Can you reset an apple watch without the passcode

There might be an odd day when you forgot your Apple Watch password, and end up disabling your Watch after trying to enter it multiple times. Don’t worry!! We have your back. In this article, I will show how you can reset the Apple Watch passcode to erase all data and start from scratch or restore it from a backup.

  • How to reset Apple Watch if you forgot password
  • How to reset your Apple Watch passcode with your paired iPhone
  • Set up Apple Watch again

Before we move further: Put your watch in charging mode and do not remove it until you finish all the steps below.

  1. Press and hold the Side button. Leave it when you see the Power Off Screen.
  2. Force press the POWER OFF slider for a few seconds. After that, lift your finger.
  3. Tap on Erase all content and settings. Once the process completes, you will have to set up your Apple Watch again.

    Can you reset an apple watch without the passcode

How to reset your Apple Watch passcode with your paired iPhone

  1. Keep the paired iPhone and Apple Watch close. Next, open the Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. From the My Watch tab, tap on GeneralReset.

    Can you reset an apple watch without the passcode

  3. Tap on Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings. Confirm by tapping Erase All Content and Settings. If asked, enter your Apple ID password.

    Can you reset an apple watch without the passcode

  4. 4. Let the process finish. Once it completes, you will have to set up your Apple Watch again.

Note: On the cellular model with an active plan, you might be asked to keep or remove your cellular plan. Make sure to keep it. In case you do not wish to pair the watch and iPhone, you may remove it.

Set up Apple Watch again

After your reset the watch following one of the above methods, you have two options. The first is to set it up entirely as a new device. The second involves restoring from a previous backup. For most people, the latter is the way to go. We have a step-by-step guide that shows you how to restore your Apple Watch from a backup.

Note: During set up if you see the Activation Lock screen, enter the Apple ID and password.

Signing off…

This is what you need to do if you forget your Apple Watch passcode. I believe this quick guide was helpful. If you have an additional query, feel free to reach us via the comments section below.

You may also check out related posts:

  • How to share Apple Watch faces
  • Use Handwashing feature on Apple Watch
  • How to check Apple Watch Battery Health

Can you reset an apple watch without the passcode

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The easiest way to reset your Apple Watch without an Apple ID is by entering your passcode in the reset option inside the watch settings.

Recently, a friend of mine faced some software glitches on his Apple Watch. I suggested that he perform a factory reset using the settings menu on his watch. Luckily, he remembered his passcode, which made it a matter of seconds.

Even if you don't remember your passcode, don't worry. I've got you covered as well.

In this article, we'll discuss two different ways using which you can reset your Apple Watch without your Apple ID.

  • How To Factory Reset Apple Watch Without Apple ID?
  • Follow The Steps Below To Factory Reset Apple Watch without Apple ID
  • How To Factory Reset Apple Watch Without Passcode?
  • Let's Discuss How You Can Erase Apple Watch Without Apple ID Passcode
  • FAQs
  • Can I Reset Apple Watch Without Apple ID?
  • Can You Bypass Activation Lock On Apple Watch?
  • Can I Unlock An iCloud Locked Apple Watch?
  • Conclusion

How To Factory Reset Apple Watch Without Apple ID?

To factory reset Apple Watch without Apple ID, you'll just need the Apple Watch passcode that you created when you first set it up. In fact, you don't even need to use your iPhone or iPad for this method.

Follow The Steps Below To Factory Reset Apple Watch without Apple ID

  1. Open the menu on your Apple Watch and go to Settings.
  2. Now find and click on General.
  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the list and tap on Reset.
  4. Proceed and click Erase All Content and Settings.
  5. Enter the passcode when prompted, and you will see a pop-up with an Erase All option at the end.
  6. Click on it and wait for a few minutes for the backup and restore process to finish.

That's it! Your Apple Watch will now be restored to factory settings.

Next, you'll be asked if you wish to restore your backup. Do so if you want to use the same settings and information you were using previously. Otherwise, feel free to skip this step and proceed by logging into your Apple ID.

Can you reset an apple watch without the passcode

How To Factory Reset Apple Watch Without Passcode?

Now, if you don't remember your passcode as well, you can easily reset your Apple Watch using the physical buttons provided. Note that you'll still need to pair the watch with your iPhone after the process finishes.

Let's Discuss How You Can Erase Apple Watch Without Apple ID Passcode

You'll notice two buttons at the side of your watch, the first one is a 360-degree rotating button called the Digital Crown, and the other is the side (or power) button. Once you're ready, follow these steps:

  1. Firstly, connect your Apple Watch to its charger.
  2. When the device is being charged, press and hold the Side button (the one right below the Digital Crown) until you see "Power Off."
  3. Now press the Digital Crown and hold it.
  4. Tap Reset and let the device reset to its factory settings.
  5. After this, your watch will restart and all your media and data will be erased. If you have a Cloud backup, you can restore it later.

Remember, resetting the watch will delete all the media and not your Apple account. You will have to pair your iPhone and log into it again to continue.

FAQs

Can I Reset Apple Watch Without Apple ID?

Yes, you can certainly reset your Apple Watch without your Apple ID or password. Apple devices are protected by a strong security program called Apple Activation Lock.

Using the methods described above, you can easily reset the watch data including any media or settings, but you won't be able to remove the Activation Lock. For that, you need to unpair it from your iPhone first and then perform the reset.

Can You Bypass Activation Lock On Apple Watch?

Yes, you can disable Activation Lock if you have access to the iPhone the Apple Watch was initially paired with. To do so, you can open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and unpair the Apple watch. This will bypass the activation lock.

Can I Unlock An iCloud Locked Apple Watch?

Yes. However, you do need the original user's Apple ID password to do that. This can be tricky if you're not the original owner or if you are unable to contact the previous one. If you can, it's fairly simple to unlock an iCloud-locked Apple watch.

Can you reset an apple watch without the passcode

Check out other related guides

Conclusion

I hope you found this article helpful and that you can now erase all content on your Apple Watch.

If you don't want to lose your media and files when performing a factory reset, I recommend taking regular or automatic iCloud backups. That way, you can reset or restore without losing any important data or files.

If you liked this article, do check out some of our other guides as well!

Thanks for reading!

Can you get into an Apple Watch without knowing the password?

If your Apple Watch is disabled because you forgot your passcode or entered an incorrect passcode too many times, you can use the Apple Watch app on your iPhone to allow you to enter the passcode again. If you still can't remember your passcode, you can reset your Apple Watch and set it up again.

How do I remove previous owner Apple ID from Apple Watch?

Tap Apple Watch, then tap Unpair Apple Watch. Enter your Apple ID password..
On a computer, go to iCloud.com..
Sign in with your Apple ID, and open Settings..
Under My Devices, click your Apple Watch..
Click X next to your device..
Click Remove to confirm..

How do I reset my Apple Watch without another phone?

How to erase your Apple Watch if you don't have your iPhone.
On your Apple Watch, tap Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings..
Type your password if prompted..
For GPS + Cellular models, choose to keep or remove your cellular plan. ... .
Tap Erase All to confirm..

How do I force my Apple Watch to factory reset?

Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Go to General > Reset, tap Erase All Content and Settings, then enter your passcode. If you have an Apple Watch with a cellular plan, you're offered two options—Erase All and Erase All & Keep Plan. To completely erase your Apple Watch, choose Erase All.