Keeping Apple Watch but getting a new iPhone setup question

[Fatboy71]

Just wondering if someone could answer this question for me please.

I usually get a new iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time. This time around I am keeping the Apple Watch that I have, but I am getting a new iPhone.

I was wondering if its possible to leave my Apple Watch as it is (and by this I mean with all the apps, credit cards I have stored on it with Apple Pay) and then just connect it to my new iPhone when I get it. and thus keeping everything on the watch as it is now.

Or will I need to unpair my Apple Watch with my old iPhone and then pair it to my new iPhone. It's just with this method I assume the Apple Watch would be erased (after it had backed itself up to my old iPhone) and in doing so I would have to set my credit cards up again in Apple Wallet, and also it would have to then restore all of the apps, settings etc.

 

[Jackbequickly]

If you do the data transfer between the two phones, the new phone will have your watch data on it and ready to use.

You may have to re-activate your credit cards.

 

[Fatboy71]

Thanks for the help, appreciate it.

The data transfer method you mentioned, is this where you hold your old and new iPhone close to each other and you scan something on the screen?

How I usually set up a new iPhone is I take an encrypted backup of my old iPhone on my Mac (as this method backs up all the Health data) and I then restore my new iPhone off of this backup.

Does the data transfer method of holding the two iPhones close to each other transfer all the Health data like an encrypted backup does?

 

[onenorth]

The last time I got a new phone everything including Health transferred using the direct transfer. Make sure you are wearing the watch during the process when it asks if you want to transfer the watch. See link below.

Instructions

 

[Fatboy71]

The last time I got a new phone everything including Health transferred using the direct transfer. Make sure you are wearing the watch during the process when it asks if you want to transfer the watch. See link below.

Instructions

Thanks very much for the help, appreciate it.

I will have a read of the link and try setting up with the direct method instead of the method of restoring from the backup on my Mac, which is the method I normally use.

 

[onenorth]

Thanks very much for the help, appreciate it.

I will have a read of the link and try setting up with the direct method instead of the method of restoring from the backup on my Mac, which is the method I normally use.

It can be done either way. In the past I always used an iTunes backup but the last two phones (mine and my wife's) I used the direct transfer and it was smooth and oddly satisfying, so that will be my preferred method going forward.

Worst case, the instructions say that you may need to manually unpair and repair the watch after setting up the new phone. Good luck!

 

[Fatboy71]

It can be done either way. In the past I always used an iTunes backup but the last two phones (mine and my wife's) I used the direct transfer and it was smooth and oddly satisfying, so that will be my preferred method going forward.

Worst case, the instructions say that you may need to manually unpair and repair the watch after setting up the new phone. Good luck!

That's good to know, and thanks again. I definitely think I will try the direct method as I have never used it, and also I will take an encrypted backup on my Mac, in case for some reason I need to use it if things don't go smoothly with the direct method.

 

[webbuzz]

Thanks for posting this question. This will be my first time and it is giving me anxiety.😬

 

[Fatboy71]

Thanks for posting this question. This will be my first time and it is giving me anxiety.😬

No problem. I hope the answers that I have been given help us both out

 

[goldmac2006]

No problem. I hope the answers that I have been given help us both out

The first time when I upgraded to a new iPhone and transferred all data and Apple Watch to it, my Apple Watch prompted me to continue using it on the new iPhone. You have to be wearing it while you set up your new iPhone.

Otherwise, the traditional way of doing it is to unpair the Apple Watch off your old iPhone, do a backup on the existing iPhone through iCloud or the Finder/Apple Devices, and then after you restore the new iPhone from the backup, update it and set it up, pair the Apple Watch to the new iPhone. Treat it like when you multi pair or pair a new Apple Watch on your iPhone.

 

[Fatboy71]

The first time when I upgraded to a new iPhone and transferred all data and Apple Watch to it, my Apple Watch prompted me to continue using it on the new iPhone. You have to be wearing it while you set up your new iPhone.

Otherwise, the traditional way of doing it is to unpair the Apple Watch off your old iPhone, do a backup on the existing iPhone through iCloud or the Finder/Apple Devices, and then after you restore the new iPhone from the backup, update it and set it up, pair the Apple Watch to the new iPhone. Treat it like when you multi pair or pair a new Apple Watch on your iPhone.

Thanks for the help, appreciate it

 

[goldmac2006]

Thanks for the help, appreciate it

No problem. This may vary, as when I did it the second time I had to do the old fashioned method of pairing the Watch again to the new iPhone. I only done it on my Apple Watch Series 1 btw as I upgraded iPhones two times when I had it, so please excuse if any errors are caused.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

The first time when I upgraded to a new iPhone and transferred all data and Apple Watch to it, my Apple Watch prompted me to continue using it on the new iPhone. You have to be wearing it while you set up your new iPhone.

Otherwise, the traditional way of doing it is to unpair the Apple Watch off your old iPhone, do a backup on the existing iPhone through iCloud or the Finder/Apple Devices, and then after you restore the new iPhone from the backup, update it and set it up, pair the Apple Watch to the new iPhone. Treat it like when you multi pair or pair a new Apple Watch on your iPhone.

Quick question. When it connects to your new phone, then if you are getting rid of the old phone, do you just factory reset it

 

[Jackbequickly]

Quick question. When it connects to your new phone, then if you are getting rid of the old phone, do you just factory reset it

Always do a factory reset before having your phone leave your hands. Turn off find my phone.

 

[goldmac2006]

Quick question. When it connects to your new phone, then if you are getting rid of the old phone, do you just factory reset it

Always do a factory reset before having your phone leave your hands. Turn off find my phone.

Exactly, if you are upgrading through trade in of your iPhone then you should remove your iPhone from Find My, back up and secure your data with iCloud or through the Finder, and reset it.

 

[Fatboy71]

Just to come back with an update:
I got my new iPhone today and used the "data transfer method between the two iPhones".

Seamless process which took just around 90-120 minutes to complete. I did not need to set my Apple Watch up and it was working fine and was exactly as it was when used with my old iPhone, settings apps etc (and it contained all of my cards in Apple Wallet like it had done when connected with my old iPhone).

I didn't need to unpair or pair again either.

Thanks to everyone who helped me on this thread

 

[goldmac2006]

Just to come back with an update:
I got my new iPhone today and used the "data transfer method between the two iPhones".

Seamless process which took just around 90-120 minutes to complete. I did not need to set my Apple Watch up and it was working fine and was exactly as it was when used with my old iPhone, settings apps etc (and it contained all of my cards in Apple Wallet like it had done when connected with my old iPhone).

I didn't need to unpair or pair again either.

Thanks to everyone who helped me on this thread

No problem man. Just curious you are not upgrading your Apple Watch this year due to the blood oxygen disabled on the S10, right?

 

[Fatboy71]

No problem man. Just curious you are not upgrading your Apple Watch this year due to the blood oxygen disabled on the S10, right?

I'm in the UK so the blood oxygen sensor wasn't disabled. I really hope the patent dispute gets sorted out soon for the US customers, it's a real shame they aren't able to use it at present.

I'm keeping my Ultra 2 this year, as I prefer the Ultra more than the standard Apple Watches now.

 

[goldmac2006]

I'm in the UK so the blood oxygen sensor wasn't disabled. I really hope the patent dispute gets sorted out soon for the US customers, it's a real shame they aren't able to use it at present.

I'm keeping my Ultra 2 this year, as I prefer the Ultra more than the standard Apple Watches now.

If you already have the natural titanium ultra 2, then yes I agree to continue wearing it for another year. The black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 is just an aesthetic change; no S10 chip is present inside it.

 

[MJedi]

I did the iPhone to iPhone transfer. The Watch app prompted me to pair each of my 2 Apple Watches. The process was supposedly successful. However, when I opened the Watch app later, it showed no watches paired and was at the Pair New Watch screen. 🙁