How do I Reset my Apple Watch without Apple ID or phone?

Answered by Antonio Sutton

To start, let me share a personal experience. A few months back, I found myself in a situation where I needed to reset my Apple Watch without having access to my Apple ID or iPhone. It was quite a frustrating scenario, but fortunately, I managed to figure it out. Allow me to guide you through the steps I followed.

Firstly, ensure that your watch is connected to its charging cable and that the cable is connected to a power source. This step is crucial as resetting your Apple Watch requires a sufficient power supply.

Next, locate the side button on your Apple Watch. It is usually located below the Digital Crown on the right side of the watch face. Press and hold this side button until you see the Power Off slider appear on the screen. This slider is used to turn off your watch, but we won’t be using it for that purpose.

Now comes the slightly tricky part. Instead of sliding the Power Off slider as you normally would to turn off the watch, press firmly on the display. Apply a bit more pressure than you would for a regular tap. This action will reveal additional options.

Once you’ve pressed firmly on the display, you should see a few options, including the “Erase all content and settings” option. It’s important to note that this option will completely wipe your Apple Watch, removing all data and settings. If you have any important data that hasn’t been backed up, I highly recommend doing so before proceeding with this step.

Tap on the “Erase all content and settings” option, and you will be prompted to confirm your decision. This step is crucial to prevent accidental resets. Once you’ve confirmed, your Apple Watch will start the erasing process.

After a few moments, your Apple Watch will restart and display the Apple logo. This indicates that the reset process is underway. Depending on the model and software version of your watch, the reset may take several minutes to complete.

Once the reset is complete, you will be greeted with the initial setup screen on your Apple Watch. From here, you can set up your watch as a new device or restore from a backup if you have one available.

It’s important to note that resetting your Apple Watch without an Apple ID or iPhone will remove any activation locks associated with your previous setup. This means that the watch will no longer be linked to your Apple ID or any associated devices.

Resetting your Apple Watch without an Apple ID or iPhone is possible, but it’s essential to follow the steps carefully. Remember to connect your watch to its charging cable, press firmly on the display, and select the “Erase all content and settings” option. Be aware that this process will erase all data and settings on your watch. Good luck with your reset!