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How do I manually back up my Apple Watch with NO iPhone?

I bought a new iPhone X weeks ago and while manually signing in (separate gripe) to hundreds of apps, I neglected to open the Watch App. So, I never realized that I needed to pair the watch with my new phone. There was never any problem using the watch. I can see and send messages and accept/decline/make calls on my watch. Today, I tried to view my Activity on my iPhone and there was no data. So I went to the Watch App on my iPhone. It's asking me to reset my watch and re-pair it.


If I reset my watch, I will lose WEEKS of Activity. How can I back up and then restore the data to my Apple Watch WITHOUT using the previously-paired iPhone. I've done 30 minutes of extensive near-expert level Google searching and everything indicates that I have to use my paired iPhone.


Please don't answer with "back up to your iPhone" unless there's a way to do it without being paired.


I really only care about the Activity, so if there's a way to back up just that data with a workaround, I'll take it. I have the MyFitnessPal app installed on the watch and the two accounts sync, but the MFP app on the watch is showing no activity history for the last week.


I tried connecting the watch to my iPhone and MacBook Air (OXS v 10.11.6) using Bluetooth. The watch never finds the devices, and vice versa.


I tried connecting my watch to my MacBook using the USB charger and nothing happened. iTunes acted as if there was nothing attached. The "Devices" menu was grayed out.


Is there ANY solution that does not involve resetting my watch, losing weeks of data, and pairing with my new phone?

iPhone X, Apple Watch 3 and no paired phone

Posted on Dec 12, 2017 4:57 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Dec 13, 2017 1:59 AM

Hi


For future reference, upon switching to a new iPhone, you should follow the steps here:


Switch your Apple Watch to a new iPhone - Apple Support


As things now stand, I'm afraid that, without access to the previously paired iPhone, there is no solution for retaining any of the data that has been recorded on your Apple Watch since you switched to your iPhone X.


The only way to recover the data would be to unpair your Apple Watch from your previous iPhone via the Watch app whilst the devices are connected via Bluetooth (and this only applies if the previous iPhone has not already been erased). You would then need to make an encrypted backup of that iPhone, restore your iPhone X from that backup and then pair your Apple Watch to your new iPhone. Note that this would result in the loss of any content from your iPhone X, since the date of the backup.


Moving forward


In order to be able to pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone X, you will first need to erase your Apple Watch manually by following these steps:


On your Apple Watch, go to: Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.


Next follow the instructions here, starting by checking that your iPhone X is updated to the latest version of iOS:


Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support

3 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Dec 13, 2017 1:59 AM in response to saswope

Hi


For future reference, upon switching to a new iPhone, you should follow the steps here:


Switch your Apple Watch to a new iPhone - Apple Support


As things now stand, I'm afraid that, without access to the previously paired iPhone, there is no solution for retaining any of the data that has been recorded on your Apple Watch since you switched to your iPhone X.


The only way to recover the data would be to unpair your Apple Watch from your previous iPhone via the Watch app whilst the devices are connected via Bluetooth (and this only applies if the previous iPhone has not already been erased). You would then need to make an encrypted backup of that iPhone, restore your iPhone X from that backup and then pair your Apple Watch to your new iPhone. Note that this would result in the loss of any content from your iPhone X, since the date of the backup.


Moving forward


In order to be able to pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone X, you will first need to erase your Apple Watch manually by following these steps:


On your Apple Watch, go to: Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.


Next follow the instructions here, starting by checking that your iPhone X is updated to the latest version of iOS:


Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support

How do I manually back up my Apple Watch with NO iPhone?

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