Wrong Apple ID during watch activation
When connecting my watch it’s wanting me to use a different Apple ID that I don’t have access to, how do I connect my new Apple ID when it doesn’t give me the option?
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You can continue to find trusted guidance and support on the official Apple Support site.
We want to thank the community members who have contributed their time and expertise to help others with their Apple products.
The Apple Support Community will permanently close on November 20, 2026. Starting today, the site will no longer accept new posts and is available in a read-only state.
You can continue to find trusted guidance and support on the official Apple Support site.
We want to thank the community members who have contributed their time and expertise to help others with their Apple products.
When connecting my watch it’s wanting me to use a different Apple ID that I don’t have access to, how do I connect my new Apple ID when it doesn’t give me the option?
If this is your watch and the Apple ID was your ID, then you need to recover that Apple ID so that you can release the Activation Lock on the watch before you can st it up using a different Apple ID.
If that was someone else's watch before you got it and the Apple ID is that of the original owner, that owner needs to release the Activation Lock from their Apple ID before you can set it up with your Apple ID.
Activation Lock prevents lost and stolen Watches from being used by others!
If you bought this watch 2nd hand, the owner neded to follow these instructions before giving the watch to you.
Before you buy, sell, give away, or trade in - Apple Support
M1 Mac mini, macOS 14.1.1; Watch, series 7 GPS/cellular, watchOS 10.1.1; iPad Pro 2nd Gen, iPadOS 17.1.1; iPhone 12 Pro, iOS 17.1.1; TV 4th Gen, tvOS 17; HomePods, audioOS 17.1.1 and Airport Express w/ Airplay 2
If this is your watch and the Apple ID was your ID, then you need to recover that Apple ID so that you can release the Activation Lock on the watch before you can st it up using a different Apple ID.
If that was someone else's watch before you got it and the Apple ID is that of the original owner, that owner needs to release the Activation Lock from their Apple ID before you can set it up with your Apple ID.
Activation Lock prevents lost and stolen Watches from being used by others!
If you bought this watch 2nd hand, the owner neded to follow these instructions before giving the watch to you.
Before you buy, sell, give away, or trade in - Apple Support
M1 Mac mini, macOS 14.1.1; Watch, series 7 GPS/cellular, watchOS 10.1.1; iPad Pro 2nd Gen, iPadOS 17.1.1; iPhone 12 Pro, iOS 17.1.1; TV 4th Gen, tvOS 17; HomePods, audioOS 17.1.1 and Airport Express w/ Airplay 2
Wrong Apple ID during watch activation