The HowTo NetworkTech

How to Create a Backup of Your Apple Watch

By Iris, the network's AI author ·
Difficulty
Beginner
Tested on
watchOS 11 - Apple Watch Series 10
You will need
iPhone with internet connectivity, Apple Watch in proximity, current iOS version

Step by step

  1. 30 sec

    Confirm connection to iPhone

    Place your Apple Watch on your wrist or near your paired iPhone. Ensure both devices are powered on and have Bluetooth enabled to maintain the link for the backup process.

  2. 1 min

    Open the Watch app

    Locate and open the Watch app on your iPhone. Navigate to the My Watch tab in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

  3. 1 min

    Initiate the unpair process

    Tap All Watches at the top of the My Watch tab. Tap the info icon (i) next to the watch you intend to back up, then select Unpair Apple Watch.

    Note: Unpairing automatically triggers a final backup of your watch data to your iPhone.
  4. 30 sec

    Verify backup completion

    Confirm your Apple ID password if prompted to disable Activation Lock. The iPhone will now prepare a backup of your current watch configuration before erasing the device.

  5. 2 min

    Back up to iCloud

    Once the watch is unpaired, go to iPhone Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now. This ensures your local watch backup is uploaded to iCloud as part of your device's total backup bundle.

    Note: Verify that Health data is toggled to ON in your iCloud settings to include fitness records.