Set up and pair your Apple Watch Ultra with iPhone
To use your Apple Watch Ultra, you need to pair it with your iPhone. Setup assistants on your iPhone and Apple Watch Ultra work together to help you pair and set up your watch.
If you have difficulty seeing your Apple Watch Ultra or iPhone, VoiceOver or Zoom can help—even during setup. See Set up Apple Watch Ultra using VoiceOver or Use Zoom on Apple Watch Ultra.
WARNING: To avoid injury, read Important safety information for Apple Watch Ultra before using your Apple Watch Ultra.
What you need
To use your Apple Watch Ultra with watchOS 10, you need to pair your watch with an iPhone Xs or later with iOS 17 or later.
Before you begin
Update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS. Open the Settings app on your iPhone, tap General, then tap Software Update.
Make sure that your iPhone has Bluetooth turned on, and it’s connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network. To check, swipe down from the top-right corner of the iPhone screen to show Control Center. The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (or Cellular) buttons should be on.
Step 1: Turn on and pair your Apple Watch Ultra
Put your Apple Watch Ultra on your wrist. Adjust the band or choose a band size so your Apple Watch Ultra fits closely but comfortably.
For information about changing the band on your Apple Watch Ultra, see Remove, change, and fasten Apple Watch bands.
To turn on your Apple Watch Ultra, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
If your Apple Watch Ultra doesn’t turn on, you might need to charge the battery.
Hold your iPhone near your Apple Watch Ultra, wait for the Apple Watch pairing screen to appear on your iPhone, then tap Continue.
You can also open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, then tap Pair New Watch.
Tap Set Up for Myself.
When prompted, position your iPhone so that your Apple Watch Ultra appears in the viewfinder in the Apple Watch app. This pairs the two devices.
Step 2: Set up your Apple Watch Ultra
If this is your first Apple Watch Ultra, tap Set Up Apple Watch, then follow the instructions on your iPhone and Apple Watch Ultra to finish setup.
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.
Follow the onscreen instructions to set up the following:
Enter your Apple ID and password.
Create a passcode—either a standard four-digit passcode, or a long passcode, which requires six digits.
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.
You can change these settings after you’ve set up your Apple Watch Ultra.
Step 3: Activate cellular service
You can activate cellular service on your Apple Watch Ultra during setup. If you don’t wish to, you can activate it later in the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. See Set up and use cellular service on Apple Watch Ultra.
Note: Cellular service not available in all regions.
Step 4: 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.
To learn more about your Apple Watch Ultra while it’s syncing, tap Get to Know Your Watch. You can learn what’s new, view Apple Watch tips, and read this user guide, right on your iPhone. After your Apple Watch Ultra is set up, you can find this information by opening the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, then tapping Discover.
Trouble pairing?
If you see a watch face when you’re trying to pair: Your Apple Watch Ultra is already paired with an iPhone. You need to first erase all Apple Watch Ultra content and reset settings.
If the camera doesn’t start the pairing process: Tap Pair Apple Watch Manually at the bottom of the iPhone screen, and follow the onscreen instructions.
If Apple Watch Ultra isn’t pairing with iPhone: See the Apple Support article If your Apple Watch isn’t connected or paired with your iPhone.
If you need to unpair your Apple Watch Ultra, see Unpair and erase Apple Watch Ultra.
For more information about setup and pairing, see the Apple Support article Set up your Apple Watch.