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Setup Companion

Set up your new Watch

What does this screen mean? What happens if I skip it? Can I change it later? Every setup screen explained in Apple's own words — then what to do in the first hour, day and week.

New Watch setup — % complete of 10

Apple What the screen means, what happens if you skip it and anything else worth knowing — quoted, with a link to the page.

Change it later Where the setting lives after setup, from the verified Settings Pathfinder.

Osnivo tip Our own plain-language advice, kept separate from Apple's words.

Setup screens

The first 15 minutes — what each screen means

  1. Apple: “Update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS”

    Apple also says: “Make sure that your iPhone has Bluetooth turned on, and it’s connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network”

    Apple Watch User Guide: Pair and set up Apple Watch with iPhone ↗

  2. Apple: “Hold your iPhone near your Apple Watch, wait for the Apple Watch pairing screen to appear on your iPhone, then tap Continue.”

    Apple Watch User Guide: Pair and set up Apple Watch with iPhone ↗

  3. Apple: “If you’ve set up another Apple Watch with your current iPhone, a screen appears that says Make This Your New Apple Watch.”

    Apple also says: “Or tap Set Up as New Apple Watch if you want to fully customize your new device’s settings.”

    Apple Watch User Guide: Pair and set up Apple Watch with iPhone ↗

  4. Apple: “Create a passcode—either a standard four-digit passcode, or a long passcode, which requires six digits.”

    Apple Watch User Guide: Pair and set up Apple Watch with iPhone ↗

  5. Apple: “Customize settings for text size, optionally enter personal information such as date of birth and height that are used for fitness and health, and choose the health notifications you want to receive.”

    Apple also says: “You can change these settings after you’ve set up your Apple Watch.”

    Apple Watch User Guide: Pair and set up Apple Watch with iPhone ↗

  6. Apple: “If you have an Apple Watch with cellular, you can activate cellular service during setup.”

    Apple also says: “If you’ve set up Apple Watch, you can activate cellular later in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.”

    Apple Watch User Guide: Pair and set up Apple Watch with iPhone ↗

  7. Apple: “Your Apple Watch shows the watch face when syncing finishes and your watch is ready to use.”

    Apple Watch User Guide: Pair and set up Apple Watch with iPhone ↗

First hour

Security, account and backup

  1. Apple: “If your Apple Watch is paired with your iPhone, it’s automatically set up when you turn on Find My iPhone.”

    Apple also says: “To find your watch, make sure the Find My network is turned on.”

    Apple Watch User Guide: Set up Find My on Apple Watch ↗

  2. Apple: “When you set up your Medical ID in the Health app on your iPhone, that information is also available on your Apple Watch.”

    Apple Watch User Guide: Set up and view Medical ID on Apple Watch ↗

Day one

Recommended configuration

  1. Apple: “You can update your Apple Watch software directly on your Apple Watch, or by checking for updates in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.”

    Change it later: Settings → General → Software Update

    Apple Watch User Guide: Update Apple Watch software ↗

Find any other setting

Settings Pathfinder: the exact path for your version.

Is it up to date?

Should I Update? checks the version it shipped with.

What can it run?

Compatibility Checker: releases and features by model.

Sources for this page

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