Am Switching from an iPhone 12 to an iPhone 6S for a month; will APPLE WATCH still record Sleep Data via the Health App? (Viewable with iPad?)

[DigitalAR]

I have an iPhone 12 running iOS 18 and also have an S4 Apple Watch running WatchOS 10.

For the next month I'll be switching to an iPhone 6S but wish to continue using my Apple Watch and tracking my sleep, which is most important feature to me of owning this Apple Watch.

I just read that iPhone 6S will not support my AW running Watch OS 10.

However, I do also have an iPad Air 3 already connected to my iCloud and am wondering if for the next month if ill be able to see my Sleep data in the Health app on my iPad.

(All devices are running their latest respective OSes)

 

[jz0309]

I have an iPhone 12 running iOS 18 and also have an S4 Apple Watch running WatchOS 10.

For the next month I'll be switching to an iPhone 6S but wish to continue using my Apple Watch and tracking my sleep, which is most important feature to me of owning this Apple Watch.

I just read that iPhone 6S will not support my AW running Watch OS 10.

However, I do also have an iPad Air 3 already connected to my iCloud and am wondering if for the next month if ill be able to see my Sleep data in the Health app on my iPad.

(All devices are running their latest respective OSes)

I am pretty sure that the AW syncs the data with the phone which then syncs with iCloud, so, I do not believe you'll see any data on the iPad.
Not sure what you're doing with your iPhone 12 - will you keep the AW paired? that would be a pre-requisite to begin with. And I suppose your AW not being connected via BT/wifi to your phone for a month should work but don't recall anyone here ever posting of being "disconnected" for such a period of time.

 

[DigitalAR]

I am pretty sure that the AW syncs the data with the phone which then syncs with iCloud, so, I do not believe you'll see any data on the iPad.
Not sure what you're doing with your iPhone 12 - will you keep the AW paired? that would be a pre-requisite to begin with. And I suppose your AW not being connected via BT/wifi to your phone for a month should work but don't recall anyone here ever posting of being "disconnected" for such a period of time.

I was planning on selling the iPhone 12 and using the 6S for a month until I bought the 16E or 15 Pro.

Am guessing I could go the month only looking at the sleep data and fitness activity data the Watch itself for the next 30 days and presumably all the info would sync back up once I purchase the new phone.

 

[jz0309]

I was planning on selling the iPhone 12 and using the 6S for a month until I bought the 16E or 15 Pro.

Am guessing I could go the month only looking at the sleep data and fitness activity data the Watch itself for the next 30 days and presumably all the info would sync back up once I purchase the new phone.

Well, if you are selling the 12 - part of wiping that phone will have to be un-pairing it from the AW, no way around it.
The AW has to be paired with a phone in order to work, no way around that.
Your plan as is will not work, sorry.

Either get the new phone right away or get another interim phone that is compatible with your AW

 

[DigitalAR]

Well, if you are selling the 12 - part of wiping that phone will have to be un-pairing it from the AW, no way around it.
The AW has to be paired with a phone in order to work, no way around that.
Your plan as is will not work, sorry.

Either get the new phone right away or get another interim phone that is compatible with your AW

No, Im selling it as parts. The screen is broken. (The iPhone 12) it still charges and turns on but can’t view or read the screen. Makes sense data has still been syncing since it’s plugged in at home.

 

[jz0309]

No, Im selling it as parts. The screen is broken. (The iPhone 12) it still charges and turns on but can’t view or read the screen. Makes sense data has still been syncing since it’s plugged in at home.

So if you watch is still paired to your 12, assuming you “take it apart to sell parts” during tha month - how do you think you can pair it to the new phone? AW can only be paired to 1 phone at a time, and it has to be in “un-pair” mode in order to pair with a new phone…

What am I not understanding with your plan?

 

[kitKAC]

Don't forget, when a Watch is unpaired from an iPhone, its data is backed up to the paired iPhone. An unpared Watch is wiped.

 

[goldmac2006]

So if you watch is still paired to your 12, assuming you “take it apart to sell parts” during tha month - how do you think you can pair it to the new phone? AW can only be paired to 1 phone at a time, and it has to be in “un-pair” mode in order to pair with a new phone…

What am I not understanding with your plan?

Another common mistake Apple Watch wearers make is pairing an Apple Watch with a newer watchOS version and an older iPhone. In such cases, the Apple Watch will not be able to pair with the iPhone.





For instance, an iPhone 6s or 7 running iOS 15 (its capped version) and an Apple Watch Series 8 running watchOS 10/11 would not be compatible with older iOS versions on these iPhone .





However, the situation is different if the Apple Watch is an older watchOS version and the iPhone is running a newer watchOS version. In this case, you can still use a Series 0 or 1 Apple Watch with an iPhone running iOS 18 for example



Personally, I owned my Apple Watch Series 1 running watchOS 6 paired to three different iPhones running newer iOS versions over the past 7 years. I continued using the watch until the screen started to pop out and the battery began to drain quickly.

 

[Regulus67]

My main phone is an iPhone 6s, paired to apple watch 3.
What others have mentioned here is correct.

I also use the Health app on my iPad Pro 12,9" M1 (iPadOS 17). But I have to first sync the data to the iPhone, and then to the iPad.

 

[doogm]

So if you watch is still paired to your 12, assuming you “take it apart to sell parts” during tha month - how do you think you can pair it to the new phone? AW can only be paired to 1 phone at a time, and it has to be in “un-pair” mode in order to pair with a new phone…

What am I not understanding with your plan?

Even if you can't unpair from the phone, you can factory reset the watch from the watch itself, which would then allow it to be paired to a new phone. So that is still do-able.

See the bottom part of https://support.apple.com/en-us/108372

But I generally concur with the advice to get a new phone first if at all possible.

 

[McNads]

Another common mistake Apple Watch wearers make is pairing an Apple Watch with a newer watchOS version and an older iPhone. In such cases, the Apple Watch will not be able to pair with the iPhone.





For instance, an iPhone 6s or 7 running iOS 15 (its capped version) and an Apple Watch Series 8 running watchOS 10/11 would not be compatible with older iOS versions on these iPhone .





However, the situation is different if the Apple Watch is an older watchOS version and the iPhone is running a newer watchOS version. In this case, you can still use a Series 0 or 1 Apple Watch with an iPhone running iOS 18 for example



Personally, I owned my Apple Watch Series 1 running watchOS 6 paired to three different iPhones running newer iOS versions over the past 7 years. I continued using the watch until the screen started to pop out and the battery began to drain quickly.

If needed you can have Apple mail in the Watch for a downgrade, assuming it’s a model that would support the version required by iOS.

 

[okkibs]

Just use the Watch as is and once you restore the new iPhone from a backup of your iPhone 12 it will continue syncing with the Watch and it will update and sync the sleep and other health data such as workouts that the watch has stored in the meantime.

Don't try to pair or reset it for the old iPhone, the OS versions aren't compatible and if you reset the Watch all Watch data is likely permanently lost. So all new health data that hasn't been synced yet as well as watch faces and other settings.

 

[goldmac2006]

If needed you can have Apple mail in the Watch for a downgrade, assuming it’s a model that would support the version required by iOS.

The common strategy you all employ, especially if you frequently beta test on your iPhone and Apple Watch, is to coordinate with AppleCare. They can either mail in the repair or drop it off at an Apple Store via a Genius Bar appointment.

It’s important to note that the diagnostic tools are intended for internal use only. They require a special dock that uses the charging cable of the Apple Watch. This dock enables the device to be capable of restoring or downgrading its software using a computer.

 

[Takerouw]

I have an iPhone 12 running iOS 18 and also have an S4 Apple Watch running WatchOS 10.

For the next month I'll be switching to an iPhone 6S but wish to continue using my Apple Watch and tracking my sleep, which is most important feature to me of owning this Apple Watch.

I just read that iPhone 6S will not support my AW running Watch OS 10.

However, I do also have an iPad Air 3 already connected to my iCloud and am wondering if for the next month if ill be able to see my Sleep data in the Health app on my iPad.

(All devices are running their latest respective OSes)

Unfortunately, it’s not possible. WatchOS 10 requires an iPhone running iOS 17 or later, while the iPhone 6s only supports up to iOS 15. Therefore, it cannot communicate with WatchOS 10.

On the other hand, a newer version of iOS can still connect with an older version of WatchOS.

 

[goldmac2006]

Unfortunately, it’s not possible. WatchOS 10 requires an iPhone running iOS 17 or later, while the iPhone 6s only supports up to iOS 15. Therefore, it cannot communicate with WatchOS 10.

On the other hand, a newer version of iOS can still connect with an older version of WatchOS.

That is why I wrote that statement as many iPhone users said last summer during iOS 18 beta testing season, that many could not pair their watches if their AWs ran watchOS 11 and they'd want to downgrade to one whole iOS version back like iOS 17.

If it is a small update like 18.5 back to 18.4.1- no issue with downgrade. Tested it with an XR to roll back from 18.1 beta 5 to beta 2, my AW6 still kept paired.

 

[kitKAC]

Just use the Watch as is and once you restore the new iPhone from a backup of your iPhone 12 it will continue syncing with the Watch and it will update and sync the sleep and other health data such as workouts that the watch has stored in the meantime.

Don't try to pair or reset it for the old iPhone, the OS versions aren't compatible and if you reset the Watch all Watch data is likely permanently lost. So all new health data that hasn't been synced yet as well as watch faces and other

Doesn't work.

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...recorded-after-paired-iphone-is-lost.2457481/