Here's how to reset an Apple Watch before selling it. Unpair the watch from its iPhone in the Watch app, type your Apple Account password when asked, and wait until the watch lands on its setup screen. Unpairing backs up the watch, erases it and turns off Activation Lock in one pass. Erasing from the watch's own settings alone isn't enough, because the watch can stay tied to your account and the next owner can't use it. Finish by checking that the watch is gone from your Apple Account's device list. Do all of this before you hand the watch over.
Reset your Apple Watch before selling: what to have in hand
Four things need to be in front of you before you start, and the job fails without any one of them.
- The watch itself, charged. A low battery can stall the unpairing halfway.
- The iPhone it's paired with. Unpairing is a conversation between the two.
- Your Apple Account password. Only you can switch off the lock tied to it.
- A few quiet minutes. The prompts are easy to miss if you wander off.
If the iPhone or the password is missing, fix that first. For the buyer's side of the same deal, see whether a used Apple Watch is worth buying.
The steps, in order
Work through these one at a time. Menu names can shift a little between watchOS versions, so follow what your screen says if it differs.
- Charge the watch and put it next to its paired iPhone. The two have to talk during the unpairing.
- Open the Watch app on the iPhone and go to the My Watch tab. Everything for this watch starts there.
- Choose All Watches, then tap the info button beside the watch you're selling. That opens the options for that one watch.
- Tap Unpair Apple Watch and confirm. This starts the backup and the erase together.
- If it's a cellular model, pick whether to keep or remove the plan when asked. Keep it if you're moving to another watch, and remove it if you're not.
- Type your Apple Account password when it asks. This is what turns off Activation Lock.
- Wait until the watch shows its setup screen. That screen tells you the erase is finished.
- Check that the watch no longer appears in Find My or in your Apple Account's device list. A leftover listing is a sign the lock may still be on.
Selling the paired iPhone as well? Do the watch first, because unpairing needs the phone. Then follow our steps to prepare a phone to sell, and read what to know before selling AirPods if they're going too.
The step most people get wrong
Most people assume that erasing the watch from its own Settings finishes the job. In practice, that can leave Activation Lock on, which ties the watch to your Apple Account and blocks whoever buys it.
Here's how to tell if you got it right. The watch should reach the setup screen without asking for anyone's Apple Account, and it shouldn't show up in your device list in Find My or under your Apple Account. If it still shows up, the lock may still be on.
Already handed it over? Tell the buyer right away. You can usually remove a watch from your account from another device, so the fix doesn't have to wait.
Want to talk it through in person? You can see all store locations and bring the watch in.
How long each part takes
Plan on a short stretch of your own time, plus some waiting. Charging is the slowest part, and you can do it while you do everything else.
The unpairing itself usually takes a few minutes with the watch and phone sitting together. It can run longer on an older watch or one with a lot of data on it. The final check in Find My takes seconds. The one place to stay put is the password prompt, because a missed prompt leaves the lock on.
When to hand it to a professional
Hand it off when the do it yourself route is blocked, not because it's hard. These are the cases worth getting help with.
- The paired iPhone is lost, broken or already sold.
- You've forgotten your Apple Account password. Apple Support handles account recovery.
- The watch freezes, won't charge or won't unpair.
- The screen is cracked or dead, and you're deciding between a fix and a sale.
For that last one, a look at smartwatch repair shows what a fix involves before you sell a broken watch. Never pay anyone who promises to bypass Activation Lock on a watch you can't prove is yours.
How Wireless Kinect handles a watch you want to sell
Wireless Kinect runs device buyback and trade-in for phones, tablets, game consoles and watches. Its buyback list covers Apple Watch from Series 3 to 11, plus the SE and Ultra, and the business has four walk-in stores in Pennsylvania and Florida.
When you compare buyers, pick one that tells you up front how it sets an offer. The model, the condition and whether the lock is off all move what a buyer pays. You can check your model against our buyback site before you reset anything.
Questions about a trade-in that this guide didn't cover? Read our frequently asked questions for more answers.
Apple Watch reset FAQ
How do I reset an Apple Watch without the iPhone?
You can erase it from the watch's own Settings, under General and then Reset. After that, remove the watch from your Apple Account so the lock is off. Erasing alone doesn't do that.
Do I need to unpair the watch, or is erasing enough?
Unpair it if you still have the iPhone. Unpairing erases the watch and turns off Activation Lock together, so it's the safer route.
What is Activation Lock on an Apple Watch?
It's a protection that ties the watch to your Apple Account. While it's on, nobody else can set the watch up as their own.
Can I sell an Apple Watch that's still paired to my iPhone?
You shouldn't. A buyer can't use a watch that's still paired, and the lock may still be on.
How long does it take to unpair an Apple Watch?
Usually a few minutes, longer if the watch has a lot of data to back up. Keep the watch and phone together until the setup screen appears.
Do I need to remove the cellular plan before selling?
On a cellular model, the unpairing asks whether to keep or remove the plan. Remove it if the watch is leaving you for good, and check with your carrier if you're unsure.
Can I sell a watch if I forgot my Apple Account password?
Not until you recover the account. Apple Support can walk you through recovery, and then you can turn the lock off.
Should I take the band off before I sell?
That's up to you and your buyer. If the band is yours and you want it back, ask before you pack the watch.
Ready to sell or trade in your watch?
Once the watch is reset, bring it in or get an instant repair quote if it needs a fix first.