How to Factory Reset a Smartwatch (Any Brand)

To factory reset a smartwatch, open the watch’s Settings > System (or General) > Reset menu, confirm with your PIN, and select the option to erase all content and settings. On most models you can also trigger a reset from the companion phone app. Before you start, back up your data, charge the watch above 50%, and—on cellular or Apple models—remove activation locks so the device can be reused. The exact menu names differ by brand, but the underlying process is the same: wipe personal data, restore factory defaults, and unpair from your phone. Below is a clear, brand-by-brand walkthrough plus troubleshooting for watches that won’t reset normally.

Before You Reset: 4 Things to Do First

A factory reset erases everything stored locally on the watch—accounts, workouts, cards in your wallet, downloaded music, and custom watch faces. Take a few minutes to prepare so you don’t lose data or lock yourself out.

1. Back up your data. Most health and activity data syncs to the cloud automatically (Apple Health, Samsung Health, Garmin Connect, Fitbit/Google), but confirm a recent sync completed in the companion app before wiping.
2. Charge the watch above 50%. A reset that loses power partway through can corrupt the firmware and require a more difficult recovery.
3. Disable activation/anti-theft locks. On Apple Watch, turn off Activation Lock; on Wear OS and Galaxy watches, remove the Google or Samsung account first. Skipping this can leave the watch unusable for the next owner.
4. Remove payment cards and cellular plans. If your watch has its own data plan, cancel or transfer it first. See our guide on adding a smartwatch to your Verizon plan for how cellular lines are managed.

How to Factory Reset by Brand

The table below summarizes the fastest reset path for each major platform. Detailed steps follow.

Apple Watch

1. On the watch, open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset Watch > Erase All Content and Settings.
2. Enter your passcode and, if you have a cellular model, choose whether to keep or remove the plan.
3. Tap Erase All to confirm. The watch wipes data and restarts at the setup screen.
4. Apple’s Activation Lock is tied to your Apple ID. If you’re giving the watch away, also unpair it from the iPhone Watch app, which signs it out automatically.

Planning a fresh start with accessories? See our roundup of must-have Apple Watch accessories.

Samsung Galaxy Watch & Google Pixel Watch (Wear OS)

1. Open Settings on the watch face.
2. On Galaxy Watch, go to General > Reset; on Pixel Watch, go to System > Disconnect & reset.
3. Confirm and enter your PIN if prompted.
4. Before resetting, remove your Google account from the watch (Settings > Accounts) so factory-reset protection doesn’t block re-setup.

For more on the broader ecosystem, read our overview of Android smartwatches.

Garmin

1. Press the menu/Start button and open Settings > System > Reset.
2. Choose Delete Data and Reset Settings for a full wipe, or Reset Default Settings to keep activity data.
3. Confirm. The watch restarts and re-enters pairing mode.

Garmin syncs activities to Garmin Connect, so confirm your latest runs uploaded first. The newer models, like those in our Garmin Instinct 3 review, follow this same menu structure.

Fitbit

1. On the watch, open Settings and scroll to Device Info or System.
2. Select Clear User Data (some models label it Factory Reset).
3. Follow the on-screen prompt—often holding a button for several seconds—to confirm.
4. Because Fitbit is now part of Google, removing the device from the Fitbit app also helps release it from your account.

If the Watch Won’t Turn On or the Menu Is Frozen

A locked, crashed, or unresponsive watch can usually still be reset using a hardware button combination. The exact sequence varies, so check your model’s manual, but these patterns cover most brands:

• Force restart first. On Apple Watch, hold the side button and Digital Crown together for about 10 seconds until the logo appears. On many Wear OS and Garmin watches, hold the power button for 10–15 seconds.
• Charge for 30 minutes. A deeply drained battery can mimic a dead device. Connect the charger, confirm the charging indicator, then try again.
• Use recovery mode. Apple Watch can be restored over a connection in some cases; Wear OS watches may offer a bootloader recovery menu reached by holding the button during startup.
• Charger contact issues. Clean the charging pins and back of the watch—sweat and debris are a common reason a watch appears unresponsive.

If the screen stays black after charging and a force restart, the issue may be hardware rather than software, and a manufacturer service request is the safer next step.

After the Reset

Once the watch reboots to its setup screen, you can either restore from a backup or set it up as new. Setting up as new often clears lingering glitches—slow syncing, inaccurate sensors, or battery drain—that prompted the reset in the first place. For battery problems specifically, compare your model against our battery life comparison to judge whether your runtime is normal. If you’re resetting before selling and shopping for an upgrade, our guide to choosing the right smartwatch can help you pick the next one.

Frequently asked questions

Will a factory reset delete my health and fitness data?

It deletes the copy stored locally on the watch, but data that has already synced to the cloud—Apple Health, Samsung Health, Garmin Connect, or Fitbit/Google—remains in your account and reappears after you sign back in. Always confirm a recent sync before wiping.

Do I need to unpair my watch from my phone before resetting?

For Apple Watch, unpairing through the iPhone Watch app automatically backs up the watch and turns off Activation Lock, so it’s the recommended route. For Wear OS and Garmin, resetting on the watch is fine, but you should remove your Google or Samsung account first to avoid lockout protections.

How do I reset a smartwatch I forgot the password for?

Use the hardware button reset for your model, which wipes the device without requiring the PIN. Note that on Apple and Android watches, account-level locks (Activation Lock or factory-reset protection) will still require the original owner’s credentials to set the watch up again.

Will resetting fix inaccurate sensor readings?

Sometimes. A reset clears corrupted settings and stale firmware states that can affect heart-rate or sleep tracking. It won’t repair physical sensor damage, though. If you rely on advanced metrics, our article on sleep apnea detection explains what these sensors can and can’t measure.

Sources

• Apple Support — Reset your Apple Watch
• Samsung — Reset your Galaxy Watch
• Garmin Support Center
• Google Fitbit Help