Apple Watch. When we returned home, the Watch was no longer paired with the iPhone 6 Plus.

-rebooted both the watch, the phone and even the wifi in the house several times.

-removed the otter box from the phone.

-checked Bluetooth on the phone. Checked Bluetooth on the watch (the watch is stuck in SEARCHING).

-the watch keeps asking for the passcode. An error message pops up occasionally, stating iCloud password needs to be entered on phone. Did multiple times - phone shows connected with iCloud. Last time, phone stated there was an error at the Apple server - password could not be verified. Apple ID and iCloud are connected on phone.

-synced the phone with iTunes. 3 GB of free space on phone.

-no "i" icon on watch to do it manually. Watch not listed as available to connect on phone.

-attempted in several rooms - no other Bluetooth items near the devices.

-phone does not see watch at all in pair mode.

-tried with charger on and charger off the watch.

-both seem to be operating correctly...they just won't pair.

-no new updates to the phone since the two were paired

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 8.3, Apple Watch (not Sport or Edition)

Posted on Jun 23, 2015 11:38 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 23, 2015 7:54 PM

Call Apple support


LN

24 replies

Jun 29, 2015 7:31 AM in response to dcnoonkester

This just happened to me yesterday. The little red iPhone symbol appeared at the top of the watch display and wouldn't turn off. Also it wasn't pulling in weather and other data so not connected at all to my iPhone 5C. I tried many things but here's what worked (same as you, dcnoonkester).

1) Unpaired/deleted the Apple Watch from my iPhone's Bluetooth setting

2) Reset the Apple Watch under settings (on the watch)

3) In setting up the watch, after selecting Language, I was prompted to set up as new or restore from backup

4) I restored from backup and after several minutes I had my old settings back and life was thus able to continue. :-)

Problem solved.

Jun 29, 2015 8:00 AM in response to Dieds

I ended up in the Apple store in Durham, NC, and long story short, the problem turned out to be my phone and not the watch at all. Something on the phone was causing the problem, and what it was will remain a mystery. But the techies reset my phone to its factory defaults, and with a clean phone, pairing was successful. Then we restored the iCloud saved settings, etc. and had the "moment of truth." The phone paired with the watch again, so all is well.


So if all else fails, try pairing the watch with a different iPhone. If that works, something is going on in the original phone. The folks at Apple were great, by the way. I counted no fewer than seven people involved before the issue got resolved, and it did get resolved! Kudos all around.

Jul 6, 2015 4:34 PM in response to deanfromchapel hill

I Had this happen to first my wife, now 2 weeks later to me. Watch stopped getting weather, stocks etc. Rebooting watch and phone didn't help. Followed the advice found here and it works. Restore phone to factory settings (after backup). I stopped they syncing and then it was able to pair with the watch. Then synced the phone. Need to redo fingerprints on phone and credit cards in watch app for Apple Pay. Hope it never happens again but it beats going to the Apple Store.

Aug 26, 2015 11:03 AM in response to nevillev

Wow. Thanks for the network-reset tip! This resolved several maddening issues with my iPhone 6, in particular an intermittent inability to determine its own location, and Photos locking up whenever I chose one of the “More” buttons to pick an extension. You spared me the tedium of performing a full 50-plus-GB backup, resetting the iPhone completely, and then restoring from said backup. I’m beholden!

Apple Watch won't re-pair with iPhone 6

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.