Apple Watch SE Setup Guide

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Apple Watch SE: Get User Guide

Set up your Apple Watch

Learn how to use your iPhone to set up your new Apple Watch.

What you need

To set up and use a new Apple Watch, you need iPhone XS or later with iOS 17. Learn how to identify your iPhone model and how to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS.

Before you begin

If you already set up your Apple Watch but want to use it with a different iPhone, you can transfer your Apple Watch and its content to your new iPhone.

Turn on your Apple Watch and put it on

To turn on your Apple Watch, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Then put the watch on your wrist.

watchos-10-series-8-watch-turn-on

Hold your Apple Watch close to your iPhone

Wait for the "Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch" message to appear on your iPhone, then tap Continue. If this message doesn't appear, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap All Watches, then tap Add Watch.

If this is your Apple Watch, tap Set Up for Myself. Or tap Set Up for a Family Member, then follow the steps to set up the watch for someone in your family.

Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together until you complete these steps.

watchos-10-series-8-iphone-14-pro-setup-put-on-watch

Hold your iPhone over the animation

Center the watch face in the viewfinder on your iPhone. Wait for a message to say that your Apple Watch is paired.

If you can't use the camera, or the pairing animation doesn't appear or your iPhone can't read it, tap Pair Manually, then follow the prompts.

watchos-10-series-8-ios-17-iphone-14-pro-setup-pair-animation

Set up as new or restore from a backup

If this is your first Apple Watch, tap Set Up as New Apple Watch. If asked, update your Apple Watch to the latest version of watchOS.

If you've set up another Apple Watch with your current iPhone, a screen appears that says Make This Your New Apple Watch. Tap Apps & Data and Settings to see how Express Setup will configure your new watch. Then tap Continue. If you want to choose how your new watch is set up, tap Customize Settings. Then choose a backup from another previous Apple Watch to restore. Or tap Set Up as New Apple Watch if you want to fully customize your new device's settings.

Your Apple Watch might also require a software update on your iPhone before you can set up the watch. If your iPhone says that a software update is available, tap Update Now and wait for the update process to finish.

Choose which wrist you wear your Apple Watch on, then tap Continue.

Read the Terms and Conditions and tap Agree.

Sign in with your Apple ID

If asked, enter your Apple ID password. If you aren’t asked, you can sign in later from the Apple Watch app: Tap General > Apple ID, then sign in. Certain features that require a cellular phone number won’t work on cellular models of Apple Watch unless you sign in to iCloud.

If Find My isn't set up on your iPhone, you'll be asked to turn on Activation Lock. If an Activation Lock screen appears, your Apple Watch is already linked to an Apple ID. You need to enter the email address and password for that Apple ID to continue set up. If your Apple Watch was previously owned, you might need to contact the previous owner to remove Activation Lock.

Create a passcode

You can skip creating a passcode, but you need one for features like Apple Pay.On your iPhone, tap Create a Passcode or Add a Long Passcode, then switch to your Apple Watch to enter your new code. To skip, tap Don't Add Passcode.

watchos-10-ios-17-iphone-14-pro-setup-create-passcode

Customize your settings

Select your preferred text size and whether to use bold text.

If you didn't use Express Setup, your Apple Watch shows you which settings it shares with your iPhone. If you turned on features such as Find My, Location Services, Wi-Fi Calling, and Diagnostics for your iPhone, these settings automatically turn on for your Apple Watch.

Next, add or update details such as your date of birth to make sure that your Fitness and Health data are accurate. You can also turn on health notifications such as noise levels, and details about Emergency SOS and Fall Detection appear.

Set up cellular and Apple Pay

On cellular models of Apple Watch, you can set up cellular.

Next, you'll also be asked to set up Apple Pay by adding a card. Then your iPhone walks you through features like the Always On display and your preferred app view.

Keep your devices close as they sync

Your Apple Watch shows the watch face when the pairing procedure is finished and your watch is ready to use. Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together so the devices can continue syncing information in the background.

Start using your Apple Watch

Learn about gestures that control your Apple Watch. You can also read the Apple Watch User Guide, customize your watch face, or add or remove apps.

Get help

To learn what to do next, find your issue below. If you still need help, contact Apple Support.

If your Apple Watch won't turn on

You might need to charge your Apple Watch.

If you're asked for a passcode

Your Apple Watch is still paired with another iPhone. If you don't remember the passcode, you need to erase your Apple Watch, then set it up again.

If an Activation Lock screen appears

Your Apple Watch is linked to an Apple ID. You need to enter the email address and password for that Apple ID to continue set up. If your Apple Watch was previously owned, you might need to contact the previous owner to remove Activation Lock.

If you can't set up your Apple Watch or you get an error message

  1. Make sure that your iPhone has the latest version of iOS.
  2. Turn off your iPhone and turn it back on.
  3. Turn off your Apple Watch and turn it back on.

Published Date: December 20, 2023

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  2. Set up your Apple Watch

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2. Variable

Don't forget to mark steps complete as you go through GPs.

Don't forget to ask the guest how they heard about us and document it in the Session Properties.

3. Prerequisite

Pro tip: If you feel it would be beneficial to see what the customer sees, feel free to use SeeSupport. Check out the guide here: How to Use SeeSupport.

In order to setup and use an Apple watch the guest will need to have an iPhone 5 or newer with the latest version of iOS.

4. Setup

Set up your Apple Watch

Learn how to use your iPhone to set up your new Apple Watch.

What you need

To set up and use a new Apple Watch, you need iPhone XS or later with iOS 17. Learn how to identify your iPhone model and how to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS.

Before you begin

If you already set up your Apple Watch but want to use it with a different iPhone, you can transfer your Apple Watch and its content to your new iPhone.

Turn on your Apple Watch and put it on

To turn on your Apple Watch, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Then put the watch on your wrist.

watchos-10-series-8-watch-turn-on

Hold your Apple Watch close to your iPhone

Wait for the "Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch" message to appear on your iPhone, then tap Continue. If this message doesn't appear, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap All Watches, then tap Add Watch.

If this is your Apple Watch, tap Set Up for Myself. Or tap Set Up for a Family Member, then follow the steps to set up the watch for someone in your family.

Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together until you complete these steps.

watchos-10-series-8-iphone-14-pro-setup-put-on-watch

Hold your iPhone over the animation

Center the watch face in the viewfinder on your iPhone. Wait for a message to say that your Apple Watch is paired.

If you can't use the camera, or the pairing animation doesn't appear or your iPhone can't read it, tap Pair Manually, then follow the prompts.

watchos-10-series-8-ios-17-iphone-14-pro-setup-pair-animation

Set up as new or restore from a backup

If this is your first Apple Watch, tap Set Up as New Apple Watch. If asked, update your Apple Watch to the latest version of watchOS.

If you've set up another Apple Watch with your current iPhone, a screen appears that says Make This Your New Apple Watch. Tap Apps & Data and Settings to see how Express Setup will configure your new watch. Then tap Continue. If you want to choose how your new watch is set up, tap Customize Settings. Then choose a backup from another previous Apple Watch to restore. Or tap Set Up as New Apple Watch if you want to fully customize your new device's settings.

Your Apple Watch might also require a software update on your iPhone before you can set up the watch. If your iPhone says that a software update is available, tap Update Now and wait for the update process to finish.

Choose which wrist you wear your Apple Watch on, then tap Continue.

Read the Terms and Conditions and tap Agree.

Sign in with your Apple ID

If asked, enter your Apple ID password. If you aren’t asked, you can sign in later from the Apple Watch app: Tap General > Apple ID, then sign in. Certain features that require a cellular phone number won’t work on cellular models of Apple Watch unless you sign in to iCloud.

If Find My isn't set up on your iPhone, you'll be asked to turn on Activation Lock. If an Activation Lock screen appears, your Apple Watch is already linked to an Apple ID. You need to enter the email address and password for that Apple ID to continue set up. If your Apple Watch was previously owned, you might need to contact the previous owner to remove Activation Lock.

Create a passcode

You can skip creating a passcode, but you need one for features like Apple Pay.On your iPhone, tap Create a Passcode or Add a Long Passcode, then switch to your Apple Watch to enter your new code. To skip, tap Don't Add Passcode.

watchos-10-ios-17-iphone-14-pro-setup-create-passcode

Customize your settings

Select your preferred text size and whether to use bold text.

If you didn't use Express Setup, your Apple Watch shows you which settings it shares with your iPhone. If you turned on features such as Find My, Location Services, Wi-Fi Calling, and Diagnostics for your iPhone, these settings automatically turn on for your Apple Watch.

Next, add or update details such as your date of birth to make sure that your Fitness and Health data are accurate. You can also turn on health notifications such as noise levels, and details about Emergency SOS and Fall Detection appear.

Set up cellular and Apple Pay

On cellular models of Apple Watch, you can set up cellular.

Next, you'll also be asked to set up Apple Pay by adding a card. Then your iPhone walks you through features like the Always On display and your preferred app view.

Keep your devices close as they sync

Your Apple Watch shows the watch face when the pairing procedure is finished and your watch is ready to use. Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together so the devices can continue syncing information in the background.

Start using your Apple Watch

Learn about gestures that control your Apple Watch. You can also read the Apple Watch User Guide, customize your watch face, or add or remove apps.

Get help

To learn what to do next, find your issue below. If you still need help, contact Apple Support.

If your Apple Watch won't turn on

You might need to charge your Apple Watch.

If you're asked for a passcode

Your Apple Watch is still paired with another iPhone. If you don't remember the passcode, you need to erase your Apple Watch, then set it up again.

If an Activation Lock screen appears

Your Apple Watch is linked to an Apple ID. You need to enter the email address and password for that Apple ID to continue set up. If your Apple Watch was previously owned, you might need to contact the previous owner to remove Activation Lock.

If you can't set up your Apple Watch or you get an error message

  1. Make sure that your iPhone has the latest version of iOS.
  2. Turn off your iPhone and turn it back on.
  3. Turn off your Apple Watch and turn it back on.

Published Date: December 20, 2023

Explore Apple Support Community

Find what’s been asked and answered by Apple customers.

Search the Community

Submit

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

Get started

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Apple

  1. Support
  2. Set up your Apple Watch

United States

Copyright © 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

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5. IoT Reminder

Take this opportunity to inform the guest that Target has a large inventory of IoT devices and can be a one-stop shop for the modern connected home!

Don't forget to mark steps complete as you go through GPs.

6. Disposition

Disposition the Session

1. Ask the guest if they would like to participate in a survey for the service they received.

If the guest accepts, warm transfer them to 1-855-302-1599, enter the Session # from this Cloud session and then complete the transfer ensuring the guest hears the rest of the IVR prompts. Do not give the guest the aforementioned phone number. That number is only intended for us to transfer to.

2. Click "Session Info" at the top of the session window and update all of the applicable fields to the best of your ability.

3. Click Done in the left pane

4. Click Close at the top of this session window.

A. Resolved: All calls where a service or path to a resolution was provided.

B. Not Resolved: Dropped calls / Ghost Calls / Guest needs to call back

7. Troubleshooting

If your Apple Watch isn't connected or paired with your iPhone

If you see a red iPhone icon on your Apple Watch, or you're trying to pair and can't find the "i" icon, try to connect your devices again.

Check your Apple Watch connection

If you don't get notifications, messages, or calls on your Apple Watch, your Apple Watch and iPhone might not be connected. When your devices disconnect, the red iPhone icon

No alt supplied for Image

or the red X icon

No alt supplied for Image

appears on your watch face. You can also check your connection in Control Center. When your Apple Watch connects again, the green iPhone icon

No alt supplied for Image

appears.

First, bring your Apple Watch and paired iPhone close together. If you still see that the devices are disconnected and need help, try the steps below. After each step, see if your devices can connect.

Disconnected status on Apple Watch Screen.
Connection status on Apple Watch screen.

Try to connect your Apple Watch and iPhone again

  1. Keep your Apple Watch and paired iPhone close together to make sure that they're in range.
  2. On your iPhone, make sure that Airplane Mode is off and that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on. To check, open Control Center.
Control Center on iPhone 14
  1. If you see the Airplane Mode icon
No alt supplied for Image
  1. on your watch face, Airplane Mode is on. Open Control Center, then turn off Airplane Mode.
  2. Restart your Apple Watch and restart your iPhone.

Unpair your devices, then pair them again

If your Apple Watch still can't connect, unpair it from your iPhone, then pair your Apple Watch and iPhone again.

Contact us

If you still need help, contact Apple Support.

Learn more

Published Date: January 04, 2024

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Find what’s been asked and answered by Apple customers.

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  2. If your Apple Watch isn't connected or paired with your iPhone

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8. Refer to Apple

Pro tip: If you feel it would be beneficial to see what the customer sees, feel free to use SeeSupport. Check out the guide here: How to Use SeeSupport.

Please refer the guest to Apple support at 1-800-275-2273. They are open 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM PST / 7 days a week.

Don't forget to mark steps complete as you go through GPs.

9. Recommendation

Pro tip: If you feel it would be beneficial to see what the customer sees, feel free to use SeeSupport. Check out the guide here: How to Use SeeSupport.

Kindly inform the guest that Apple watches do require an iPhone 5 or later and that there is no way for us to work around this. Please offer to assist the guest in finding a newer iPhone as we do carry them in our stores and on Target.com.

Don't forget to mark steps complete as you go through GPs.

10. Update

Pro tip: If you feel it would be beneficial to see what the customer sees, feel free to use SeeSupport. Check out the guide here: How to Use SeeSupport.

Kindly inform the guest that Apple watches do require the latest version of iOS to be installed on  their phone. Ask them to perform the update and give us a call back once it completes. The updates can take some time, depending on the internet speed and current battery status.

Don't forget to mark steps complete as you go through GPs.