Topline
Resetting an Apple Watch is the process of removing all media, applications, data and settings from the device for the purpose of either selling or trading or improving usage and here are a few ways to do it.
Resetting or restarting an Apple Watch can improve usage. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Key Facts
Resetting an Apple Watch is the process of removing all data and settings from the device to help with the response of the device, but there is the option of restarting the Apple Watch by shutting it down for a period of time.
Pairing an Apple Watch to an iPhone places apps from the iPhone onto the Apple Watch and, even if unpaired, the watch can still be backed up on the phone.
It is possible to hard reset or factory reset–which means to revert the device back to solely having the settings it had when it was purchased–an Apple Watch either on the watch itself or through a paired iPhone.
How To Reset An Apple Watch
To reset an Apple Watch, navigate to the settings app, select General, click the reset button, opt to erase all content and settings on the device, input the watch’s password and select erase all. Apple’s support team says this method resets the watch to factory settings, but does not backup the watch. It is also possible to connect the watch to a charger, press down on the power button until the power menu appears, then hold down on the crown of the watch until the option to rest appears and select reset.
To reset an Apple Watch from a paired iPhone, visit the My Watch app on iPhone, select the watch that needs to be reset, navigate to General for that watch, click the reset button and choose to erase the content and settings of the selected watch, per Apple’s support instructions. This method, the company’s support team says, creates a backup of the previously paired watch on the iPhone.
How To Pair, Unpair And Restart An Apple Watch
To pair an Apple Watch to an iPhone, open the My Watch app on iPhone and, with the watch on the wrist, hold the phone camera to the face of the watch as instructed.
To unpair an Apple Watch from an iPhone, navigate to the My Watch app on iPhone, select the All Watches tab, click the information (i) button next to the respective watch and opt to unpair the Apple Watch. There is an option to backup the Apple Watch that will appear after opting to unpair it from the iPhone.
To restart an Apple Watch if systems are sluggish, hold down the side power button until the power menu appears, select the digital power button, or slide it if the watch is pre-watch OS 9, to power the device off and power it back on by holding down the power button.
