Unlock Apple Watch activation lock and icloud locked

If your Apple Watch displays that this Apple Watch is linked to an Apple ID message, that means Find My is enabled on it and activation lock can be enabled at some point. This guide tells you what the Apple Watch activation lock is and how you can bypass it using various methods.

• What Is Activation Lock on Apple Watch?

Before you try and remove Activation Lock on Apple Watch, the first thing you need to understand is what this lock is and why it got activated on your Apple Watch. Without knowing this essential information, you will not be able to understand the process of the lock and how it can be removed.

An activation lock is a lock that helps protect your Apple devices from being used by unauthorized users. This lock comes into effect when Find My feature is enabled on your Apple Watch and your Watch is reset to the factory settings. This is when it shows the activation lock message on the screen.

• How to Bypass the Apple Watch Activation Lock?

If you have bought the Apple Watch from someone as a second-hand device, or if someone has gifted it to you and it has the activation lock on it, one of the following methods will help you bypass Activation Lock on Apple Watch.

Once the lock is removed, you will be able to pair the Watch with your own Apple ID and iPhone.

Use the Paired iPhone to Bypass the Activation Lock on an Apple Watch

If the original Apple Watch owner is still with you, or if you can contact them somehow, then there is a method that allows you to remove the activation lock from your Apple Watch by using their iCloud credentials. What this method basically does is removing the lock using the official Apple method.

As the original owner of the device, and having access to the iPhone that the Apple Watch was paired with, the original owner can simply unpair the Watch from their iPhone. This will remove the activation lock from an iOS device. They will need access to the Apple Watch app on their iPhones.

Using the Apple Watch app, the original owner can remove the Watch from the list of watches in the app. Once the locked Watch is removed, Apple will know that the Watch does not belong to anyone and they will remove the lock from the device – all remotely. The original owner needs to follow the following steps to do that.

Step 1. Bring both your iPhone and your Apple Watch close to each other.

Step 2. Start the Apple Watch on the iPhone, tap the My Watch, and tap on the info icon next to the locked Watch.

Step 3. Select the option that says Unpair Apple Watch. This will remove the Watch from the iPhone.

Step 4. Enter the iCloud logins and your Watch will be removed.

The activation lock should be removed and your Apple Watch is now ready to be paired with any iPhone.

Use iCloud to Remove The Activation Lock From An Apple Watch

If the original Apple Watch owner cannot come and unpair your Apple Watch, or if they have lost their iPhone and they have no means to remove the Watch, they can use iCloud to remove Activation Lock remotely. iCloud has an online interface where you can use pretty much all the iCloud features that you use on your iOS devices.

One of these online features is to find your Apple ID-linked devices, like your Apple Watch, and erase and remove Apple Watch from account. Using this method, the original owner can remotely wipe off the Watch and unpair it from their account.

Once the online unpairing process is finished, your Apple Watch will sync with Apple servers and the servers will unlock it for you. That is because Apple will no longer see any iPhones that bind this Apple Watch with them. Your Watch is then free to be linked with any account.

Ask the Previous Owner to Follow These Steps to Unlock the Apple Watch

To get rid of Activation Lock on Apple watch with previous owner, you can:

Step 1. Launch your web browser and access the iCloud website. Sign in to your iCloud account.

Step 2. You should now see various options on your screen. Click the option that reads Find iPhone to view and access the settings for the locked Apple Watch.

Step 3. Click on All Devices at the top and choose your Apple Watch from the list.

Step 4. On the screen that follows, click the Erase Apple Watch option followed by Remove from Account.

Your Apple Watch will be wiped off and removed from the original owner’s account. It can then be associated with your own Apple ID.

Use An Online Service to Get Rid of the Activation Lock On An Apple Watch

If you fail to contact the previous owner, you can try some online services to remove Activation Lock on Apple Watch without previous owner. You can avail one of these services for your Apple Watch and they will unlock your Watch for you. However, there are a few things you should know about these services.

If your device is marked as stolen, then these services might not work for you. Also, you need to be willing to shell out a good amount of money to unlock the Watch. This is because almost all of these services require you to make an upfront payment before you can unlock your Watch.

Here is how you can use an online service to get rid of the activation lock on an Apple Watch.

Step 1. Open the Apple iPhone Unlock website in one of the browsers on your computer.

Step 2. Find the serial number written on the case of your Apple Watch and note it down.

Step 3. Enter the serial number on the site you have opened, select your Apple Watch from the dropdown menu, and click on Remove Activation Lock.

Step 4. Proceed further, make a payment, and your order will be confirmed.

In a few days, you will receive an email saying that your Apple Watch is unlocked and you can use it with your own account.