Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch

Need to restore your Apple Watch? Did you upgrade the Apple Watch you have to a newer model? Perhaps, you accidentally set it up as a new device and you want all the data you had on your old Apple Watch? If so, you may be interested in learning how you can restore your Apple Watch from a previous Apple Watch backup.

Just like iPhones, iPads, and Macs, your Apple Watch uses backups to store all your data in case you ever need it later. Unlike other devices, you don’t actually need to manually back up your Apple Watch because it automatically backs up all your data to the iPhone it’s paired with. When you back up your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes, your Apple Watch backups are also included in the data.

If you’re having trouble accessing your previous Apple Watch data on your new Apple Watch, don’t fret. In this article, we’ll be discussing how you can restore your Apple Watch from a previous backup.

How to Restore Apple Watch from Backup

You cannot manually restore your Apple Watch from a previous backup once it’s set up already. Hence, you’ll need to unpair your Apple Watch and set it up all over again. Simply follow the steps below.

  1. Launch the Apple Watch app on the companion iPhone.

    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
  2. This should take you to the “My Watch” section of the app. Here, tap on “All Watches” located at the top-left corner of the screen.

    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
  3. Next, select the Apple Watch you’re currently using and tap on the “i” icon next to it.

    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
  4. In this menu, select the “Unpair Apple Watch” option.

    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
  5. You’ll now be prompted to type in your Apple ID password. Enter the details and tap on “Unpair” to initiate the process. It could take a minute or two to complete.

    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
  6. Now, you’ll see the following screen in the Apple Watch app. Tap on “Start Pairing” to pair the Apple Watch you just unpaired.

    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
  7. Next, instead of setting up as a new Apple Watch, select the previous backup that you want to use and tap on “Continue”.

    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch
    Restore from backup or set up as new apple watch

You’re good to go at this point. It’ll take several minutes to set up your Apple Watch with all your old data.

Other than this method, there’s no other way to restore an Apple Watch from a previous backup. So, if you ever want to use a different backup data at some point, you’ll need to unpair your Apple Watch and redo the whole process by following the above steps again.

It’s worth pointing out that when you unpair an Apple Watch, your iPhone will automatically create a backup of your Apple Watch before all the data is erased. However, if your Apple Watch is unpaired when it’s out of range of the companion iPhone, the backup might not happen and you may not have access to the latest data.

Note that Apple Watch backups do not include data like Bluetooth pairings, credit or debit cards that are used for Apple Pay, passcode, and messages. Also, if you’ve set up an Apple Watch for a family member using your iPhone, the backups will be made directly to the family member’s iCloud account instead of your iPhone.

We hope you were able to restore your Apple Watch data from a previous backup without any issues. Do you want Apple to give users the option to manually backup data whenever necessary? Let us know your valuable opinions and share your personal experiences in the comments section down below.

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Should I restore my new Apple Watch from backup or set up as new?

It depends. If you are upgrading and replacing, you should set up from backup and reset the original. If you plan to use both, set up as a new watch. The first method will move Apple Pay etc.

What does it mean to restore from backup Apple Watch?

Your Apple Watch is backed up automatically to your paired iPhone, and you can restore it from a stored backup. Apple Watch backups are included when you back up your iPhone—either to iCloud, or to your Mac or PC.

Do I need to restore an Apple Watch from backup?

Your Apple Watch data is backed up to the iPhone that it's paired with. * This happens automatically as long as your iPhone and Apple Watch are near each other, so you don't need to do anything to keep your watch backed up.

How do I restore my Apple Watch to a new Apple Watch?

Restore Apple Watch From Backup.
Log into your Apple account and perform two-step verification on one of your devices..
When the Your Apple Watch Is Paired appears, tap Restore from Backup..
Tap the backup you want to use..
When the Terms and Conditions screen appears, tap Agree..