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To move to a new Apple Watch without losing Health history, protect the data on your iPhone first, then restore the previous watch backup during setup. If you are also replacing your iPhone, make sure Health syncs with iCloud or make an encrypted computer backup, restore that iPhone backup to the new phone, and then finish pairing the watch.
First, choose the right transfer path
The steps depend on whether your iPhone is staying with you. Apple Watch backups are saved to the paired iPhone, while Health and Activity data are preserved through Health syncing in iCloud or an encrypted iPhone backup to a computer.
| What you are replacing | What to do |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch only; same iPhone | Check the Health backup path, then pair the new watch and choose a backup from your previous Apple Watch. |
| Apple Watch and iPhone | Check Health syncing or create an encrypted backup of the old iPhone, restore that backup to the new iPhone, then complete Apple Watch setup. |
Apple describes the watch backup as a way to restore watch settings and related data during setup. Its support pages do not promise that every item from every app or software version will transfer, so use the backup offered in the setup flow rather than assuming an item-by-item guarantee.
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Check Health syncing in iCloud
- On the iPhone paired with the old watch, open Settings and tap your name (Apple Account).
- Tap iCloud, then check whether Health is enabled for syncing.
- Use the same Apple Account on the iPhone you will use after the transfer. Apple says Health and Activity data stored in iCloud stays up to date across devices signed in to that account. Apple’s Health data and iCloud guidance explains the account and recovery conditions.
Or make an encrypted computer backup
If you are backing up an iPhone to a Mac or PC, enable backup encryption in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes before creating the backup. Apple says an unencrypted computer backup will not transfer Health and Activity data. See Apple’s instructions for transferring data with Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.
#1 Best Overall
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
- Choose this route if you can create and later restore a computer backup, but do not rely on an unencrypted backup to preserve Health history.
- Choose iCloud syncing if you can keep Health enabled and use the same Apple Account on the new iPhone.
Keep the old watch and iPhone together for backup
Leave the old Apple Watch and its paired iPhone near each other while they are powered on and connected. Apple Support says, “Your Apple Watch is backed up automatically to your iPhone.” Apple also says unpairing the watch saves a backup to the iPhone. Read Apple’s Apple Watch backup instructions.
If you are moving to a new iPhone, update both the old iPhone and Apple Watch before beginning the migration when possible. Do not erase or give away the old devices until you have confirmed the relevant backup or iCloud sync is available.
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
If only the Apple Watch is changing
- On the iPhone, open the Watch app and start pairing the new Apple Watch.
- Follow the setup prompts. When asked how to configure the watch, choose a backup from a previous Apple Watch if one is offered.
- Continue setup and keep the watch and iPhone connected while the transfer completes.
Apple’s setup instructions describe restoring from a previous-watch backup as a choice during setup. Choosing Set Up as New Apple Watch is a separate option and does not restore the old watch backup. See Apple’s Apple Watch setup guide.
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If you are replacing the iPhone too
- On the old iPhone, confirm that Health syncing is enabled in iCloud, or create an encrypted computer backup.
- Back up the old iPhone to iCloud or to a computer using an encrypted backup.
- Set up the new iPhone by restoring the most recent backup, and sign in with the same Apple Account if using iCloud Health syncing.
- Open the Watch app on the new iPhone and follow its prompts to pair or transfer the Apple Watch.
For Apple’s documented transfer flow, both iPhones need Wi-Fi, and you will need the Apple Account password and the Apple Watch passcode. The watch and new iPhone must each have at least 50 percent charge. See Apple’s instructions for pairing an Apple Watch with a new iPhone. Menu names and compatibility requirements can vary as Apple updates its software and device support.
Rank #3
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31YiTby0pOL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
If Health history is missing after setup
- Confirm that the new iPhone is signed in to the same Apple Account used for Health syncing.
- Check Settings > [your name] > iCloud and make sure Health is enabled.
- Give iCloud time to sync. Apple says it may take a few days for all iCloud data to appear on a device.
- Check what backup you chose during watch setup. If you set up the watch as new, the old watch backup was not restored.
Activity Sharing data is not stored in iCloud, according to Apple’s guidance on Apple Watch backups and data. That is separate from the Health and Activity data Apple says can be kept current through iCloud.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When recovery is not possible
Apple says Health and Activity content cannot be recovered if the old iPhone is unavailable and there is no backup. A new Apple Watch cannot recreate history that no longer exists on a source device or in a usable backup. That is why it is worth confirming iCloud Health sync or an encrypted computer backup before erasing or surrendering the old iPhone.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Gq8SToFJL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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