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.

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.

If your Apple Watch displays an animation of a watch and iPhone being moved close together, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure the iPhone is nearby. The iPhone needs to have iOS 15.4 or later, it needs to be connected to Wi-Fi* with Bluetooth turned on and it needs to be unlocked.

  2. Put your Apple Watch on its charger.

  3. Double-click the side button (the button below the circular Digital Crown) on your Apple Watch.

  4. Follow the steps that appear on the iPhone.

* If these steps don't 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.

If your Apple Watch displays a red "!"

In some instances, your Apple Watch may display a red exclamation mark. If this happens, double-click the side button, then follow the steps above.

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

Still need help?

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

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