Add an Apple Watch: Family Setup Made Easy

Thinking of buying your fitness-loving family member an Apple Watch for the holidays but wondering if it’s worth it? (See our article on the Apple Watch Series 7!) Maybe you’re on the fence because Grandma loves hiking but doesn’t own an iPhone. But the great thing about an Apple Watch is that it does not need to be tied to an iPhone! It’s a perfect gadget for anyone of any age; as long as you own an iPhone, you can add them to your Family Setup. And we’ve got you covered. In less than 10 steps, we’ll walk you through just how to add an Apple Watch to your Family Setup!

For this process, you’ll need the following:

1. Apple Watch Series 4 or later with cellular (you don’t need a cellular plan, but some features require cellular), or Apple Watch SE with cellular, with watchOS7 software or later. 

2. iPhone 6s or later with iOS 14 or later.

3. Apple ID for you and another for the family member who owns the Apple Watch. Your Apple ID must have two-factor authentication enabled.

4. Family Sharing setup: Anyone in the family can set up Family Sharing for everyone (up to 6 family members) from their Settings on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or System Preferences on Mac. Make sure that you’ve added the Apple Watch user to your setup.

The Set Up:

1. POWER ON

Press the side button on the watch to power it on.

2. CONNECT

Hold the watch up to your iPhone. “Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch” should appear on your iPhone screen. If this message does not pop up, go to your iPhone’s Watch app, tap All Watches > Pair New Watch > Set up for a Family Member.

3. PAIR

Your watch will display an animation; hold your iPhone so that the watch face is in the center of your iPhone’s viewfinder. Wait for the confirmation message that the watch has been paired.

4. PROTECT

Choose a passcode for your watch.

5. CHOOSE A NAME

Select the family member who will use the Apple Watch. If their name isn’t listed, select “Add New Family Member.” You will receive a prompt for the family member’s Apple ID password. Enter, then proceed.

6. TURN ON ASK TO BUY

The Ask to Buy feature ensures that no downloads or purchases can be made on the Apple Watch without your approval.

7. ADD CELLULAR AND WI-FI

If your iPhone cellular provider services Family Setup, add the watch to your plan. If not, you can use another carrier or set up cellular at a later time.
Then, you can share your Wi-Fi network with the Apple Watch to connect.

8. MORE FEATURES

Enable or set up other Apple Watch features like Location Services, Siri, Apple Cash Family, Messages in iCloud, and more!

9. SHARE YOUR CONTACTS

You will be guided to a step that allows you to transfer your Contacts to your Apple Watch. The process is simple: enable Contacts in iCloud, then choose people from your Contacts app to be available from your Apple Watch. You can add or change these contacts later on!

Bonus: If the Apple Watch will be used by a child, you can set a Screen Time passcode to limit their usage with the Schooltime feature.

That’s it. It’s that simple! If you encounter trouble at any step, drop us a line, we’re here to help you choose and set up your new gadget. Nothing should stop you from bringing the magic of an Apple Watch to your family!

Need another gift idea for that special family member? Check out our complete holiday gift guide here!