Apple Watch SE

Apple Watch SE

watchOS 8

I can't pair my Apple Watch SE watchOS 8 with my phone

Cause 3 of 4: Pairing and activation isn't done correctly

To pair your Apple Watch with your phone and activate it, it needs to be done correctly.

Solution: See how to activate your Apple Watch.

Step 1 of 26

Connect your Apple Watch and your phone

Place your Apple Watch next to your phone.

Step 2 of 26

Connect your Apple Watch and your phone

On your phone: Press Continue and follow the instructions on your phone to place the watch face in the middle of your phone's camera viewfinder.

Step 3 of 26

Connect your Apple Watch and your phone

On your phone: When this screen is displayed, your Apple Watch is connected to your phone.

Step 4 of 26

Set up your Apple Watch as a new Apple Watch

On your phone: Press Set Up for Myself.

Step 5 of 26

Set up your Apple Watch as a new Apple Watch

On your phone: Press Set Up Apple Watch.

Step 6 of 26

Select general settings

On your phone: Press the required setting and select on which wrist you want to wear the watch.

Step 7 of 26

Select general settings

On your phone: Press Continue.

Step 8 of 26

Select general settings

On your phone: Press Agree.

Step 9 of 26

Enter Apple ID password

On your phone: Press Enter Password.

Step 10 of 26

Enter Apple ID password

On your phone: Key in the password for your Apple ID and press Sign In.

Step 11 of 26

Turn tracking of workout route on or off

Press the required setting.

Step 12 of 26

Turn use of Siri on or off

On your phone: Press the required setting to turn the function on or off. If you turn on the function, you need to follow the instructions on the screen to set up Siri.

Step 13 of 26

Select watch settings

On your phone: Press the required setting.

Step 14 of 26

Select watch settings

On your phone: Press OK.

Step 15 of 26

Select watch settings

On your phone: Follow the instructions on the screen to select the required settings and press Continue.

Step 16 of 26

Choose accessibility settings

On your phone: Press the required setting.

Step 17 of 26

Turn use of phone lock code on or off

On your phone: Follow the instructions on the screen to turn on use of phone lock code or press Don't Add Passcode.

Step 18 of 26

Turn use of phone lock code on or off

On your phone: Press Don't Use Passcode.

Step 19 of 26

Turn automatic update on or off

On your phone: Press the required setting.

Step 20 of 26

View heart rate notification information

On your phone: Press Continue.

Step 21 of 26

View information about the emergency call function

On your phone: Press Continue.

Step 22 of 26

Set up mobile data on your Apple Watch

On your phone: Follow the instructions on the screen to set up mobile data on your Apple Watch or press Not Now.

Step 23 of 26

Install compatible apps from your phone

On your phone: Press Install All to install compatible apps from your phone on your Apple Watch. Wait a moment while the apps are installed.

Step 24 of 26

Install compatible apps from your phone

On your phone: Press the required setting.

Step 25 of 26

Install compatible apps from your phone

On your phone: Press Continue.

Step 26 of 26

Install compatible apps from your phone

On your phone: Press OK to finish the activation.

1 Connect your Apple Watch and your phone

Place your Apple Watch next to your phone.
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your phone.
On your phone: Press Continue and follow the instructions on your phone to place the watch face in the middle of your phone's camera viewfinder.
On your phone: When this screen is displayed, your Apple Watch is connected to your phone.

2 Set up your Apple Watch as a new Apple Watch

On your phone: Press Set Up for Myself.
If you've backed up content previously, you can restore the content.
On your phone: Press Set Up Apple Watch.

3 Select general settings

On your phone: Press the required setting and select on which wrist you want to wear the watch.
On your phone: Press Continue.
On your phone: Press Agree.

4 Enter Apple ID password

On your phone: Press Enter Password.
On your phone: Key in the password for your Apple ID and press Sign In.

5 Turn tracking of workout route on or off

Press the required setting.

6 Turn use of Siri on or off

On your phone: Press the required setting to turn the function on or off. If you turn on the function, you need to follow the instructions on the screen to set up Siri.
See how to select settings for Siri later after activation.

7 Select watch settings

On your phone: Press the required setting.
On your phone: Press OK.
On your phone: Follow the instructions on the screen to select the required settings and press Continue.

8 Choose accessibility settings

On your phone: Press the required setting.

9 Turn use of phone lock code on or off

On your phone: Follow the instructions on the screen to turn on use of phone lock code or press Don't Add Passcode.
On your phone: Press Don't Use Passcode.

10 Turn automatic update on or off

On your phone: Press the required setting.

11 View heart rate notification information

On your phone: Press Continue.

12 View information about the emergency call function

On your phone: Press Continue.

13 Set up mobile data on your Apple Watch

On your phone: Follow the instructions on the screen to set up mobile data on your Apple Watch or press Not Now.
See how to set up mobile data later after activation.

14 Install compatible apps from your phone

On your phone: Press Install All to install compatible apps from your phone on your Apple Watch. Wait a moment while the apps are installed.
On your phone: Press the required setting.
On your phone: Press Continue.
On your phone: Press OK to finish the activation.

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