How do i change the passcode on my apple watch

The passcode on your Apple Watch is important, as it lets you use Apple Pay and keeps your device secure! Most people set their Apple Watch passcode once when they set up their device, and if you’ve migrated from an earlier generation Apple Watch, you probably brought your passcode along too. It’s always a good practice to periodically update any passwords you use frequently, and that definitely applies to your Apple Watch!

Start by opening Settings on your Apple Watch and then scroll down to Passcode.

How do i change the passcode on my apple watch

Here you can control anything passcode-related, including if your watch should use a simple or complex passcode.

If you’re using a simple passcode and wish to upgrade to a more complex one, you can disable simple passcodes. The steps for this as well as changing the passcode are then mostly identical.

First, you can enter your current passcode, then you can input your new passcode twice, which will save and enable it as your new passcode.

How do i change the passcode on my apple watch

If you have wrist detection enabled, your watch will automatically lock itself if you take it off — this is a great security feature.

You can also change your Apple Watch passcode in the Watch app on your iPhone and enable one more setting that isn’t available through the Watch itself: Unlock with iPhone.

How do i change the passcode on my apple watch

This means when you put on your watch, the next time you unlock your iPhone it will also unlock your watch and the watch will stay unlocked until the next time it’s locked!


We have more helpful tips right here.


Wait. There’s a Bonus….

Custom Productivity Templates

We have a set of custom productivity templates that work well with the iPad app, GoodNotes. And if you want to try them out, we’ve put together a free guide that can help you.

We’ll show you…

  • How to create and save custom page templates in GoodNotes.
  • How to use those page templates to transform GoodNotes into your own productivity notebook (or any other type of notebook replacement).

Plus, we also have included a couple of our custom productivity templates for you to get started with. These templates are right out of our popular productivity course.

How do i change the passcode on my apple watch

The custom templates and the guide are available for FREE to our email subscriber community. And you can get it right now. By joining the Sweet Setup community you’ll also get access to our other guides, early previews to big new reviews and workflow articles we are working on, weekly roundups of our best content, and more.

GET THE TEMPLATES

How do i change the passcode on my apple watch

  • To reset your Apple Watch's password, you can use the Watch app on your iPhone, or the device's charger.
  • When you reset the passcode on your Apple Watch, you'll have to completely reset the Watch, which will erase all your data.
  • If you already know your Apple Watch's password, you don't have to reset it — you can simply change the passcode.
  • Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Like all mobile devices, your Apple Watch relies on a passcode to keep your data safe from strangers. You can change or reset this passcode at any time. 

If you remember your existing passcode, it's easy to change. But if you've forgotten it, then you'll need to reset the Watch, erasing all its data in the process.

Here's how to do both.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Apple Watch Series 5 (From $399 at Apple)

How to reset your Apple Watch's passcode

If you don't know the passcode and need to reset it, you'll have to completely reset the watch. There are two ways to do this: using your charger, or using your iPhone.

Using a charger

1. Put your watch on its charger.

2. Press and hold the side button until the Power Off message appears on the screen. 

3. Press hard on "Power Off."

Press the "Power Off" button hard while the Watch is in its charger to reset the Watch and change its passcode. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. Tap "Erase all contents and settings."

5. After the process is completed, set up your Watch again as if it were new.

Using your iPhone

1. With the Apple Watch nearby, start the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.

2. Tap "General" and then tap "Reset."

3. Tap "Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings" and confirm you want to do this. 

You can reset your Apple Watch using the Watch's iPhone app. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. After the process is completed, set up your Watch again as if it were new.

How to change your Apple Watch's passcode if you know the current passcode

If you remember your current passcode, you can change it without resetting your Watch.

1. On the Apple Watch, press the digital crown to display the list of apps, and tap "Settings." (If you see the apps as an array of icons in Grid View, tap the gear-shaped icon instead.)

Tap "Settings" or look for the gear-shaped Settings icon to change the passcode. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

2. Tap "Passcode."

3. Tap "Change Passcode."

When you choose to change the passcode, you'll need to enter the existing code before changing it to something new. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. Enter the current passcode, and then enter the new passcode you want to use. You'll need to enter it twice to confirm it. 

  • 'Why isn't my Apple Watch pairing?': 5 ways to fix your Apple Watch and iPhone when they aren't connecting

  • How to turn the volume down on your Apple Watch in 2 ways

  • How to disable Siri on your Apple Watch in 3 simple steps, so you can stop activating it accidentally

  • How to activate an Apple Watch and set it up for use, with your iPhone nearby

  • How to pair an Apple Watch with your iPhone using the Watch app

Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

Read more Read less

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

How do I change my Apple Watch passcode if I forgot it?

Press and hold the side button until you see the power button in the upper-right corner of the display. Press and hold the Digital Crown until you see Erase all content and settings. Tap Reset, then tap Reset again to confirm. Wait for the process to finish, then set up your Apple Watch again.

How do I change my passcode?

Change your password.
On your Android phone or tablet, open your device's Settings app Google. Manage your Google Account..
At the top, tap Security..
Under "Signing in to Google," tap Password. You might need to sign in..
Enter your new password, then tap Change Password..