How to Verify Apple Watch Health Data Before Switching iPhones

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Enable Health Data in iCloud

   Open Settings on your current iPhone. Tap your Apple ID banner at the top, select iCloud, then tap Show All under 'Apps Using iCloud'. Toggle the Health switch to the ON position to ensure your activity, sleep, and heart rate data sync to the cloud.

2. 1 min

   Confirm Latest Sync Time

   Open the Health app on your iPhone. Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner. Scroll down to the 'Features' section to confirm that 'Health Data' indicates it is currently syncing or recently updated via iCloud.

   Note: If the sync date is old, keep your phone connected to Wi-Fi and power until it refreshes.
3. 2 min

   Initiate Encrypted iPhone Backup

   Connect your iPhone to a computer or ensure iCloud Backup is active. If using a computer, select 'Encrypt local backup' in the Finder or iTunes settings; this is mandatory to preserve Health and Activity data. Click 'Back Up Now' to save the current device state.

   Note: Unencrypted backups do not include sensitive Health and Activity data.
4. 3 min

   Unpair the Apple Watch

   Open the Watch app on your iPhone and navigate to the 'My Watch' tab. Tap 'All Watches' at the top left, then tap the information icon next to your watch. Select 'Unpair Apple Watch' to force a final backup of your watch data to the paired iPhone.

   Note: Do not skip this step, as unpairing creates a critical backup of your Watch data.
5. 1 min

   Verify Backup Completion

   Return to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup on your iPhone. Ensure the 'Last Successful Backup' timestamp occurred after you finished the unpairing process. Your health data is now safely secured and ready for restoration to your new device.