Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. Guides

How to back up your Apple Watch

By and
apple extends watch warranty
Carlos Vega/Digital Trends

The best way to think about your Apple Watch is as an extension of your iPhone, rather than a completely separate device. That means that pairing your Apple Watch to your iPhone automatically sends the content from your watch to your iPhone. Therefore, when you back up your iPhone, all your Apple Watch data is backed up as well. In this guide, we show you how to back up your Apple Watch, whether it be an Apple Watch Series 6, Series 5, Series 4, or an older model.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

10 minutes

What You Need

  • Apple watch

If you perform regular backups of your iPhone, then your Apple Watch data should already be backed up. We show you how to check that it is, just in case. We also explain how to restore it and review what the backup does and doesn’t include.

How to back up the Apple Watch

Your Apple Watch data will back up to your iPhone regularly, as long as it’s in range. The process of unpairing an Apple Watch will also automatically create a backup. When you pair that watch again, or a new watch, you’ll be able to restore the latest backup if you want.

Step 1: First, be sure to have your device connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Step 2: On your iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. Toggle the control on if it’s off.

Related

Step 3: Tap iCloud > iCloud Backup. Toggle the control on if it’s off.

Step 4: Make sure Watch is toggled on.

Step 5: Tap Back Up Now if it has not been backed up recently, or just do it anyway for the most recent data record.

What if I get a new Apple Watch?

The moment you unpair your Apple Watch, the device will immediately back up to your iPhone. That way, if you get a brand new Apple Watch, you can follow just a few simple steps to restore your device from a previous backup:

Step 1: Open the Watch app.

Step 2: Choose Start Pairing.

Step 3: Choose Restore From Backup.

From there, you can follow any of the instructions that appear on your screen to complete the process. Be sure to agree to the terms and sign in with your Apple ID.

What if I get a new iPhone?

Your Apple Watch is an accessory for your iPhone. As long as your iPhone has been backed up properly and is up to date, then you shouldn’t have any problems restoring your data to your Apple Watch. Once you’ve restored your iPhone through a previous backup, you can follow the steps above to connect your Apple Watch to the new device.

Will the backup include everything?

The backup does not include absolutely everything. It doesn’t include:

  • Bluetooth pairings
  • Credit or debit cards used for Apple Pay on the watch
  • The watch passcode
  • Messages (if you use iCloud and Messages in iCloud, your iMessages, text, and multimedia messages are stored in iCloud)

The backup does include:

  • App data for built-in apps like Mail, Calendar, Stocks, and Weather
  • Settings for built-in and third-party apps
  • Your home screen app layout
  • Clock face settings and customizations
  • Dock settings
  • General system settings
  • Health and fitness data history
  • Notification settings
  • Playlists, albums, and mixes that are synced
  • Siri voice feedback settings
  • Any synced photos under the My Watch > Photos > Synced Albums in your Apple Watch app
  • Time zone information

Now that you’ve ensured your information is up to date and backed up safely, have some fun with your device. Explore some of our favorites from the best Apple Watch apps and watch face guides.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Simon Hill
Simon Hill
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…
Best back-to-school Apple Pencil deals: Save on both generations
The 2nd gen Apple Pencil laying on a table.

With the first day of school about three weeks away, depending on where you live, parents are returning to thinking about school supplies. While students themselves are trying to squeeze out every last joyful moment of summer, parents know that the time is short lived and school bells will arrive at any moment. For many, this means picking up lined paper or a sturdier binder that didn't have to face 2022. But, for others, it might include a Chromebook for students or something to make notetaking a little easier. For yet others, it might include these great deals on the Apple Pencil 1 and 2 that we've seen pop up this year, which make great companions for the Back-to-School iPad deals we're also seeing.
Apple Pencil (1st Gen) — $79, was $99

The original Apple Pencil is a handy, precision-controlled device that translates your hand movements to a tablet, much like paper. With real pencils we can tilt our pencils sideways to create thicker lines. And so can we with the Apple Pencil 1, which uses tilt to determine line thickness and pressure to determine color density. It's a great way to help your students keep up their hand-written note-taking skills while also being able to interact with today's increasingly digital school materials.

Read more
This deal gets you an Apple Watch for under $150 — no strings attached
The screen of the Apple Watch SE showing its apps.

One of the best Apple Watch deals continues to be at Walmart. For $149, you can grab yourself the Apple Watch SE (1st gen) 40mm. It's proving incredibly popular but is still hanging on in terms of stock levels. Alternatively, depending on where you live, you might be able to still snag the 44mm model for just $179 but stock is getting extremely tough to track down for that one. Focus on the Apple Watch SE (1st gen) 40mm and you get a great smartwatch for $130 off the regular price. Here's what else you need to know about it.

Why you should buy the Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE (1st gen) is a good option for anyone who wants many of the features that the best smartwatches but doesn't mind missing out on a few key details and a performance boost in exchange for a much lower price tag. At launch, the Apple Watch SE (1st gen) was considered to be the best Apple Watch for most people and while the second generation is available now, it's still pretty good.

Read more
Best back-to-school iPad deals: Get an Apple tablet for $220
Someone using Final Cut Pro on an iPad.

If you need one of the best iPad deals for taking back to school, or simply for fun, we're here to help. With some great iPad deals going on right now, we've highlighted some of the best of the bunch. Below, we've picked out iPads covering various different budgets so there's something for everyone here from the basic iPad to the iPad Pro. Let's take a look at what's best for you.
Apple iPad (64GB, Wi-Fi, 7th Gen) -- $220, was $249

This Apple iPad 7th generation might not be very new anymore but thanks to Apple supporting its products for a while to come, it remains a good option for those wanting to keep costs down. This particular model is refurbished so it's had a previous owner but has since been restored to excellent quality, just like if you bought it new. It offers a 10.2-inch Retina display with a 2160 x 1620 resolution, Apple A10 Fusion chip, and a massive 128GB of storage space. It also has a 8MP camera although it's best suited for occasional snaps or video calls rather than pure photography. It's a great introduction to tablets if you want something iPadOS based without spending a lot.

Read more