How to Enable and Disable Apple Watch Activation Lock

The Apple Watch Activation Lock is a theft deterrent for the watch that ensures the security of your personal data if it's stolen. When you get ready to sell your watch, you want to disable the Activation Lock. You might also need to remove the Activation Lock if you're having your watch repaired or serviced. Here's how to enable and deactivate the Apple Watch Activation Lock.  

What Is Activation Lock?

If you're familiar with the Activation Lock on your iPhone, you'll find no surprises on the Apple Watch. It's a robust form of theft protection that Apple built into the watch. If you lose your Apple Watch, the watch remains connected to your Apple ID, and Activation Lock prevents anyone else from erasing it and using it.

If you also have the passcode enabled on your Apple Watch, strangers won't even be able to access any apps or displays on the watch when it's not on your wrist.

Because of the Activation Lock, you can locate your watch using Apple's Find My service, and strangers can't access your watch's data.

The bottom line is that as long as Activation Lock is on, only you (or someone who knows your Apple ID password) can:

• Disable the Find My service
• Unpair the watch from your iPhone
• Pair the watch with another iPhone

How to Ensure Apple Watch Activation Lock Is Working

Activation Lock is useful but only when it's turned on and working. To make sure your Activation Lock is turned on:

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.

2. Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom of the screen to ensure you're on the My Watch page.

3. Tap the name of the watch near the top of the My Watch page.

4. Tap the circled i to the right of your watch's name.

5. You should see Find My Apple Watch. If you do, your watch's Activation Lock is turned on and working properly. If you don't see it, you can enable the Activation Lock.

How to Enable Apple Watch Activation Lock

If you don't see Find My Apple Watch in the Watch app, then Activation Lock isn't enabled for your watch. It's easy to turn on, though, since it's automatically enabled when Find My iPhone is turned on.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.

3. Tap Find My.

4. Tap Find My iPhone. In the next screen, swipe the toggle next to Find My iPhone to turn it on.

   While you're here, it's a good idea to turn on both Enable Offline Finding and Send Last Location since they make it easier to find a lost phone, but those options aren't essential.

Your Apple Watch's Activation Lock is now turned on.

How to Remove Activation Lock on Apple Watch

If your Apple Watch and iPhone are paired and in close proximity, you can disable the Activation Lock from the Watch app on the iPhone.

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.

2. Tap the My Watch tab at the bottom of the screen.

3. Tap your name at the top of the My Watch page.

4. Tap the circled i to the right of your watch's name.

5. Tap Unpair Apple Watch. In the pop-up window at the bottom of the screen, tap Unpair [YourName's] Apple Watch.

How to Remove Activation Lock on Apple Watch From the Web

If your watch and phone aren't currently paired, or at least one of them is unavailable so you can't bring them close together, you can use Apple's Find My service in a web browser to remove the Activation Lock.

You can also use this procedure if your Apple Watch needs to be serviced and isn't working well enough to communicate with your iPhone.

1. Log in to iCloud.com in a web browser using your Apple ID and password. Select Find My or Find iPhone from the menu items.

2. Select All Devices at the top of the screen and choose your Apple Watch from the drop-down menu.

3. Select Erase Apple Watch confirm this is what you want to do by choosing Erase.