Solve why my Apple Watch won’t pair problem

It can be hard to figure out reasons why your Apple Watch simply refuses to pair with an iPhone. However, that doesn’t mean their relationship is incompatible. It just means you need to try a few workarounds to fix the problem. So, if you are wondering Why my Apple Watch pairing failed or why my Apple Watch won’t pair, give the solutions listed below, a try!

How to fix why my Apple Watch won’t pair with iPhone problem

There can be many reasons for pairing between the 2 Apple devices getting disconnected. Still, you can manage and fix 'why my Apple Watch won’t pair' problem by trying the following.

1. Restart your Watch and iPhone
2. Check your Smartwatch connection
3. Unpair your devices and then pair again.
4. Check for software updates
5. Reset the device

Try these solutions when the pairing has failed repeatedly and you’ve run into the problem!

1] Restart Your Watch and iPhone

The solution may appear quite simple but has been found to work in most .cases

On the Watch, press the Digital Crown and Side button simultaneously for 10 seconds until the Apple logo is visible to you

Then, wait until you see the Watch's face.

When seen, switch to your iPhone. For iPhone 8 or earlier, press and hold either the top or side button until the Power Off slider appears. Slide it right to completely turn off the mobile phone.

Next, press and hold the same button until the Apple logo appears to turn your iPhone on. 

On recent models like iPhone X or later, press and hold the Side button and either volume control buttons until you see the Power Off slider. Turn it off by sliding it to the right. Restart the iPhone by pressing the Side button until the Apple logo appears. This should fix the problem and you should be able to pair both devices successfully.

2] Check your Smartwatch connection

If you notice that you are not receiving any messages, or calls on your Apple Watch, your Apple Watch and iPhone might not be connected. When your devices disconnect, an ‘X’ icon with Disconnected message, marked in red, appears for connection in Control Center.

To fix this, open the Control Center by gently touching and holding the bottom of the watch face and then swiping up. When Control Center shows up, try pairing your watch and iPhone again.

When your Apple Watch is connected to your iPhone, you see a phone icon on your Watch screen, marked in green. The green marking indicates the devices are paired.

3] Unpair your devices, then pair them again

You can unpair from either your iPhone or Apple Watch.

Tap Settings on your watch.

Go to General settings.

Choose Reset.

Then, Erase All Content and Settings.

Next, switch to your iPhone and go to Apple Watch app.

Tap the My Watch tab, then choose your watch at the top of the screen.

Tap the "i" icon visible on the watch screen to unpair it and then, select Unpair Apple Watch.

Tap again to confirm.

If you are unable to figure out where is the “I”' icon on the apple watch for pairing, see how to find it out!

Go to the lower-right corner of an unpaired Watch. The icon should be visible there. To see the name of your watch and pair manually, tap the "i" icon. If you still see the time, lock screen, or apps on your Apple Watch, it means that your watch is still paired with an iPhone.

Before pairing it again, try erasing or unpair your watch.

4] Check for Software Updates

One reason why both, iPhone and Watch may fail to pair is running of two incompatible versions of software. As such, make sure that the Watch and iPhone are running the most recent software.

To check for a software update on the Apple Watch, open the companion Watch app on your iPhone. Go to My Watch tab, select General > Software Update. If an update is available, you can download it and install it on the Watch.

5] Reset the device

If all else fails, you can fully reset your Apple Watch, however, this option should be used as the last resort.

Place your watch on its charger and keep it there until you have completed the following steps.

Press and hold the side button until you see the Power Off option.

Firmly press the Power Off slider, then lift your finger. Tap Erase all content and settings.

Wait for the process to finish, then set up your Apple Watch again. If prompted to backup, restore from a backup. Then, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and select the My Watch tab.

Under General find and tap Reset option. Tap Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings. Confirm the action.

Try pairing again by entering your Apple ID password. Hopefully, your problem should be resolved!

Source - Apple.