When you are trying to pair or unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone, you may be required to tap the info (i) icon.
As you can see in the image above, this icon shows a lower case i in a circle.
The "i" icon on an Apple Watch is used to display information about your watch and to pair it to an iPhone manually. You can also use the "i" icon in the Watch app on your iPhone to unpair your watch.
The Apple Watch’s "i" icon pops up in a few key places in watchOS. Learn where the "i" icon is on Apple Watch, what it’s for, how to use it, and what you can do if you don’t see it when you are pairing or unpairing your watch with your iPhone.
What is the ‘i’ icon on an Apple Watch and iPhone?
The "i" icon, which appears as an "i" with a circle around it, simply stands for "information." It’s used on your iPhone and Apple Watch to display additional information and preferences. The circled "i" is also used for manually pairing and re-pairing your Apple Watch to your iPhone.
Where is the ‘i’ on your iPhone and Apple Watch
There are two (i) icons; one appears on your watch, and the other one is on your iPhone. I explain below:
The first (i) icon is located within the Watch app on your iPhone. You can use this icon to see additional information, find your watch, or unpair the two devices. Here is how you can access the icon:
- Start the Watch app on your iPhone.
- In the My Watch tab, tap All Watches at the top of the page.
- You’ll see a list of paired Apple Watches (or, in most cases, only one) and you’ll also see the info (i) icon located next to each entry. When you tap this, you will see two options: Find My Apple Watch and Unpair Apple Watch.
The second (i) icon is found on the Apple Watch’s initial setup screen. You may see this a few times during the pairing process, as I explain below:
- Put your unpaired Apple Watch on your wrist and bring it close to your iPhone. Youll see the "i" icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. This icon appears on your Apple Watch when you first start the pairing process.
- Tap the (i) icon and then select your language.
- If the watch prompts you to open the Watch app on your iPhone, you can tap the "i" icon to view instructions on finding the Watch app.
- Follow the prompts on your iPhone and tap Set Up for Myself on your iPhone (unless you’re setting up a family member’s watch).
- Then, scan the swirling pattern on the Apple Watch with your iPhone’s camera. If the pattern doesn’t scan, you can tap the "i" icon on your Apple Watch to reveal a passcode. Then, tap Pair Manually on your iPhone and enter the passcode.
Once you’ve done that, the pairing process should proceed normally. You can restore your Apple Watch from a previous backup or set it up as a new device.
If you can’t find the ‘i’ icon on your watch
If you can’t see this (i) icon on your Apple Watch, here’s what to do:
- Move your iPhone closer to your Apple Watch.
- On your iPhone and Apple Watch, make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on. Furthermore, if Airplane Mode is on, turn it off.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Restart your Apple Watch.
- Restart your Wi-Fi router.
You can expect the "i" icon on your Apple Watch to perform different roles depending on where it appears in watchOS. Primarily, it’s important for pairing and unpairing an Apple Watch. Wherever you see this symbol, know that it’s likely a way to reveal more information or additional options about a setting or process.