How to Unpair Apple Watch Without Phone [With or Without iPhone]

Watches used to only tell time, but those days are over. These things have changed over time into smart devices with many features, like the Apple Watch. But there are times when you may need to unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone. This could happen for a number of reasons, such as selling, fixing a problem, or just resetting it. This guide will show you how to unpair Apple Watch without phone.

When and Why We Feel the Need to Unpair an Apple Watch?

Before we get into the ‘how,’ it’s crucial to understand the ‘why’. There could be several situations where you might need to unpair your Apple Watch. Here are a few common scenarios:

Selling or Giving Away the Device: If you’re planning to sell your Apple Watch or pass it on to someone else, you should unpair it to ensure all personal data is removed and the watch is restored to its factory settings.

Dealing with Malfunctions: If your Apple Watch is not functioning as expected, unpairing and resetting it can potentially resolve the issue by removing any corrupt data or problematic settings.

Resetting for a Fresh Start: If you want to revert your Apple Watch back to its original settings and start fresh, unpairing can do the trick.

Dealing with a Lost or Stolen Watch: If your Apple Watch is lost or stolen, you should unpair it to protect your personal information.

What Happens When You Unpair Your Apple Watch?

Before we talk about how to unpair Apple Watch without phone, it’s important to know what happens when you leave your phone behind. When you unpair your Apple Watch, it goes back to its original factory settings and deletes all of your data, apps, and settings.

The Activation Lock is a safety function that stops other people from using your Apple Watch. The status of the lock depends on how it was unpaired. If you disconnect it from your iPhone, it’s gone.

However, the Activation Lock stays on even if you take the watch off of your iPhone. Another thing to keep in mind is that the backup situation changes based on the method used. If you’re still confused after reading this, read the rest of the article.

How to Unpair Apple Watch without Phone: Top 5 Methods

If you can’t get to the device that was paired, you may need to unpair your Apple Watch without your phone. Here are top 5 methods to get the job done:

Method 1: Unpair Apple Watch on the Watch Itself

This method is ideal for situations where you don’t have access to your iPhone or just want to reset your wearable in a few short steps.

On your Apple Watch, go to Settings.
Navigate to General settings.
Scroll down and select Reset.
Tap on Erase All Content and Settings.
If prompted, enter your passcode.
If you have a GPS + Cellular model, you’ll be asked to keep or remove your plan. Make your choice based on your needs.
Confirm your choice by tapping on Erase All.

This method erases all data and settings from the Apple Watch and unpairs it from your iPhone. However, the Activation Lock remains active.

Method 2: Remove Activation Lock via iCloud

After resetting your Apple Watch through the watch itself, you’ll need to remove the activation lock to make it usable again. Here’s how to do it:

Launch a web browser and visit the iCloud website.
Log in using your Apple ID and password.
Open Settings and select your Apple Watch under My Devices.
Click on the X button next to your Apple Watch.
Confirm your choice to remove your Apple Watch from your account. This action will disable the activation lock on your Apple Watch.

Method 3: Unpair Apple Watch Without a Passcode

If you’ve forgotten your passcode, you can still unpair your Apple Watch using the hard reset method:

Press and hold the side button and Digital Crown of your Apple Watch together.
Wait for around 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo, then release the buttons.

Wait for a few seconds and press/hold the watch’s side button until the Erase All Settings prompt appears (around 20 seconds).
Tap on Erase All Content and Settings, then confirm to reset your Apple Watch to its factory settings.

Method 4: Unpair Apple Watch Remotely via iCloud Website

If your Apple Watch is misplaced or stolen, you can remotely reset it to its factory defaults to protect your data and unpair it from your iPhone. Here’s how:

Launch a web browser and visit the iCloud website.
Open Find My iPhone and select your Apple Watch in All Devices.
Click on Erase Apple Watch and confirm to reset your Apple Watch to its factory defaults.

Method 5: Unpair Apple Watch via iPhone

If you have your iPhone with you, unpairing your Apple Watch is straightforward.

Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
Go to My Watch and tap on All Watches.
Tap the i (info) button next to your Apple Watch.

Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
For a cellular model, you may choose to keep or remove the plan.
Confirm your choice by entering your Apple ID credentials.

Unpair the Apple Watch with an iPhone or iPad

If you have an iPhone or iPad with you, it’s quite simple to unpair your Apple Watch. Just follow the steps mentioned in Method 5 to unpair your watch with your iPhone. You can follow the same steps on your iPad as well.

Why Are My iPhone and Apple Watch Not Pairing?

Fixing Issues with the Link: There are a few things that could be wrong if you’re having trouble pairing your iPhone and Apple Watch. Make sure that your iPhone and Apple Watch are close to each other while they are pairing.

Bluetooth

Make sure that both your iPhone and Apple Watch have Bluetooth turned on.

Wi-Fi

Connect both devices to Wi-Fi. Some services, like Siri and Messages, need to be connected to Wi-Fi.

Software versions

Make sure that the most recent software versions are on both your iPhone and Apple Watch.

Start up both devices again

Sometimes, all it takes to fix a connection problem is a simple restart. If the problem keeps happening, you can get more help from Apple’s official repair guide.

In Summary

If you take the right steps, it’s easy to disconnect your Apple Watch from your phone. These steps will make it easy to unpair your device, whether you want to sell your watch, fix a problem, or remove a stolen watch from your Apple ID. Remember that when you disconnect your watch from your phone, all of your data is lost, so make sure you have a copy of any important data before you go.

FAQs

How Long Does Apple Watch Take to Unpair?

The exact time it takes to unpair an Apple Watch can vary depending on several factors, including the amount of data to back up and your network connection. However, in general, it usually takes between a few minutes to half an hour.