If your watch is not pairing, work through the steps below in order. Most pairing issues are caused by insufficient signal, a SIM problem, or the watch needing a reset.
Step 1: Check your signal strength
The watch needs at least 2 bars of mobile signal to pair. If Tap to Pair is not showing on the watch screen, move to an area with better coverage and try again.
Step 2: Soft reset the watch
If Tap to Pair disappears or does not appear at all, the watch may have attempted and failed a previous pairing. A soft reset shuts the watch down and restarts it without deleting any data.
Hold down the power button on the back of the watch until it vibrates. The watch will shut down and restart automatically. Once restarted, Tap to Pair should reappear.
Step 3: Factory reset the watch
If a soft reset does not resolve the issue, perform a factory reset to start the pairing process from scratch.
Important: Make sure the watch has at least 2–3 bars of signal before performing a factory reset.
Swipe down from the top of the watch screen.
Tap Settings.
Scroll down and tap Factory Reset.
Enter the last 4 digits of your watch's IMEI number as the password. You can find the IMEI under Settings > Information on the watch, or on the side label of your watch box.
Once complete, Tap to Pair should reappear on the screen.
Step 4: Update the watch software
Make sure the watch is running the latest software before attempting to pair again. See How do I update the software on my Spacetalk watch?.
Step 5: Check your SIM
A damaged, inactive, or incompatible SIM can also prevent pairing. Check the following:
Make sure the SIM is correctly inserted — see How do I insert a SIM card into my Adventurer? or How do I insert a SIM card into my Loop?.
Make sure the SIM is active and has sufficient credit or data.
Check for adequate network coverage in your area. For Australia, use the Spacetalk Coverage Map.
Inspect the metal contacts on the SIM and inside the SIM tray for damage or corrosion. If damaged, take a photo of the SIM tray exposed and contact our Support team via live chat to arrange a repair.
If the watch shows No SIM, SOS, or Emergency Calls Only, try inserting the SIM into another phone to confirm it is active. If the SIM works in another phone but not the watch, contact our Support team via live chat.
Step 6: Check if your watch is soft-locked
Spacetalk watches purchased in Australia, USA, and UK are soft-locked to Spacetalk Mobile plans. If you are using a different provider's SIM, the watch will not pair until it is unlocked.
Note: Watches purchased from Telstra or Optus in Australia are already unlocked.
Country | Unlocking fee |
Australia | AU$80 |
USA | US$60 |
UK | £40 |
To unlock your watch, contact our Support team via live chat.
Step 7: Reinstall the Spacetalk App
If the watch appears connected but does not show up in the app, uninstall and reinstall the Spacetalk App, then repeat the pairing process.
Troubleshooting call and contact issues after pairing
If pairing was successful but calls from trusted contacts are being blocked or showing as unknown, check the following:
Contacts not saved: The watch only accepts calls from pre-approved contacts. Make sure the contact's number has been added to the Space in the Spacetalk App.
School Mode is active: School Mode blocks incoming calls during the hours you set. Check whether School Mode is active at the times calls are being made. See How do I set up School Mode?.
Unknown call blocking: If the watch is receiving calls from unknown numbers, check that the Block Unknown Calls toggle is turned on in Watch Settings in the Spacetalk App.
If you are still experiencing issues after trying all the steps above, contact our Support team via live chat.