Can I Pair a Smartwatch With Two Phones at Once?

If you have multiple phones, chances are that you might have tried connecting one singular smartwatch to two phones. Or, if you have family members that would like to use your watch’s fitness-tracking features, they might want to connect their phones to your smartwatch at the same time. The scenarios might be different for each, but the answer is the same for all.

No, generally, you cannot pair a smartwatch with two phones simultaneously. Smartwatches are designed to be paired with a single smartphone at a time. When you pair a smartwatch with a new phone, it typically requires unpairing it from the previous device. However, you can usually switch the pairing between different phones by unpairing from one and then pairing with the other.

We’re going to show you how to do that.

Can You Connect A Smartwatch To Multiple Phones?

No, smartwatches cannot be connected to multiple phones. That sounds like quite a bummer, doesn’t it? Well, there’s a good reason why you aren’t able to do so. In essence, your phone acts as a companion for your smartwatch. 

So, your phone relays all the information to your smartwatch which is then ultimately displayed on your wrist. If it were to get signals from multiple smartphones, it wouldn’t really know which information it has to display. 

For example, say you’ve connected a smartwatch to two smartphones. Now, if you were to receive two distinct notifications at the same time on both phones, your smartwatch would have no idea as to which notification it has to display.

How To Connect Multiple Phones To Smartwatch

While simultaneous connections aren’t possible, you can still connect your smartwatch to other smartphones, given that you un-pair from the last one. 

While this process can feel quite tedious (and it is) – this is the only way you can expect to use your Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Fitbit, or any other smartwatch with two or more phones. 

However, if you want to switch the connection of your smartwatch between different phones, you can follow these general steps:

1. On the smartwatch, navigate to the settings or connectivity menu.
2. Look for the option to “unpair” or “disconnect” the current phone from the smartwatch. This may be under Bluetooth or device settings.
3. On the phone you want to disconnect, go to its Bluetooth settings.
4. Find the listing for the smartwatch in the Bluetooth devices list and select “Forget” or “Unpair” to disconnect it from that phone.

Once you have disconnected the smartwatch from the current phone, you can then proceed to connect it to the new phone:

1. On the new phone, make sure Bluetooth is enabled.
2. On the smartwatch, navigate to the settings or connectivity menu.
3. Look for the option to “pair” or “connect” a new device.
4. On the new phone, search for Bluetooth devices and select the smartwatch from the list of available devices.
5. Follow any on-screen instructions on both the phone and smartwatch to complete the pairing process.

Remember that when you connect the smartwatch to a new phone, it will typically replace the previous pairing. So, if you want to switch back to the original phone, you may need to go through the same process of disconnecting from the current phone and reconnecting with the original one.

Can You Connect Two Smartwatches To One Phone?

Yes, almost all mainstream smartwatches can be connected in multiples to one phone. And, this seems to be a more practical option too. Oftentimes, you or other users might have multiple smartwatches that serve different purposes.

For example, you might have an Apple Watch Series SE for your workouts with a more casual band, while you use your Apple Watch Series 7 with a stainless steel case for more formal occasions. Or, you might be using a Fitbit Sense for your daily routine and a Charge 5 for your runs.

In any case, you can indeed connect multiple smartwatches to the same phone. Here’s a quick guide on how to do that on leading brands:

Apple

• Open the Watch app on your iPhone
• Now, tap on All Watches
• Once there, tap on Add Watch and pair your secondary wearable

Fitbit

• Open the Fitbit app on your smartphones (iOS / Android)
• Head to the Account tab
• Tap on Set up a new Fitbit Device and pair your secondary wearable

Galaxy Watch (Samsung)

• Open the Galaxy Watch / Wearable app on your smartphone (iOs / Android)
• Bring the menu up by swiping from right to left
• Now, tap on Add New Device
• Select the device you wish to add – and pair it

Does A Smartwatch Need To Be Paired With A Smartphone?

Regardless of what smartphone you have, they need to be paired with a smartphone in order to function. Whether they need the smartphone constantly with them is a whole different story. For example, an LTE-activated Apple Watch can function without the phone being in its vicinity and perform most tasks.

However, it will still need to be paired to an iPhone in order to receive calls, texts, notifications, and even function on its own. As of yet, there is no smartwatch that can operate without the need for a phone. 

Can I Setup A Smartwatch For My Kids Using My Phone?

Yes, you can set up a smartwatch for your kids while using your phone. While every brand is different in terms of its functionality, Apple’s Family Setup allows you to set your kid’s watches up using your phone and allows them to use features such as Maps, Siri, and Alarms while also letting parents identify their children’s location in a convenient manner. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is not possible to connect a smartwatch to multiple phones simultaneously. Smartwatches are designed to be paired with a single smartphone at a time, and attempting to connect to multiple phones would cause confusion in displaying notifications and relaying information. However, you can switch the connection of your smartwatch between different phones by unpairing it from one and pairing it with another.

On the other hand, it is possible to connect multiple smartwatches to a single phone. This is particularly useful when individuals have different smartwatches for various purposes or occasions. Leading brands like Apple, Fitbit, and Samsung allow for the pairing of multiple smartwatches to one phone through their respective companion apps.