How to restore to new AW without erasing old AW?

[spinedoc77]

Just picked up a new AW, but I'm keeping my old AW for workouts. From what I understand to get a backup of your AW you have to erase it, and then it will be available to restore to the new AW. My issue is that I don't want to erase my old AW as I'm keeping it, but want the exact same setup on my new AW. When setting up the new AW there is no backup from my old AW in the list. Is there any way to do this?

 

[mollyc]

If you unpair your old watch it will make a backup. Then re-pair it. You should then be able to set up your second watch.

 

[spinedoc77]

If you unpair your old watch it will make a backup. Then re-pair it. You should then be able to set up your second watch.

Yes but unpairing my old watch will erase and reset it!

 

[mollyc]

Right but when you re-pair it, it will go back as before. Then you can use that backup on your phone for your new watch.


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205792

you need to unpair your first watch to make a current backup. But then just re-pair it to restore it.

 

[spinedoc77]

Right but when you re-pair it, it will go back as before. Then you can use that backup on your phone for your new watch.


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205792

you need to unpair your first watch to make a current backup. But then just re-pair it to restore it.

I see, so the new backup will be available to restore on both watches. Thanks I'll give it a go.

 

[Shirasaki]

There is currently no way to force a backup of AW other than unpairing and repairing the AW. I don’t think you have much options here.

 

[spinedoc77]

Right but when you re-pair it, it will go back as before. Then you can use that backup on your phone for your new watch.


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205792

you need to unpair your first watch to make a current backup. But then just re-pair it to restore it.

Weird, I unpaired the old watch but when setting up the new watch that backup isn’t listed. If I try to setup the old watch the backup is listed. I guess there is no choice but to setup the new watch without a backup.

 

[mollyc]

Admittedly I only have one watch. But you don't see a Step 3 from the Apple instructions? Lots of people have two watches and wear them back and forth.

 

[spinedoc77]

I figured it out. Looks like my new AW was on a lower OS than the backup, so it wouldn't show up. I ended up setting it up as a new watch, then updated to 6.1 and unpaired it. On the new pairing the back up from the old AW showed up.