Apple Watch keeps notifying me that I’ve left my old iPhone behind.

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Level 1

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Apple Watch keeps notifying me that I’ve left my old iPhone behind.

So I have an Apple Watch Series 3 as well as an iPhone SE2 and plenty of other awesome Apple products including two Macs and an Apple TV. But ever since a few months ago when my old iPhone X screen broke and I sold it and upgraded to an iPhone SE2 I am getting notifications (not all the time or even often but randomly) about my iPhone X being “left behind”. How do I stop these notifications without stopping other notifications? I also have AirTags and like getting notified when I leave them behind.

Posted on Jan 18, 2023 1:24 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

lobsterghost1

Level 10

149,568 points

Jan 18, 2023 1:42 PM in response to iBoy2G

It sounds as if when you sold your old iPhone, you did not prepare it for a new user, which would have removed the phone from your account.

On your iPhone:

Open the Settings App

Tap Your Name, Apple ID, iCloud, etc

Scan down to the iPhone X and tap it

Scan to Remove from Account

Tap Remove from Account

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Answer 2

Jan 18, 2023 3:38 PM in response to iBoy2G

Somehow, the iPhone is still signed in to your account. Did you fully wipe the phone before you got rid of it?

Either way, I'd contact Apple for help here. If you're in the US, call them at: 800-MY-APPLE

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Answer 3

iBoy2G Author

Level 1

27 points

Jan 18, 2023 4:15 PM in response to lobsterghost1

Yep I did, but I sold the iPhone as broken on eBay. I’m wondering if the buyer ever managed to get it fixed cause this was like 2 months ago, almost 3. Also I only get the message on my Watch (which I reset when I set up my new iPhone). I don’t get the message on any of my other Apple products.

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Answer 4

Jan 18, 2023 4:19 PM in response to iBoy2G

It's certainly possible whoever got your iPhone did fix it and is using your account. I would change your Apple ID Password at a minimum. The left your phone behind message should only come to Apple Watch, so we know it's working as designed.

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Answer 5

iBoy2G Author

Level 1

27 points

Jan 18, 2023 4:23 PM in response to lobsterghost1

The thing is I turned the phone back on real quick to to verify before shipping it and it gave the regular Apple welcome to new iPhone screen. You know where it show Hello in a bunch of different languages. I do have two factor authentication enabled as well. I will call Apple tomorrow though to find out and make sure the old phone is not still logged in somehow.

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Answer 6

iBoy2G Author

Level 1

27 points

Jan 18, 2023 3:22 PM in response to lobsterghost1

I actually did that already, I always do when I get new Apple products I remove the old ones.

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Apple Watch keeps notifying me that I’ve left my old iPhone behind.

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