Apple Watch: How to properly unpair and reset your device

To properly prepare an Apple Watch for resale, donation, or troubleshooting, users must unpair the device from their iPhone rather than simply performing a factory reset on the watch itself.

Unpairing via the Watch app on the iPhone is the recommended method because it automatically triggers the removal of the Activation Lock. If the watch remains linked to an Apple ID, the new owner will be unable to use the device. This process also ensures that sensitive personal data—including health metrics, messages, and payment methods—is securely erased.

Additionally, unpairing through the iPhone allows the system to create an automatic backup of the watch data, which can be used for future setups. For cellular models, users can also choose whether to retain or remove their mobile service plan during this process.