Resetting an Apple Watch Series 10 works differently depending on what you're trying to do. Selling it, troubleshooting a freeze, or handing it off to a family member each calls for a different method. Series 10 runs watchOS 26 and pairs with an iPhone XS or later running iOS 26. All the steps below are specific to this model, older watches use different menu paths.
The Series 10 has a few quirks worth knowing before you reset. If you've been using sleep apnea detection (a feature new to this model), a reset might require recalibrating that in the Health app afterward. The wider always-on display also drains battery faster, so a clean setup is a good time to tweak brightness and wake settings.
Force Restart a Frozen Series 10
If the watch is stuck on an app, unresponsive to taps, or frozen on the Apple logo, a force restart is all you need. This isn't a reset, it's a hard reboot that clears any temporary software hang without deleting anything.
Hold the side button and Digital Crown together for at least 10 seconds. Keep holding until you see the Apple logo appear, then release both buttons. The watch boots up in about 30 seconds and you're back at the watch face. This works on any Series 10 running watchOS 26, even if the touchscreen isn't responding. If you only needed to kill a frozen app or fix an OS glitch, you're done. No need to proceed to a full erase.
Erase All Content From the Watch Directly
When you're selling the Series 10 or just want to start completely fresh, use the Erase All Content and Settings option. This wipes everything: apps, watch faces, Apple Pay cards, and Health data. It does not remove Activation Lock, so if you're gifting the watch, you'll need to unpair from the Watch app instead (explained next).
On the watch, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode if asked. The process takes about 5 minutes, then the watch reboots to the pairing animation. Keep the watch on its magnetic charging puck during the erase, especially if the battery is below 50%. The Series 10 uses a flat magnetic puck, so if you have a thicker third-party case, make sure the puck aligns correctly to maintain a steady charge during the wipe.
Unpair From the Watch App (Cleanest Method)
If your Series 10 is still paired to your iPhone, unpairing through the Watch app is the smartest move. This creates a full backup of your current watch setup (faces, complications, health data), wipes the watch, and removes Activation Lock. The watch becomes ready to pair with any Apple ID.
Open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap your watch at the top of the screen, then tap the info button (the lowercase i in a circle). Choose Unpair Apple Watch and confirm with your Apple ID password. If you have a cellular plan on the Series 10, you'll be asked whether to keep or remove it. The unpair process takes 5 10 minutes, and the watch app shows progress. When it finishes, the watch reboots to its pairing screen and is ready for a new owner or a fresh start.
The backup includes your sleep apnea calibration settings if you had that feature set up. So when you restore later, you won't need to redo the Health app onboarding for sleep apnea detection. That's a nice time-saver on Series 10.
Restore From Recovery If the Watch Won't Boot
If a force restart doesn't get your Series 10 past the Apple logo, or it keeps boot-looping, you can push a restore directly from your iPhone. Open the Watch app, tap your watch name, then tap the info button and choose Restore Apple Watch. Your watch needs to be on its charger and within about 30 feet of your iPhone during the whole process.
The restore downloads the latest watchOS 26 firmware and flashes it to the watch. Expect 30 to 90 minutes, depending on your internet speed and the size of the update. Series 10 doesn't expose a recovery mode you can trigger manually with buttons, so if the Watch app restore fails, you'll need to contact Apple directly. That's rare, but worth knowing.
Set Up the Series 10 After a Reset
Once the watch is erased, strap it on your wrist and bring it close to your unlocked iPhone. The Watch app should open automatically with a setup prompt. Tap Set Up Apple Watch.
You'll see the familiar swirl of bubbles on the watch screen. Scan it with your iPhone camera, or choose Pair Apple Watch Manually if the camera isn't cooperating. After pairing, decide between Set Up as New Apple Watch or Restore from Backup. Restoring brings back all your watch faces, app layout, and health data, including any sleep apnea detection settings you had.
The Series 10's wider display looks great with a Photo Watch Face. Since you're starting fresh, set one up from your Favorites album. And remember: a 30-minute fast charge in the morning gives you enough juice for a workout. The watch hits about 80% in half an hour with a 5W+ USB-C adapter and its magnetic puck.
Erase a Lost or Stolen Series 10 Remotely
If your Series 10 is missing and you want to wipe it remotely, open the Find My app on your iPhone or visit iCloud.com/find. Select the watch from your device list, then tap Erase This Device.
The watch will erase the next time it connects to Wi-Fi or a paired iPhone. Activation Lock stays active, so no one else can use it without your Apple ID password. Once erased, you can remove the watch from your account entirely through the Watch app or iCloud, which frees it up for a new owner if it ever turns up.
