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 serviceUnpair the watch from your iPhonePair 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:
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. 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.
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.
