What Is the 'i' Icon on the Apple Watch? (2024)

It's there for information and to help you with pairing and unpairing the watch

Tyler Hayes

Writer

Tyler Hayes is a former Lifewire writer covering Apple, Google, Spotify, and more. Tyler has written for Fast Company, Digital Trends, and Paste, and others.

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Updated on December 10, 2022

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In This Article

What Is the 'i' icon on the Apple Watch?
Where Is the 'i' Icon?
See Also
does "iPod" stand for something?5 memorable Steve Jobs-led Apple products - Croma Unboxed The Apple Logo: A Bite of Innovation and Mystery Apple's current major challenges
Unpair Watch Using the 'i' Icon
Re-Pair Watch Using the 'i' Icon
Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

The circled i on an Apple Watch stands for Information and is used to pair or re-pair Apple Watches & iPhones.
To unpair with the i: In the Watch app, tap the iicon next to the watch you want to unpair. Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
Re-pair: Tap i > Start Pairing on watch; tap i by QR code. In app, tap Pair Apple Watch Manually; follow prompts.

This article explains what the i is on an Apple Watch and how to use it for pairing. Instructions apply to all Apple Watch models and watchOS versions.

What Is the 'i' icon on the Apple Watch?

The circled i icon on an Apple Watch stands for Information. When you tap it, you'll get code information to manually pair your watch to your iPhone.

When and Where Will I See the 'i'Icon on Apple Watch?

You'll see the i icon in the lower-right corner of the Apple Watch during the pairing process.

What Is the 'i' Icon on the Apple Watch? (2)

Typically, you'll tap Start Pairingon the watch to guide you through an automatic pairing. However, if the automatic process is not working, tap the i icon to manually pair your iPhone and watch.

The floating, swirling series of dots in a circle acts as a QR code that passes information to the phone when scanned for automatic pairing.

How to Unpair Your Watch Manually Using the 'i' Icon

Here's how to erase and reset your Apple Watch and unpair it from your iPhone.

You can erase and reset your Apple Watch from the watch itself, but it will still be locked to your iPhone. To sell it or give it away, you'll also need to unpair the watch from your iPhone.

On the Apple Watch, press the digital crown and open the Settings app.
Tap General.
Tap Reset.
Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Tap Erase All to confirm.
On iPhone, open the Watch app and tap the My Watch tab.
Tap All Watches.
Tap the iicon next to the watch you want to unpair.
Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
Tap Unpair [name] Apple Watch to confirm. Enter your passcode when prompted to start the unpairing process.

The lowercase i inside a circle is not unique to Apple Watch. It's a common symbol indicating a place to get more information across different software applications.

How to Manually Re-Pair Your Watch Using the 'i' Icon

Re-pairing your Apple Watch is easy and only takes a few moments.

On the Apple Watch tap the i icon. Choose your language and region as prompted.
Tap Start Pairing on the Watch.
You'll see a swirly QR code on the watch. Tap the i icon.
The watch will display a device number for manual pairing via the Watch app.
Tap Start Pairing on the Watch app.
Tap Set Up for Myself.
Tap Pair Apple Watch Manually.
Select the Apple Watch device number that matches the device number from your watch.
Enter the code displayed on your Apple Watch.
You've manually paired your watch and iPhone. You can choose to restore from a backup or set it up as a new device.

FAQ

What is theater mode on an Apple Watch?

Theater Mode prevents your Watch screen from brightening every time you raise or roll your wrist. To use Theater Mode on Apple Watch, tap the screen and swipe up from the bottom to open Control Center. Swipe up until you see Theater Mode (two masks), and then tap it.
What is the digital crown on an Apple Watch?

The Apple Watch digital crown is the side button on the Watch. This rotating button controls various functions, such as scrolling, zooming, viewing the Watch face, using Siri, and more. If you have an app open, the digital crown will also scroll up or down within the app.
What is the red dot on my Apple Watch?

The red dot on your Apple Watch means you've received a notification that hasn't been read. Swipe down to read it. If you don't want this visual reminder, hide the red dot on Apple Watch by turning off the notification indicator.

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FAQs

What Is the 'i' Icon on the Apple Watch? ›

What is the 'i' icon on an Apple Watch? On an Apple Watch, the "i" icon lets you know that you can get additional information to help you manually pair your watch with an iPhone. Before you can start using a new Apple Watch, it must be paired with an iPhone.

Read On ›

Where to find the i icon on an Apple Watch? ›

Tap the "i" Icon to Pair Your Watch Manually

Scan this moving pattern with your iPhone's camera (the pairing process should start automatically) to pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone. In the bottom-right corner of the screen, next to the moving pattern, you'll find the "i" icon.

Discover More Details ›

Why does my Apple Watch have a circle on it? ›

Your Apple Watch is in Sleep mode.

How do I pair my Apple Watch with a new phone? ›

Need more help?

Erase your Apple Watch.
Set up your new iPhone and sign in to iCloud. ...
Open the Apple Watch app on your new iPhone, then pair your watch with your new iPhone.
Try to restore from a backup. ...
Follow the onscreen steps to finish setting up.
Start using your Apple Watch with your new iPhone.

Apr 24, 2024

See Details ›

How long does it take to charge an Apple Watch? ›

About 1.5 hours to 100%

Charge times are from 0–80% and 0–100% using the included Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable.

Find Out More ›

Why is my Apple Watch stuck on Apple with circle? ›

If the Apple logo persists after you force restart your Apple Watch, try unpairing your devices and pairing them again. Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together as you complete the steps. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Go to the My Watch tab and tap All Watches at the top of the screen.

Tell Me More ›

Why is my Apple Watch not pairing? ›

Keep your Apple Watch and paired iPhone close together to make sure that they're in range. On your iPhone, make sure that Airplane Mode is off and that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on. To check, open Control Center. on your watch face, Airplane Mode is on.

Show Me More ›

How do I restart my Apple Watch to pair? ›

Press and hold the Digital Crown until you see the red Reset button. Tap Reset, then tap Reset again to confirm. After Apple Watch unpairs completely, you can pair again. Remember that you'll need the Apple ID and password that were used to set up the watch.

Explore More ›

How to pair Apple Watch to new phone without resetting? ›

Pair Apple Watch with a new iPhone

Use iCloud Backup to back up the iPhone currently paired with your Apple Watch (see the iPhone User Guide for more information).
Set up your new iPhone. ...
Continue iPhone setup and, when prompted, choose to use your Apple Watch with your new iPhone.

How to use Apple Watch without iPhone? ›

When your iPhone is off or out of range, your Apple Watch can use a Wi-Fi network to send and receive data. Your watch can also connect to a cellular network if it's a cellular model. And if you've set up an Apple Watch for a family member, they can use a cellular or Wi-Fi connection with their watch.

Show Me More ›

How to update Apple Watch without pairing? ›

If your Apple Watch has watchOS 6 or later, you can install updates without your iPhone:

Make sure that your watch is connected to Wi-Fi.
On your watch, open the Settings app.
Tap General > Software Update.
Tap Install if a software update is available, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Feb 13, 2024

Read The Full Story ›

Can you shower with an Apple Watch? ›

The following can affect the water resistance of your Apple Watch and should be avoided: Dropping Apple Watch or subjecting it to other impacts. Exposing Apple Watch to soap or soapy water (for example, while showering or bathing)

See Details ›

How can I tell when my Apple Watch is charged? ›

Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Tap Battery. The Battery screen shows the remaining battery percentage, a graph that details the recent history of the battery charge, and information about when the battery was last charged.

Get More Info Here ›

What is the average life of an Apple Watch? ›

The typical lifespan of an Apple Watch is about 3 to 5 years, depending on your use and care. In this article, we'll learn how long every Apple Watch model will be supported, explore the factors determining its lifespan, provide tips to prolong it, and also know when it's time to upgrade.

How do I disconnect my Apple Watch? ›

How to unpair and erase your Apple Watch if you have your iPhone

Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together as you unpair them.
Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
Go to the My Watch tab and tap All Watches.
Tap the info button next to the watch that you want to unpair.
Tap Unpair Apple Watch.

More items...

Feb 15, 2024

Where is my Apple Watch on my iPhone? ›

Locate your Apple Watch

Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Tap My Watch, then tap All Watches. next to your watch, then tap Find My Apple Watch. In the Find My app on your iPhone, tap your watch to see its location on a map.

View Details ›

Where to find device name on Apple Watch? ›

On your iOS device, open the Apple Watch app and tap the My Watch tab. Go to General > About. Tap the first line, which shows the name of your device. Rename your device, then tap Done on the keyboard.