How to Reset Your Wearable Device Passcode

Difficulty
Intermediate
Tested on
watchOS 10.5 - Apple Watch Series 9
You will need
USB charging cable, Paired smartphone, Stable Wi-Fi connection

Step by step

  1. 1 min

    Connect to power

    Place your wearable device on its magnetic charger. The reset process requires a consistent power source to ensure the firmware does not corrupt during the data wipe.

    Note: Do not remove the device from the charger until the entire reset process is complete.
  2. 30 sec

    Trigger the power menu

    Press and hold the side button on your device until the Power Off slider appears on the display. Do not slide to power off; instead, remain on this screen.

  3. 30 sec

    Access the erase command

    Press and hold the Digital Crown or the primary interaction button while on the Power Off screen. Wait until the Erase all content and settings option appears on the display.

  4. 30 sec

    Confirm the reset

    Tap Reset, then tap Reset again to confirm your selection. This action permanently deletes all personal data, apps, and the current passcode from the local storage.

    Note: Ensure your device is backed up via your smartphone if you intend to recover your data later.
  5. 3 min

    Allow the device to process

    The device will display a progress indicator while it formats the internal memory. This process may take several minutes depending on the volume of data previously stored.

  6. 1 min

    Complete initial setup

    Once the device restarts to the 'Welcome' screen, follow the on-screen prompts to pair it with your smartphone. Select 'Restore from Backup' during the pairing process to recover your apps and settings.

    Note: You will be prompted to create a new passcode during the final stages of the setup flow.