Forgot your Apple Watch passcode? How to reset the watch

2 min read · 8 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Short answer

A forgotten passcode cannot be recovered. Open the Apple Watch app on the iPhone, tap General, then Reset, then Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings. The iPhone makes a backup first. Afterwards you pair the watch again, restore the backup and set a new passcode.

The only way past a forgotten Apple Watch passcode is to erase the watch and set it up again. Because the iPhone saves a backup of the watch before erasing, you get your watch faces, settings and health data back.

There are two ways: from the paired iPhone, or on the watch itself when the iPhone is not at hand.

Step by step

  1. With the iPhone: open the Apple Watch app

    Keep the watch and the iPhone close together. Open the Apple Watch app and tap the My Watch tab.

  2. Tap General, then Reset

    Reset is at the bottom of the General page.

  3. Tap Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings

    Tap it again to confirm. You may be asked for your Apple Account password.

  4. Choose what happens to the mobile plan

    On a watch with mobile service (GPS + Cellular), choose to keep the plan if you will pair the watch with this iPhone again. Remove it only if you are giving the watch away.

  5. Without the iPhone: put the watch on its charger

    Leave it on the charger for all of the next steps.

  6. Hold the side button, then the Digital Crown

    Press and hold the side button until the power button appears on the screen. Then press and hold the Digital Crown until Erase all content and settings appears.

  7. Tap Reset

    Tap Reset and tap Reset again to confirm. Wait until the watch has finished.

  8. Pair the watch again

    Hold the watch near the iPhone, follow the steps and choose to restore from the backup. Set a new passcode.

Good to know

Erasing does not remove Activation Lock. When you pair the watch again, it asks for the Apple Account it was linked to. A watch you bought second hand that asks for someone else's account has to be released by that person.

Whichever way you use, the restore takes the most recent backup of the watch that is stored on the iPhone.

How pairing works: how to pair an Apple Watch with an iPhone.

In short: Apple Watch app, General, Reset, Erase. Or on the charger: hold the side button, hold the Digital Crown, Reset. Then pair and restore.

Sources
  • Apple Support: If you forgot your Apple Watch passcode

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