iPhone, watch for 95 year old

My brother purchased an Apple Watch for our mother who is 95 years old and she does not own an iPhone so he paired it with his iPhone, but he lives in Massachusetts so once it got locked when she was trying to put in her passcode there was no way to unlock it, because it cannot be reset due to the fact that his iPhone was too far away in another state she would like to return the cell phone. She was not given a receipt or the box it was put on her arm at the Irvine Apple Store on the 19th and although it is in the system and she’s been charged for it on her credit card. She doesn’t have a box or a receipt. How can she go about returning this is too difficult for her.

Apple Watch SE

Posted on Oct 9, 2023 11:07 AM

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2 replies

Oct 9, 2023 11:35 AM in response to Dgeller12

If the Apple Watch was purchased on the 19th (of any month) it is outside Apple's 14 day return window. One way or another, you have an Apple Watch which can't be returned for refund, and it needs to be erased and setup again to make it useful.


With the benefit of hindsight this might not have been the ideal configuration. The standard pairing to your brother's iPhone will potentially have all the messages and calls to his iPhone getting mirrored to your mother's Apple Watch. It probably won't show cup as a problem unless the watch has cellular or WiFi connectivity, but the result is probably not what anyone expected or wanted.


If you have any other relatives owning an Phone and living closer than your brother that might be a better way for the future. However, to deal with the immediate problem, the only method is to erase and start again.

If you forgot your Apple Watch passcode - Apple Support


If the watch is the cellular version it might be worth considering the Family Setup options rather than direct pairing with your brother's iPhone.

Oct 9, 2023 1:11 PM in response to Dgeller12

As mentioned, the return window has passed. Its 14 days from the day of purchase.

Also, even if it hadn't you can't simply return a locked device to Apple. It must be unlocked and usable.

Not knowing how to use a device, or managing to get it locked is not a valid reason for return.


Your brother will need to remotely erase the watch, and remove it from his account, so it can be set up again.

click here ➜ About Activation Lock on your Apple Watch - Apple Support


Then someone closer to your mother, would need to reset it. click here ➜ If you forgot your Apple Watch passcode - Apple Support


Once that is done, then somebody else will likely have to set it up again if she wants to continue to use it.


Alternatively, once erased and removed from your brother's account, it can be sold off if its no longer going to be used.

iPhone, watch for 95 year old

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