Will Watch data persist across an iOS clean install?

[herp]

iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 18 with Watch Ultra 2

I just got a Watch Ultra 3 but need to upgrade iOS to set it up. I'd like to do a clean install as well.

After I upgrade both phone and WU2 to the latest software, I'll download the ipsw file to clean install my phone in DFU mode. My assumption is I should unpair the watch prior to the clean install. Is this correct? How can I ensure my watch/health data stays on the watch when unpairing, and then is synced to the phone after re-pairing?

 

[jz0309]

iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 18 with Watch Ultra 2

I just got a Watch Ultra 3 but need to upgrade iOS to set it up. I'd like to do a clean install as well.

After I upgrade both phone and WU2 to the latest software, I'll download the ipsw file to clean install my phone in DFU mode. My assumption is I should unpair the watch prior to the clean install. Is this correct? How can I ensure my watch/health data stays on the watch when unpairing, and then is synced to the phone after re-pairing?

your health data is stored in iCloud (unless you explicitly turned that off), and while all other data is backed up to the phone during un-pair - since you are planning to do a clean install on that iPhone, your watch backup would be wiped.
But, there is not really any "watch data" other than watch faces and cellular info. If I were you, I'd setup the U3 as "new". Again, your health data will sync back from iCloud. Some people have reported that the iCloud sync might take a while, as in a few hours to a day or so.

 

[herp]

your health data is stored in iCloud (unless you explicitly turned that off), and while all other data is backed up to the phone during un-pair - since you are planning to do a clean install on that iPhone, your watch backup would be wiped.
But, there is not really any "watch data" other than watch faces and cellular info. If I were you, I'd setup the U3 as "new". Again, your health data will sync back from iCloud. Some people have reported that the iCloud sync might take a while, as in a few hours to a day or so.

I have iCloud health off. You're right the rest of the watch data isn't substantial - easy enough to re-do that. But my health data is the primary concern. It is so aggravating there is no granular backup to computer option for iOS.

 

[jz0309]

I have iCloud health off. You're right the rest of the watch data isn't substantial - easy enough to re-do that. But my health data is the primary concern. It is so aggravating there is no granular backup to computer option for iOS.

turn it on, the sync will take some time though. 10 years of using AW on iCloud mine is just under 1GB ...
Health data is NOT on the watch, it gets sync'd to iPhone, I do not backup my iPhone to iCloud, just health and passwords and bookmarks. And while it's backed up to my Mac, my iPhone, I would not know how to restore just health data.
Other option is of course not to do a clean install on iPhone, I've migrate my new iPhones for the past 10 years or so, never been an issue.
My suggestion: turn on iCloud backup for Health

 

[Shirasaki]

Watch data is retained on your iPhone. Clean install iOS will wipe that. I am not sure if iCloud backup can back up watch data.

 

[kitKAC]

I am not sure if iCloud backup can back up watch data.

Maybe if the Watch becomes a truly independent device one day, but not today.

 

[doogm]

iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 18 with Watch Ultra 2

I just got a Watch Ultra 3 but need to upgrade iOS to set it up. I'd like to do a clean install as well.

After I upgrade both phone and WU2 to the latest software, I'll download the ipsw file to clean install my phone in DFU mode. My assumption is I should unpair the watch prior to the clean install. Is this correct? How can I ensure my watch/health data stays on the watch when unpairing, and then is synced to the phone after re-pairing?

Just to answer the last question, you cannot. The only way to pair a watch to an iPhone that has been freshly installed is to wipe the watch, clearing off any data. And while unpairing a watch will store a backup of the watch settings and faces and app installs to the paired iPhone, you won't get them back if you do a fresh install on the iPhone.

As others have said, there are ways to backup and restore (or sync) at least the health data.

The best is to use iCloud sync of health data, so the health app will have your historical data.

For watch faces, you can share them using the iPhone watch app (you may be able to do this on the watch itself, though I've never tried) prior to the fresh install to a source somewhere (for example, the Notes app, or email them to yourself) and the open those to re-install them to the watch - but I think you'd want to install the apps that are included in the complications before re-creating the watch faces.

I can't think of a way to do this with settings. I keep a checklist of things to change whenever I do a fresh install of watchOS or iOS, but I don't really change that much.

If you don't want iCloud sync of Health data for some reason, an iPhone encrypted backup to a computer will store the health data. You can then use the app iMazing to do a partial restore of just the health data from the old backup. This is probably riskier than using iCloud sync of health data.