Forgot Apple Watch Passcode? Here’s how to reset it

If you forgot your Apple Watch passcode, the only way to regain access to your Apple Watch is by factory resetting the device before pairing it to your iPhone again. You can reset your Apple Watch with or without your iPhone on hand.

However, you will need your iPhone to initiate the pairing process and to retrieve a backup of the data from your Apple Watch, once you have reactivated it. In this article, TheGhanaTech.com will be showing you how you can reset your forgotten Apple Watch passcode to erase all data and start from scratch or restore it from a backup.

How to Reset Apple Watch Without iPhone

If you are out of range on your iPhone, you can reset your Apple Watch with a few simple taps. It is required that you place your Apple Watch on its charger while you complete the following steps:

1. Press and hold the side button until you see the power button icon in the upper right corner of the display, then let go of the side button. If you have an Apple Watch Ultra, be sure not to press the Action Button by accident since doing so will override this workflow.
2. Press and hold the Digital Crown circled below until you see onscreen text that reads “Erase all content and settings”
3. Tap the button labeled “Reset” twice to confirm that you would like to reset your Apple Watch. After your Apple Watch restarts, you can attempt to pair it to your iPhone again. 

Good to know: When you erase your Apple Watch a backup of its data is automatically created and stored on your iPhone.

How to reset your Apple Watch passcode with your paired iPhone

Forgot Apple Watch Passcode? You can use your iPhone to remotely reset your Apple Watch to factory settings and unpair it from your iPhone as long as both devices are within range of each other.

Note: If you have a GPS + Cellular Apple Watch, you will need to follow an extra step to retain your data plan once you set up your Apple Watch again. After you agree to erase all content and settings, select the button labeled “Remove Cellular Plan”.

1. With your Apple Watch placed close to or alongside your iPhone, open the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the “My Watch” tab.
3. Tap on the menu item labeled “General”.  
4. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list of menu items and tap on the option titled “Reset”. 
5. Tap on the “Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings” button. 
6. Confirm this action by selecting “Erase All Content and Settings” from the bottom of the screen. You may be asked to enter your Apple ID password to confirm this action.

How to Restore From a Backup on Apple Watch

After you erase and unpair your Apple Watch, you need to pair it to your iPhone again. Here is how to get paired up again without losing the data that you had on your Apple Watch before you erased it.

1. To pair, hold your iPhone close to your Apple Watch and then press “Continue” on your iPhone. 
2. After you have finished pairing your Apple Watch to your iPhone, you will reach a screen that gives you the option to set up your Apple Watch as new or restore all of your data from a previous backup.
3. Select “Restore from Backup”  to restore your data. On newer versions of iOS and watchOS, your Apple Watch will automatically restore from a backup.