Sold watch before unpairing

[techiegirl]

I sold my watch last night but didn't realize I needed to unpair it first. I reset my watch, so it's no longer listed on my iPhone watch app. Apple support instruction says I can log onto icloud.com and remove it from my device list. When I log onto my iCloud account, I don't not see the watch on my device list.

The buyer cannot pair the watch to her phone. I can't remove the device from my account. Any idea what I can do?

 

[Jvjlite]

I sold my watch last night but didn't realize I needed to unpair it first. I reset my watch, so it's no longer listed on my iPhone watch app. Apple support instruction says I can log onto icloud.com and remove it from my device list. When I log onto my iCloud account, I don't not see the watch on my device list.

The buyer cannot pair the watch to her phone. I can't remove the device from my account. Any idea what I can do?

I bought a used ⌚️ SS on eBay. When I received it and tried to pair it with my iPhone to make sure it worked, I discovered it had no passcode protection, nor had it been unpaired with the previous owner's iPhone. I was able to go to settings on the watch & erase all settings. This set it as a "new" Apple Watch. This may help the buyer if she can get into the watch and touch "settings" icon.

 

[mildocjr]

Well you can go into the Watch app on your phone and unpair the watch from there, it shouldn't have to connect to the watch it just forgets it. As for the watch... well, the person who bought it needs to erase all content and settings on the watch to unpair it, but if you've set up Apple Pay on it, there is a 50/50 chance they will use it, now you can call your bank and have them cancel Apple Pay for the watch, then just give the buyer the watch passcode. From there they can go into Settings > General > Reset > Delete all content and settings and about 15 minutes later they will be able to pair their watch.

 

[techiegirl]

I erased everything off the watch before I sold it. It's now in the screen where you choose the language. The watch no longer shows on my iPhone.

 

[mildocjr]

I erased everything off the watch before I sold it. It's now in the screen where you choose the language. The watch no longer shows on my iPhone.

Hmm, if you already erased the watch then the buyer should just need to follow the instructions to get it paired. I think English shows up as the first option in the path to pairing just so it knows how to display the instructions to pair the watch.

I had the same predicament with my Apple Watch when I bought a new phone, forgot to unpair it from my old phone and had to go in and erase it so I could pair it with a new phone. I've slept since then but I'm pretty sure it asks
-English
-Español
-Français
on the first screen. Then it moves on to the pairing orb.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

A few members have reported that this is a bug in Apple's system. Erasing the AW and unlinking from iCloud should in theory disconnect it from the iPhone but it doesn't always work. Until Apple fixes this bug, it's a good idea to unpair it first before giving it away.

 

[jgelin]

Someone else had this issue and needed to contact Apple to have it removed, it is a bug on their end having to do with deactivation, I will find the thread in one moment.
EDIT: attaching thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/sold-apple-watch-–-activation-lock-did-not-disable.1961536/

 

[Lambertmj]

Just gone through this with a watch I purchased. You can't just reset anymore, this was possible with original watch os but since os2 Apple have introduced activation lock. The watch needs to be unpaired from your phone, a reset will still leave the watch linked to your Apple ID. In theory you as mentioned should be able to remove the device by logging into your iCloud and removing it from your account. The seller had removed but for some reason it was still linked to his account, he contacted Apple support to resolve, took about 3 days.

 

[techiegirl]

Just gone through this with a watch I purchased. You can't just reset anymore, this was possible with original watch os but since os2 Apple have introduced activation lock. The watch needs to be unpaired from your phone, a reset will still leave the watch linked to your Apple ID. In theory you as mentioned should be able to remove the device by logging into your iCloud and removing it from your account. The seller had removed but for some reason it was still linked to his account, he contacted Apple support to resolve, took about 3 days.

I ended up meeting with the buyer and repair the watch to my phone. After it synced to my phone, I was able to unpair it and reset it all over again.

Lesson learned. There's no way to remove watch from iCloud, despite what Apple support says.

 

[Lambertmj]

I ended up meeting with the buyer and repair the watch to my phone. After it synced to my phone, I was able to unpair it and reset it all over again.

Lesson learned. There's no way to remove watch from iCloud, despite what Apple support says.

It does appear there is conflicting info. The seller of my watch forwarded on all correspondence, case no., contact details and finally the email from Apple Support stating the activation lock had been removed. I confirmed this by checking the lock status via the serial no. on iCloud and was finally able to pair ok. Good to hear yours is sorted however you got there.

 

[KPOM]

I erased everything off the watch before I sold it. It's now in the screen where you choose the language. The watch no longer shows on my iPhone.

That happened to me. I had the buyer send me back the watch so I could unpair it and remove it from my account. For whatever reason the online approach didn't work and the Genius wasn't sure why. Actually in my case, I had unpaired it, but didn't remove it from my support profile. My attempts to remove it online didn't work.