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dmccombs

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 13, 2013
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I have 1 Apple Watch now. It is connected to my iphone and running smoothly. I am now buying a 2nd watch and have a question on how to set it up exactly like the first. What is the best way?

Option #1:
My current watch has an icloud back-up from when I upgrade my old watch a couple months ago. I know I can set up the new watch using that. The only down side is that the new watch wont have the watchfaces and setup changes that I added/made over the last few months.

Option #2: I know I could unpair and repair my current watch to create a new back-up. I don't want to do that because then I have to setup my Apple pay credit cards and several bluetooth devices which is bit of a hassle.

Option #3: When setting up the new watch, I think I can specify to copy the settings of a nearby watch, maybe I am mixing this up with phone setups.... If this is possible, I could set the 2 watches next to each other and have the new watch copy the old watch settings. Can this be done using WatchOS 9?

Or, do you have a better way that I didn't list here?
 
Last edited:
I have 1 Apple Watch now. It is connected to my iphone and running smoothly. I am now buying a 2nd watch and have a question on how to set it up exactly like the first. What is the best way?

Option #1:
My current watch has an icloud back-up from when I upgrade my old watch a couple months ago. I know I can set up the new watch using that. The only down side is that the new watch wont have the watchfaces and setup changes that I added/made over the last few months.

Option #2: I know I could unpair and repair my current watch to create a new back-up. I don't want to do that because then I have to setup my Apple pay credit cards and several bluetooth devices which is bit of a hassle.

Option #3: When setting up the new watch, I think I can specify to copy the settings of a nearby watch, maybe I am mixing this up with phone setups.... If this is possible, I could set the 2 watches next to each other and have the new watch copy the old watch settings. Can this be done using WatchOS 9?

Or, do you have a better way that I didn't list here?

Your current watch is constantly being backed up. So when you get your new watch and pair it, you will get the option of restoring the latest backup on your new watch.

Just as an example: when I got my ultra two weeks ago I just went to pair it while having my current watch still paired to my phone. The process allowed me to select my current watch’s backup. Therefore I had two watches paired to my phone with exact same settings.
 
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Just activate it the same as you did the first one. I have a white ceramic edition and an SS and just paired both as if I bought them the first time. Both synch with iCloud and when I fancy wearing the SS for evening times I just put on and it synchs everything including daily activity.

The only thing I need to do is start my whats app client on the watch so it communicates with my iPhone. Everything else just works perfectly.
 
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I setup new watches always as new, gives me an opportunity to review all my settings and also to check out new watch faces ... I currently have 3 Ads (Ultra, 7, 4). But you can do it either way
 
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Your current watch is constantly being backed up. So when you get your new watch and pair it, you will get the option of restoring the latest backup on your new watch.

Just as an example: when I got my ultra two weeks ago I just went to pair it while having my current watch still paired to my phone. The process allowed me to select my current watch’s backup. Therefore I had two watches paired to my phone with exact same settings.

Just activate it the same as you did the first one. I have a white ceramic edition and an SS and just paired both as if I bought them the first time. Both synch with iCloud and when I fancy wearing the SS for evening times I just put on and it synchs everything including daily activity.

The only thing I need to do is start my whats app client on the watch so it communicates with my iPhone. Everything else just works perfectly.
Great, thanks for your replies. Very informative.
 
My daughter moved up from the Series 4 41mm to the Series 8 (same size) and was going to trade in, but was quoted just $50 for the trade in. Instead, she gave me the Series 4. I now have the Series 8, 45mm and the Series 4. I just used one of my backups to set it up and it is a great backup watch, which I wear once a week or so. I recycled my Stainless Steel Series 0 a few weeks ago - it was expensive seven years ago when I purchased. It was worth zero when I recycled.
 
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