To turn off the passcode on your Apple Watch, open Settings on the watch, tap Passcode, and tap Turn Passcode Off. You can do the same thing from the Apple Watch app on your iPhone under My Watch > Passcode. Apple warns that without a passcode you can’t use Apple Pay or unlock your Mac with your watch.
These steps come from Apple’s guides Manage your passcode on Apple Watch and Wake and unlock Apple Watch. If typing the code is the only problem, there are easier options than turning it off completely.
How to Turn Off the Apple Watch Passcode
- Press the Digital Crown and open Settings.
- Tap Passcode.
- Tap Turn Passcode Off.
Result: Your watch no longer asks for a code. On your iPhone, you can do the same thing: open the Apple Watch app, tap My Watch > Passcode, then tap Turn Passcode Off.
What stops working without a passcode
Apple says some features aren’t available when the passcode is off. For example, you can’t use Apple Pay or unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch. Anyone who picks up the watch may also be able to see your notifications and other information on it.
A Better Option: Unlock Apple Watch With Your iPhone
If typing the code is the problem, keep the passcode and let your iPhone unlock the watch for you:
- Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap My Watch > Passcode.
- Turn on Unlock with iPhone.
Result: When you unlock your iPhone while wearing the watch, the watch unlocks too. Apple says the iPhone needs to be within normal Bluetooth range, about 33 feet (10 meters). If Bluetooth is off on the watch, you’ll need to enter the passcode on the watch.
You can also go the other way and unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch.
How to Stop Apple Watch From Locking When You Take It Off
Your watch locks when you take it off because of Wrist Detection, which is on by default.
- Open Settings on the watch.
- Tap Passcode.
- Turn off Wrist Detection.
Apple says turning this off means the watch no longer locks and unlocks automatically, some Activity measurements are unavailable, heart rate tracking and notifications turn off, Apple Pay asks for your passcode each time, and the watch won’t automatically make an emergency call after it detects a hard fall. For most people, Unlock with iPhone is the safer choice.
How to Change or Simplify Your Passcode
- Change it: Settings > Passcode > Change Passcode, then follow the prompts. Apple notes your watch passcode can be different from your iPhone passcode, and recommends using different ones.
- Use 4 digits: Settings > Passcode > turn on Simple Passcode.
- Erase after 10 tries: Settings > Passcode > turn on Erase Data to wipe the watch after 10 wrong attempts in a row.
- Lock it manually: Press the side button to open Control Center, then tap the Lock button.
Why Turn Passcode Off Might Be Grayed Out
Apple says you may be prevented from using a simple passcode or turning off your passcode if your synced iPhone is managed by an organization, such as a company or school. Ask your organization’s IT administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I forgot my passcode?
You’ll need to reset the watch and set it up again. Apple’s forgotten passcode guide explains how to reset it from the watch on its charger or from the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, then restore from a backup.
Is my watch passcode the same as my iPhone passcode?
No. They’re separate, and Apple recommends using different passcodes.
Why doesn’t my watch wake when I raise my wrist?
Apple says to make sure you’ve selected the right wrist and orientation. See how to change the wrist setting on Apple Watch. To adjust the display, see how to make the Apple Watch screen brighter.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.