How to unpair your Apple Watch and remove Activation Lock before selling

An Apple Watch stays locked to your Apple Account until you unpair it properly. Unpairing from your iPhone erases the watch and removes Activation Lock in one go.

Keep the watch next to your iPhone, open the Watch app, go to My Watch > All Watches, tap the info button next to the watch and tap Unpair Apple Watch. Enter your Apple Account password to switch off Activation Lock. If you no longer have the watch, erase and remove it from iCloud.com/find.

• 1. Bring the watch and iPhone together: Place the Apple Watch next to the iPhone it is paired with, both charged and unlocked.
• 2. Open the Watch app: On the iPhone, open the Watch app and tap My Watch, then All Watches at the top.
• 3. Tap the info button: Find your watch in the list and tap the small info (i) button beside it.
• 4. Unpair and choose the cellular plan option: Tap Unpair Apple Watch. On a GPS + Cellular model, choose to remove the plan since you are selling. You may still need to call your operator to cancel the connection itself.
• 5. Enter your Apple Account password: Type your password when asked. This turns off Activation Lock. The iPhone saves a fresh backup of the watch, then erases it back to factory settings.
• 6. Check Find My: Once it finishes, open Find My on your iPhone and make sure the watch no longer appears under your devices.