How to reset an Apple Watch: force restart, unpair, or full erase

Your Apple Watch is frozen on the Apple logo, you have forgotten your passcode, or you are about to sell it on Gumtree. The fix depends on which of those three things is true. Pick the wrong method and your data stays exposed, or your watch stays locked to your Apple Account.

Apple gives you three ways to reset an Apple Watch, and they are not interchangeable. A force restart (side button and Digital Crown held together for ten seconds) clears a frozen screen but keeps everything intact. An unpair via the iPhone Watch app wipes the device, removes Activation Lock, and creates a backup automatically. This is the path you want before selling or trading in. An on-watch erase clears the data but leaves Activation Lock in place, which matters if the watch is changing hands.

For most Australian owners, the unpair-via-iPhone path is the right one. It is the only method that disables Activation Lock properly, and it creates a backup you can restore to a new watch. If the watch is frozen and you just need it working again, start with a force restart. If you have lost your passcode, you can still erase directly on the watch, but you will need your Apple Account password to set it up again afterward.

How an Apple Watch reset actually works

Resetting an Apple Watch is not like restarting a phone. There is no physical reset button, no SIM tray to pop, and no recovery mode that a cable can trigger. Apple’s support documentation states plainly that the Apple Watch “does not have a SIM slot or reset button.” The holes in the case are for the speaker and, on Ultra models, the depth gauge.

When you unpair from an iPhone, three things happen at once. The watch communicates with the phone over Bluetooth to deregister itself from your Apple Account, which disables Activation Lock. The iPhone creates a local backup of the watch’s settings, app layout, and health data. Then the watch erases its storage and returns to the setup screen.

When you erase directly on the watch (through Settings, General, Reset, Erase All Content and Settings), the watch wipes its data but does not contact Apple’s activation servers. Activation Lock stays on, which means the next person to pick up that watch cannot pair it without your Apple Account password. This is fine if you are keeping the watch and just want a clean start. It is a problem if you are selling it.

Method 1: Force restart a frozen or unresponsive watch

This is the softest reset. It is the equivalent of holding the power button on a laptop: it cuts power and forces a reboot without touching your data.

When to use it. The watch is stuck on the Apple logo, an app has frozen the screen, or the display will not respond to taps.

How to do it.

1. Press and hold the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time.
2. Keep holding both for roughly ten seconds. The screen will go black.
3. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.
4. Wait. The watch may take a few moments to restart, as Apple’s support page notes.

That is it. No passcode required. No iPhone needed. The watch comes back exactly as it was, with all data intact.

If a force restart does not fix the problem (the watch still will not respond, or keeps freezing), move to Method 2.

Method 2: Unpair via iPhone (the method for most situations)

Unpairing is the most complete reset available. It erases the watch, removes Activation Lock, and creates a backup, all in one sequence. Apple describes this as the method that “restores it to factory settings and removes Activation Lock.”

When to use it. Selling or giving away the watch, trading it in, sending it for service, troubleshooting persistent software problems, or pairing with a new iPhone.

Before you start. You need your Apple Account password and, if the watch has one set, its passcode. Keep the watch and iPhone close together. Bluetooth range is fine, but do not walk away mid-process.

Steps.

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom, then tap All Watches in the top-left corner.
3. Tap the info button (the encircled “i”) next to the watch you want to unpair.
4. Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
5. Confirm by tapping Unpair [your watch name].
6. If the watch has a cellular plan (all GPS + Cellular models sold in Australia through Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone), you will see a prompt. Choose Keep your plan if you are pairing a replacement watch soon. Choose Remove your plan if you are selling the watch or switching away permanently. Removing the plan here unpairs it from the watch but does not cancel your mobile subscription; contact your carrier separately if you want to close the service.
7. Enter your Apple Account password when prompted. This is the step that disables Activation Lock.
8. Wait for the unpairing to complete. The watch will restart to the setup screen.

The iPhone creates a backup automatically during this process. When you set up a new watch (or re-pair the same one), you will see a Restore from Backup option. Tap it to recover your watch faces, apps, and settings.

The iFixit guide for Apple Watch Series 10 recovery confirms the same button combination works across all current models. The Digital Crown and side button have been the standard combo since the Series 4.

Method 3: Erase directly on the watch (no iPhone available)

If you do not have the paired iPhone handy (it is lost, reset, or in another city), you can erase the watch from its own Settings app.

When to use it. Forgotten passcode, iPhone unavailable, or you just want a clean install without unpairing.

Steps.

1. Open the Settings app on the watch.
2. Tap General, then Reset.
3. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
4. Enter your passcode if prompted.
5. For cellular models, choose whether to keep or remove your plan.
6. Tap Erase All to confirm.

Critical caveat. This method does not remove Activation Lock. The watch is still tied to your Apple Account. If you are selling or giving the watch away, the new owner will not be able to pair it until you remove the device from your account. You can do this by unpairing it properly (Method 2) or by removing it from iCloud.com under Find My, then Devices.

For a watch you are keeping, this method works fine. You will re-pair it with your iPhone and sign in with your own Apple Account, which matches the Activation Lock and lets you proceed.

What to do if you have forgotten your passcode

If the watch is asking for a passcode you cannot remember, you can still erase it, but the sequence depends on what you have access to.

If you still have the paired iPhone. Open the Watch app, go to the My Watch tab, then General, then Reset, and tap Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings. Enter your Apple Account password if prompted. This wipes the watch and lets you set it up again with a new passcode.

If you do not have the iPhone. On the watch, press and hold the side button until the power-off slider appears. Firmly press the Power Off icon (a long press, not a tap), then tap Erase all content and settings. This works even when the watch is passcode-locked. After the erase, you will need your Apple Account password to set the watch up again because Activation Lock remains.

If neither works. Apple’s fallback is a trip to an Apple Store, where staff can verify your identity and ownership and reset the device. Bring photo ID and proof of purchase. In Australia, Apple Stores are in Sydney (Broadway, Chatswood Chase, Bondi, Penrith), Melbourne (Chadstone, Doncaster, Fountain Gate, Highpoint), Brisbane (Chermside, Macarthur Central), Perth (Hay Street), Adelaide (Rundle Place), and the Gold Coast (Pacific Fair). You can also start a support request at support.apple.com/en-au.

Selling or giving away your Apple Watch in Australia

If the watch is changing hands, Method 2 (unpair via iPhone) is the only correct path. An Activation Locked watch is a paperweight to the buyer. A few extra steps matter for Australian sellers.

Cellular plan. If the watch has a mobile plan through Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone, removing the plan during unpair takes it off the watch but does not cancel the service. You need to contact your carrier separately to close the account or transfer the number. Telstra One Number, Optus Number Share, and Vodafone Number Sync all work as add-ons to a phone plan. Cancelling the watch line does not affect your phone service.

AppleCare+. If you bought AppleCare+ for the watch, you can transfer it to the new owner or cancel it for a pro-rated refund. Contact Apple Support on 133-622 (Australia) before you unpair. AppleCare+ is tied to the device serial number, not the Apple Account, so it transfers automatically unless you cancel.

Australian Consumer Law. Under the ACL, you are not required to offer a warranty as a private seller, but you cannot misrepresent the condition of the watch. If you sell through a platform like eBay or Gumtree, accurately describe whether the watch is functional, whether the battery holds charge, and whether any repairs have been done. Apple’s own warranty is one year from purchase and does not transfer beyond the original buyer.

Proof of purchase. Keep a copy of the receipt for the buyer. If the watch ever needs an Activation Lock override at an Apple Store, the original proof of purchase is the document Apple’s staff will ask for.

Common mistakes to avoid

Erasing without unpairing before selling. The single most common trap. Erasing the watch from Settings wipes your data but leaves Activation Lock in place, and the buyer cannot set it up. Always use the Watch app on iPhone to unpair if the watch is leaving your hands.

Sticking objects into the watch case. The holes on the side of the Apple Watch case are for the speaker and, on Ultra models, the depth sensor. They are not a SIM slot, and they are not a reset pinhole. Pushing a paperclip or SIM tool into them can damage the seals.

Skipping the backup. The unpair process creates a backup automatically, but only if the iPhone is present and connected. If you erase the watch directly on-device (Method 3), no backup is made. If you care about your health data, activity history, and watch-face layout, use Method 2.

Thinking Activation Lock is the same as the passcode. It is not. The passcode unlocks the screen. Activation Lock ties the device to an Apple Account and cannot be bypassed without the account password. A buyer who sees a passcode-free watch may still be blocked at setup.

Forgetting the Apple Account password before selling. You need it to unpair. If you have forgotten it, reset it at iforgot.apple.com before starting the unpair process. Doing it mid-unpair stalls the process and can leave the watch in an indeterminate state.

Frequently asked questions

Will resetting my Apple Watch delete my Activity rings?

Yes, if you erase the watch without unpairing first. The health data lives on the watch and syncs to the iPhone. If you unpair properly (Method 2), the iPhone creates a backup that includes your health and activity data. When you restore from that backup, your rings come back. Erasing directly on the watch (Method 3) deletes local data without creating a backup first.

Can I reset an Apple Watch without the paired iPhone?

Yes, using Method 3: Settings, General, Reset, Erase All Content and Settings. But Activation Lock remains, so you will need the Apple Account password that was used with the watch to set it up again. If you do not have that password, the watch is locked until you can recover it through Apple.

How long does an Apple Watch reset take?

A force restart takes about 30 seconds from button press to functional watch. An unpair via iPhone takes one to three minutes, depending on how much data is on the watch. An on-watch erase takes roughly the same. If the watch has a large photo library or many apps, the backup portion of unpairing can add a minute or two.

Do I need to reset my Apple Watch before pairing it with a new iPhone?

Yes, if you are switching to a new iPhone and want to keep your watch data. Unpair the watch from the old iPhone first (Method 2). This creates a backup on the old iPhone. When you set up the new iPhone, restore from your iCloud or computer backup, then open the Watch app and pair the watch. The app will offer to restore from the watch backup that was created during unpairing.

What happens to Apple Pay cards when I reset?

All Apple Pay cards are removed from the watch during an erase or unpair. The cards themselves are not cancelled. They remain active on the iPhone they were added from and on any other devices. You will need to re-add them to the watch after setting it up again, which takes about 30 seconds per card through the Watch app on iPhone.