If your Apple Watch displays an iPhone and a watch or a red "!"

Your Apple Watch may show an animation asking you to bring it close to an iPhone if your watch needs to be updated or restored. You may also see a red exclamation mark on your watch.

Before you start

To restore your Apple Watch, you need an iPhone or an iPad. You can use a friend’s device; it does not have to be your iPad or the iPhone paired with your watch. No personal data or information from your watch is shared with the device you use to restore it.

The iPhone or iPad should have the latest version of iOS or iPadOS, and it needs to have Wi-Fi* and Bluetooth turned on.

If a watch and iPhone being brought close together is shown on your Apple Watch

An Apple Watch showing an iPhone and Apple Watch being brought close together. Also an iPhone showing an alert that says Restore Nearby Apple Watch.

  1. Make sure your Apple Watch is charged to 50 per cent or more. Keep your watch on its charger throughout this process.

  2. Bring the iPhone or iPad near your watch.

  3. On your watch, double-click the side button.

  4. Follow the steps shown on the iPhone or iPad.

If your Apple Watch displays a red "!"

An Apple Watch showing a red exclamation mark inside a red circle.

  1. On your watch, double-click the side button.

  2. Make sure your Apple Watch is charged to 50 per cent or more. Keep your watch on its charger throughout this process.

  3. Bring the iPhone or iPad near your watch.

  4. On your watch, double-click the side button again.

  5. Follow the steps shown on the iPhone or iPad.

* If these steps do not work, check your Wi-Fi. Try using a 2.4 GHz network instead of 5 GHz, and make sure you're not on a captive or 802.1X network.

Still need help?

If your Apple Watch continues to show a red exclamation mark, you might need to get service.

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