To switch the Apple ID account used on your Apple Watch, you must change the Apple ID on the paired iPhone and then re-pair the watch. Your Apple Watch is inherently linked to the Apple ID signed in on your iPhone.
Steps to Switch Apple ID on Your Apple Watch:
Since the Apple Watch uses the same Apple ID as the paired iPhone, the primary method involves changing the Apple ID on the iPhone and then re-pairing the watch. Here's a detailed breakdown:
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Sign Out of Apple ID on iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on your name at the top.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out.
- Enter your Apple ID password and follow the prompts to turn off Find My and sign out.
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Sign In with New Apple ID on iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Sign in to your iPhone.
- Enter the email address and password for the new Apple ID you want to use.
- Follow the prompts to complete the sign-in process.
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Unpair Apple Watch from Old Apple ID:
- Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together during the unpairing process.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap the My Watch tab.
- Tap All Watches at the top.
- Tap the info button (i) next to the watch you want to unpair.
- Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
- If you have a cellular plan, choose to Keep Plan or Remove Plan, depending on whether you plan to use it with a different watch or not.
- Enter your Apple ID password to disable Activation Lock.
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Pair Apple Watch with New Apple ID:
- After unpairing, your Apple Watch will display the pairing screen.
- Bring your iPhone near the Apple Watch. A pairing prompt should appear on your iPhone.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to pair your Apple Watch with the iPhone using the new Apple ID.
- You can choose to Restore from Backup if you have a recent backup associated with this Apple ID, or set it up as new.
Important Considerations:
- Activation Lock: Unpairing the Apple Watch correctly removes Activation Lock, ensuring the watch is ready to be paired with a different Apple ID.
- Backups: Make sure you have a recent backup of your Apple Watch if you want to restore your data and settings after re-pairing. The backup needs to be associated with the new Apple ID to be usable.
- iCloud Services: After switching Apple IDs, ensure iCloud services like iCloud Keychain and Health data are properly configured to sync between your iPhone and Apple Watch.
In essence, switching the account on your Apple Watch requires a complete unpairing and re-pairing process tied to the Apple ID used on your iPhone.
