Apple watch still paired to an iPhone I no longer have

apple-watchapple-watch.appbluetooth

I used to have an iPhone from work and my Apple watch was paired to it.
Now that I've bought a new iPhone and given back my old iPhone I am unable to pair my apple watch to the new phone.

My Apple watch says: "wrong code, go to Apple Watch app and…"
There is no chance to enter the code manually.

But in the App I can only start to pair a new device, but the watch is still paired.

What steps do I have to do?

My Apple Watch is from series one and I don't know the software version nor how to determine it.

Best Answer

One thing you can do, assuming you're not worried about losing the data on your Apple Watch, is to erase all content and settings on the watch itself. However, if you have no access to a backup, then you'll be setting the watch up from scratch as a new watch.

If you want to proceed, the process is as follows:

  1. Launch the Settings app on your Apple Watch
  2. Tap on General
  3. Swipe up and tap on the Reset button
  4. Tap on Erase All Content and Settings
  5. Tap on Erase All

Once complete, your watch will be back to factory settings. You can now go through the process of pairing it with your new iPhone.

NOTES:

  1. In your situation this is unlikely, but if you're prompted to restore from a watch backup, then select the latest backup you have.

  2. Since you're not likely to have an iPhone backup, you’ll just have to set up your Apple Watch as new.

[UPDATE]

Since you've clarified in the comments that you can't actually even touch your Apple Watch screen without getting prompted about a wrong code, try these steps instead:

  1. Put the Apple Watch on its charger with the power on (so that it's charging) and keep it on charge for all of the following steps!
  2. Press and hold the side button (not the Crown) until you see the Power Off slider
  3. Press hard on the Power Off slider for about a second and then remove your finger
  4. Tap on Erase All Content and Settings
  5. Tap on Erase All

Once complete, your watch will be back to factory settings. You can now go through the process of pairing it with your new iPhone.

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