If You’ve Forgotten Your Apple Watch Passcode

If you’ve forgotten the passcode to your Apple Watch, you’ll need to reset the watch and set it up again.

Deleting all content and settings erases all media, data and settings from your Apple Watch, but it does not remove Activation Lock. To remove Activation Lock, unpair the watch first. Before your watch is erased, a backup of its contents is created on your iPhone.

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 Power Off.
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 Reset Your Apple Watch Using Your Paired iPhone

Learn how to reset your Apple Watch using your paired iPhone. If your Apple Watch has GPS + Cellular choose to keep your remove your cellular plan from your Apple Watch. If you want to pair your Apple Watch and iPhone again, keep your plan but if you don’t want to pair your devices again, remove your plan.

If you aren’t going to pair with a different watch or iPhone, you might need to contact your carrier to cancel your subscription.

1. Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together until you complete these steps.
2. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, then tap the My Watch tab.
3. Tap General > Reset.
4. Tap Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings, then tap it again at the bottom of the screen to confirm. You might need to enter your Apple ID password.
5. For Apple Watch models with GPS + Cellular, choose to keep or remove your cellular plan.
6. Wait for the process to finish, then you can set up your Apple Watch again.

If you want to pair your Apple Watch and iPhone again and wish to restore a backup, choose restore from a backup when asked.

How To Change Your Passcode

On Apple Watch:

1. Navigate to the Settings app on your Watch.
2. Scroll down to Passcode.
3. Select Change Passcode.
4. Enter your current passcode.
5. Enter your new passcode.
6. Re-enter the new passcode to confirm.

On Your iPhone:

1. Open the Watch app
2. Go to the My Watch tab
3. Scroll down to Passcode
4. Select Change Passcode
5. Enter your new current passcode on your Apple Watch
6. Re-enter your new passcode to confirm.

Turning Off Your Passcode

On your Apple Watch:

1. Navigate to the Settings app on your Watch.
2. Scroll down to Passcode.
3. Tap Turn Passcode Off
4. Tap Turn Off

A message will appear saying your Apple Pay cards will be removed from your Apple Watch.

On Your iPhone:

1. Open the Watch app
2. Go to the My Watch tab
3. Scroll down to Passcode
4. Tap Turn Passcode Off
5. Tap Turn Off.

A message will appear saying your Apple Pay cards will be removed from your Apple Watch.

Changing Your Passcode

There are other settings you can toggle in the Passcode menu on the Watch app. These can be accessed on your Apple Watch or on your paired iPhone’s Watch app.

The unlock with iPhone setting allows you to automatically unlock your Apple Watch whenever you unlock your paired iPhone.

Enabling Simple Passcode on the Watch app allows you to set a four-digit passcode. Use a seven digit passcode for a more secure experience.

While using a passcode enable Wrist Detection to require a passcode to unlock your Apple Watch when you don’t have it on your wrist. You can also use Erase Data setting to erase all data after 10 failed passcode attempts.