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Can't Set Up Used Apple Watch...

M

myrtledog

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 15, 2015
154
67
Bought a slightly used watch from Craig's List this morning. Watch is mint and that's good.
However once I got it home and attempted to set it up I've hit a wall...

It will let me pair it, go thru the legal warnings and to a screen that says i need to enter the iCloud ID but apparently the previous owners ID is still in there so I can not go any further.

The seller has basically stopped returning my texts to get this fixed. Basically says it's my problem.

The Apple Store says he still has the "activation lock" active to his phone and that it's security against thief etc.

So - Anybody know how to force the watch to wipe everything so I can use this $500 paperweight? I've done all the resets with no success...
 
You'd have as much luck as with an activation-locked iPhone. Next time take the same precaution/steps as buying an iPhone, including making sure it's not activation locked. Otherwise stick with eBay.
 
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JayLenochiniMac said:
You'd have as much luck as with an activation-locked iPhone. Next time take the same precaution/steps as buying an iPhone, including making sure it's not activation locked. Otherwise stick with eBay.
Click to expand...

Meaning there's no way to unlock it?
 
Bigdog9586 said:
Roadtrip
Click to expand...

If the seller follows this can I assume there's no need for a road trip to get the phone and watch together?

"If you can't access your iPhone or Apple Watch, or if your Apple Watch isn't paired with your iPhone and you need to turn off Activation Lock:

  1. On a computer, go to iCloud.com.
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID, and open Settings.
  3. Under My Devices, click your Apple Watch.
  4. Click
    icloud-site-remove-icon.png
    next to your device.
  5. Click Remove to confirm."
 
Okay. Got it.
Not currently getting any responses from the guy. I'll keep trying.
 
How do you check for this when buying a used watch, short if trying to pair it? I'm thinking of buying one and don't want this to happen.
 
convergent said:
How do you check for this when buying a used watch, short if trying to pair it? I'm thinking of buying one and don't want this to happen.
Click to expand...

I've bought a used Apple Watch on Craigslist. I just made sure that it was factory reset. Normally it have the languages on the start up screen.. That would be a give away that it's been factory reset.
 
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The one I bought was reset and starts with the language selection screen. It was still linked to the sellers phone though...
 
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myrtledog said:
The one I bought was reset and starts with the language selection screen. It was still linked to the sellers phone though...
Click to expand...

Well, I was able to pair mine to my iPhone. I believe after the language selection shows the pairing screen.

But mine is still linked to the sellers in the Support Profile, but I've read that it won't prevent me getting the necessary support I need for the Watch.
 
I can pair mine as well but can't actually get all the way thru the set-up to the point that I can actually use the watch.
The link that Night Spring provided above seems to be exactly the issue I'm dealing with. The "activation lock."
 
myrtledog said:
I can pair mine as well but can't actually get all the way thru the set-up to the point that I can actually use the watch.
The link that Night Spring provided above seems to be exactly the issue I'm dealing with. The "activation lock."
Click to expand...

That's disappointing. I know I'll be highly upset if I was given a locked Apple Watch. Did the seller have the box & everything with it?
 
Yup. Pretty darn near perfect too. The box with the watch and charging cable still with all the protective plastic etc.
I really don't think he's doing anything intentionaly dishonest. The good folks at the Apple Store have no clue what's going on and the seller is on again / off again trying to help from 60 miles away...
 
myrtledog said:
Yup. Pretty darn near perfect too. The box with the watch and charging cable still with all the protective plastic etc.
I really don't think he's doing anything intentionaly dishonest. The good folks at the Apple Store have no clue what's going on and the seller is on again / off again trying to help from 60 miles away...
Click to expand...

Oh.. ok. Well, as long as you have communication with the seller then eventually it will get settled... I had gotten mine for 500 bucks off Craigslist as well. It was about two months ago. I didn't have to deal with the Activation Lock situation.. I think that was introduced with WatchOS2
 
myrtledog said:
Yup. Pretty darn near perfect too. The box with the watch and charging cable still with all the protective plastic etc.
I really don't think he's doing anything intentionaly dishonest. The good folks at the Apple Store have no clue what's going on and the seller is on again / off again trying to help from 60 miles away...
Click to expand...

does it not seem a little weird that the accessories all have the plastic on, but this watch has been paired and acivation lock enabled?
 
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JayLenochiniMac said:
Not really. The seller could have had more than one AW and decided to sell this one.
Click to expand...

or the seller could have been bitten by buying a used apple watch with activation lock, and decided the best thing to do was to buy himself a new one and then put the old one in the box and pretend it was "barely used" by including brand new accessories.

seller gets his money back, and a new apple watch, and disappears leaving it to be someone else's problem.

@myrtledog do the serial numbers on the box and the watch match up?
 
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nicho said:
seller gets his money back, and a new apple watch, and disappears leaving it to be someone else's problem.
Click to expand...

The seller is still communicating with him. If someone was to do what your suggestion... They wouldn't even bother responding to the buyer. Buyer has the money no need to communicate anymore.
 
yillbs said:
Isn't the only accessory just a charging cable thinggy ma bob??
Click to expand...

and the power brick. but i think they're wrapped differently depending on model and country (as the power adapters are different shapes in different countries) - the charger for the SS watch i bought last week was definitely unusable without taking the plastic off.

Ludatyk said:
The seller is still communicating with him. If someone was to do what your suggestion... They wouldn't even bother responding to the buyer. Buyer has the money no need to communicate anymore.
Click to expand...

fair point, although from OP's posts he's not exactly rushing to help sort it is he? if he knows the password it's not difficult to fix. why stall?
 
So back to my question... how do you avoid this situation when buying used. I've sold several Apple items over the years and forgotten to take them off of iCloud until much later but never had anyone report a problem. Maybe the watch is different because of need to protect from theft. I would think there is a way to make sure when buying, short of making them sit there while you completely pair it and get it working.

Just thinking about this more... would it make sense to have them log into their iCloud account while standing there to make sure its been removed? Depending on the tech savvy of the seller, this might be difficult to get them to do.
 
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