ksiems
Level 1
(8 points)
Q: Unpaired Apple Watch
I have unpaired my Apple watch with my iPhone & have sold it to a friend. The watch does NOT appear in my list of devices under my Apple ID.
The watch has a message that my Apple ID must be deleted from the watch in order for her to begin using it? Suggestions and/or thoughts welcomed!
Apple Watch, iOS 9.3.2
Jonathan UK
Level 8
(39,802 points)
Hi
You are describing Activation Lock, which prevents unauthorised use of Apple Watch if it is lost or stolen.
If your friend lives nearby, try one or the other of these steps:
- Ask your friend to start pairing the watch, then enter your Apple ID and password on their iPhone when prompted (which removes Activation Lock).
- Keep your password private when entering it.
- It is not advisable to instead provide your friend with your Apple ID credentials to enter them on your behalf, even if you change your password again afterwards.
- Or: re-pair the watch with your own iPhone, then unpair it using the Watch app on your iPhone (which automatically removes Activation Lock).
Otherwise, try the following steps:
- Check that you have removed from the watch from your iCloud devices:
- Sign in to https://www.icloud.com/ with your Apple ID > Settings > My Devices > Click on Apple Watch > Click on the "X" > click on Remove.
- If the following steps are still available to you within the Watch app on your iPhone, try to unpair the watch via the app, even though the watch is not physically available:
- On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > tap on the name of the watch > tap on the "i" icon next to your watch: if the button is available, tap on Unpair Apple Watch.
- Ask your friend / the new owner to try these steps:
- On their iPhone: close the Watch app along with all other open apps (double-press on the Home button, swipe up on each of the app previews).
- Restart both devices, turning both of them off and then restarting the iPhone first:
- To turn the watch off: press and hold the side button until they see the Power Off slider; drag the slider to turn off.
- To turn the watch back on: press and hold the side button until they see the Apple logo.
- Then re-try setting up the watch.
If the watch remains locked, contact Apple Support (you, not the new owner) and explain the situation, making clear that you are the original owner and that you cannot remove Activation Lock from a watch that you have sold:
More information:
