Activating and pairing an Apple Watch

Q: I’m being asked to enter a passcode, but I either don’t have it or I forgot it. What should I do?

If you have to enter a passcode , it’s because your watch is still paired with another iPhone. To activate the watch and pair it with your device, you need to reset it .

What you need

To set up an Apple Watch, you’ll need the following:

2^nd or 3^rd generation Apple Watch, Ultra, Ultra 2, Series 6 or later, with cellular connectivity and watchOS 11.5 or later
iPhone XS or later, with iOS 18.5 or later
Compatible Mobile plan with a smartwatch plan
Smartwatch plan Same Plan, Same Number

Also make sure that:

Your Apple Watch model is designed for North America
Your iPhone is connected to the Videotron mobile network
Bluetooth^® is enabled on your phone

Setting up my Apple Watch

To set up your Apple Watch, you need to pair it with an iPhone and activate your plan Same Plan, Same Number.

If you don’t have a plan yet, you’ll be prompted to subscribe the first time you pair your watch to your phone.

Don’t want to add a plan just yet? You can still do this later on your iPhone’s Watch app, in the Cellular network menu.

Setting up an Apple Watch for myself

Turn on the Apple Watch by pressing and holding down the side button until the Apple logo appears, then put the watch on your wrist.
Make sure the Apple Watch and your iPhone are near each other. When the “Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch” message appears on your phone, tap Continue.
- If the message doesn’t appear, launch the Apple Watch app and tap Start Pairing.
Tap Set Up for Myself.
Hold your iPhone over the animation that appears on the watch and centre the watch face in the viewfinder on your iPhone.
When the message Your Apple Watch is Paired appears, press New Apple Watch.
Follow the on-screen instructions to customize your watch (e.g., data analysis, Apple account, security code).
When you see Set Up Cellular on the screen, tap Set Up Cellular, followed by Continue.
Enter your ID and password to log in to My Account and tap Sign in.
Tap Continue to activate mobile services on your watch.
- Is an Apple Watch already paired with your phone? Select Remove, Replace, or Add New Watch.
Change your address for emergency services, if desired, and tap Continue.
Wait while the services are being activated. An email with the details of your order has been sent to you.
Read the Terms and Conditions and tap Accept, followed by Done.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the pairing of your watch and select your preferences for the Depth and Find My apps.
Wait while your Apple Watch is synchronizing. You will receive a notification at the end of the operation.

For more information, see Apple help on setting up an Apple Watch.

Setting up an Apple Watch for a family member

Note: Cellular setup is not yet supported by Videotron in Family mode. If you still want to set up an Apple Watch for a family member, note that some elements will not work (Siri, calls, and text messages, for example).

Before setting up the Apple Watch, make sure that:

You and your family member have an Apple ID
You set up Family Sharing, and this person is part of the family group
You have the role of organizer or parent/guardian for the group

Turn on the Apple Watch by pressing and holding down the side button until the Apple logo appears, then put the watch on your wrist.
Make sure the Apple Watch and your iPhone are near each other. When the “Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch” message appears on your phone, tap Continue.
- If the message doesn’t appear, launch the Apple Watch app and tap Start Pairing.
Tap Set Up for a Family Member.
Hold your iPhone over the animation that appears on the watch and centre the watch face in the viewfinder on your iPhone.
When the message Your Apple Watch is Paired appears, tap New Apple Watch.
Follow the on-screen instructions to customize your watch (e.g., features, text properties, security code).
Choose the family member who will be using the Apple Watch. If they don’t appear, tap Add Family Member.
Enter the family member's Apple ID password, then tap Next.
Turn on Ask to Buy if you want to give approval for any downloads or purchases made on the Apple Watch, or tap Set Up Later.
When you see Cellular Setup on the screen, tap Not Now.
Follow the instructions to choose the features you want to set up, such as shared contacts and restricted screen time.
When finished, press OK to start using the Apple Watch.

For more information, see Apple help on setting up an Apple Watch for a family member.

Frequently asked questions on activating the Apple Watch

How can I get an Apple Watch from Videotron?

You can buy an Apple Watch in the way that works best for you:

Shop online. Once you have placed your order, a representative will call you back to confirm.
Contact Customer Service.
Visit a Videotron store near you.

What Mobile plans are compatible with the smartwatch plan?

You can subscribe to a watch plan if:

The Mobile plan linked to the iPhone you will be using is managed in My Account
The Mobile plan includes data
Data are not blocked in your account

Is there a limit to the number of watches I can link to a phone number?

You can pair up to 3 Apple Watch devices per phone number linked to an iPhone. If you try to pair a fourth Apple Watch to the same number, you’ll be prompted to replace one of the previously paired watches.

For example, if your account includes 4 phone numbers, each assigned to an iPhone, you could activate up to 12 Apple Watch devices.

I have my own Apple Watch. Can I use it with my Videotron mobile phone number?

Yes. Make sure the watch meets the prerequisites for operating on the Videotron network. When you pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone, you will be asked to subscribe to a connected watch plan.

I completed the activation of my watch, but the Watch app indicates that the cellular network is “Waiting.” What should I do?

The “Waiting” status indicates that activation has not yet been finalized on our network. While waiting for it to finish, you can use your watch in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi mode, except to make or receive calls.

I’m being asked to enter a passcode, but I either don’t have it or I forgot it. What should I do?

If you have to enter a passcode, it’s because your watch is still paired with another iPhone. To activate the watch and pair it with your device, you need to reset it.

I can’t activate the smartwatch plan, even though my devices meet the requirements. What can I do?

Make sure your iPhone and Apple Watch have a sufficiently recent carrier version.

iPhone: Videotron 64.1 or higher
Apple Watch: Videotron 34.1 or higher

Ensure both devices are connected to Wi-Fi. On each device, go to Settings > General > About, then scroll to the SIM or eSIM section to check your carrier version. If an update is available, you’ll see a prompt to install it.

Finally, check if your Apple Watch model is designed for North America. If your model is not compatible with local networks, the Cellular Network option will not appear in the watch menu. You can also check your model's compatibility on the Apple website.

Still can’t activate a plan for your smartwatch, even though your devices meet the minimum requirements? Contact our Technical Support.