To connect an Apple Watch to an iPhone 15, turn on the watch and hold it near the iPhone. When Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch appears, tap Continue, then point the iPhone camera at the animation on the watch face. Follow the steps in the Watch app to finish setup. You can also start from the Watch app by tapping Start Pairing.
Applies to: iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max with Apple Watch Series 4 or later, SE, or Ultra. Checked against Apple Support on October 10, 2026.
Before you start
- Check the watch model. iPhone 15 runs iOS 17 or later, which works with Apple Watch Series 4 and newer, all SE models, and all Ultra models. Series 3 and older can’t pair with an iPhone 15.
- Update the iPhone in Settings > General > Software Update.
- Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the iPhone.
- Charge the watch to at least 50%, and keep it on its charger during setup if you can.
- If the watch was paired with another iPhone, unpair it from that iPhone first. See the section on moving from an old iPhone below.
Step 1: Start pairing
- Turn on the Apple Watch by holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.
- Hold the watch close to your iPhone 15.
- When the pairing screen appears on the iPhone, tap Continue. If it doesn’t appear, open the Watch app and tap Start Pairing.
- Tap Set Up for Myself. Choose Set Up for a Family Member only if the watch is for someone without their own iPhone.
Step 2: Scan the animation
Hold the iPhone over the watch so the swirling animation fits inside the viewfinder. When the iPhone says Your Apple Watch is Paired, the two are connected.
If the camera won’t read it, tap Pair Manually, then tap the i button on the watch to show its name, and pick that name on the iPhone.
Step 3: Finish setup
- Choose Restore from Backup if you’ve had an Apple Watch before, or Set Up as New Apple Watch.
- Tap which wrist you wear it on.
- Agree to the terms and sign in with your Apple Account if asked.
- Create a passcode for the watch. It protects Apple Pay and lets you unlock the watch.
- Choose settings such as Activity, Emergency SOS, and Siri. If your watch has cellular, you can add it to your phone plan here or later.
- Keep the watch close to the iPhone until the sync finishes. This can take a while if you have many apps.
Things to set up after pairing
- Notifications: In the Watch app, open Notifications and choose which apps can alert you on your wrist.
- App layout: Open App View to switch between the grid and list layouts.
- Ping your iPhone: Swipe up for Control Center on the watch and tap the iPhone button to make your iPhone play a sound when you can’t find it.
- Camera remote: Open the Camera Remote app on the watch to see the iPhone camera view and take photos from your wrist.
- Health and fitness: Fill in your details in the Health app on the iPhone so activity and heart rate readings are more accurate.
Set up a watch for a family member
With Set Up for a Family Member, a child or older relative can use an Apple Watch with cellular without having their own iPhone. You manage it from your iPhone 15. They need their own Apple Account in your Family Sharing group, and the watch needs its own cellular plan. Not every watch model or carrier supports this, so check before you start.
Move your watch from an old iPhone to iPhone 15
The smoothest way is to update both the old iPhone and the watch first, then back up the old iPhone to iCloud. When you set up the iPhone 15 from that backup, it asks whether you want to use your Apple Watch. Tap Continue, and the watch moves over with your data. See how to set up a new iPhone 15.
If you already erased the old iPhone without unpairing the watch, erase the watch and pair it with the iPhone 15 as new, choosing Restore from Backup when offered.
Unpair an Apple Watch
- Open the Watch app on the iPhone it’s paired with.
- Tap All Watches at the top of the My Watch tab.
- Tap the i next to the watch, then Unpair Apple Watch.
- Enter your Apple Account password to turn off Activation Lock.
The iPhone makes a backup of the watch before it unpairs, so you can restore it later.
If the watch won’t pair
- The pairing screen never appears: Restart both devices, check Bluetooth is on, and start from the Watch app instead.
- The watch asks for another person’s Apple Account: It still has Activation Lock on. The previous owner must remove it from their account.
- Pairing fails partway: Erase the watch in Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, then try again.
- The watch is stuck on the Apple logo: Force restart it by holding the side button and the Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds.
- “Software update required”: Keep the watch on its charger and let it update during setup. It needs Wi-Fi through the iPhone.
If the watch disconnects later
A red iPhone icon or red X on the watch face means it has lost connection. Check that Airplane Mode is off on both devices and that Bluetooth is on, then bring the watch closer to the iPhone. If that doesn’t help, restart both. See how to restart an iPhone 15.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pair more than one Apple Watch with my iPhone 15?
Yes. Open the Watch app, tap All Watches > Add Watch. Only one watch is active at a time, and the iPhone switches automatically to the one you’re wearing.
Do I need to be on Wi-Fi?
You need an internet connection on the iPhone to activate the watch and sign in. Wi-Fi also makes the first sync much faster.
How long does pairing take?
Pairing itself takes a minute or two. Syncing apps and data, and any software update, can take from a few minutes to an hour.
Related: how to use Apple Pay on iPhone 15.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.