About Activation Lock on your Apple Watch

Find My iPhone includes a feature called Activation Lock that's designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch if it's ever lost or stolen. And now with watchOS 2, you can use Activation Lock to protect your Apple Watch. 

Activation Lock for your Apple Watch requires watchOS 2 or later, and it turns on automatically when you set up Find My iPhone on your paired iPhone. With Activation Lock, your Apple ID and password will be required before anyone can:

  • Unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone.
  • Pair and use your Apple Watch with a new iPhone.

To see if Activation Lock is on, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap the My Watch tab, then tap My Watch. If you see Mark as Missing, then Activation Lock is on. You can also go to iCloud.com/activationlock and enter your device's serial number. 

Mark your lost or stolen device as missing

If your device is lost or stolen and Activation Lock is on, you can mark your Apple Watch as missing to prevent anyone from reactivating your device without your permission. While you can use Find My iPhone Activation Lock with your Apple Watch, Find My iPhone can't be used to locate a lost Apple Watch or place one in Lost Mode. 

Here's what Mark as Missing does: 

Mark as Missing

  • Disables Apple Pay cards on your Apple Watch.
  • Keeps Activation Lock enabled on your Apple Watch, even if someone erases your watch. Your Apple ID and password will be required to pair your Apple Watch again.

Turn on Mark as Missing from your computer:

  1. Go to iCloud.com. 
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID, and open Settings. 
  3. Under My Devices, click your Apple Watch. 
  4. Click Is this device missing, then click Mark as Missing to confirm. If you find your Apple Watch, you can sign in to iCloud.com, open Settings, click your Apple Watch, and click Found this device. 

Turn on Mark as Missing from your paired iPhone:

  1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap the My Watch tab. 
  2. Tap Apple Watch, then turn on Mark as Missing.
  3. Confirm that you want to unpair and that you need to enter your Apple ID to pair your Apple Watch again. If you forgot your Apple ID password, you can reset it. 

If you turn on Mark as Missing from your paired iPhone, you can't mark your Apple Watch as found later. If you find your Apple Watch, you need to pair it again. 

Turn off Activation Lock before you send your Apple Watch in for service, sell it, or give it away

Before you send your Apple Watch in for service, sell it, or give it away, you should turn off Activation Lock on your Apple Watch. Just unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone:

  1. Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together. 
  2. Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap the My Watch tab.
  3. Tap Apple Watch, then tap Unpair Apple Watch. 
  4. Enter your Apple ID password. If you forgot your Apple ID password, you can reset it. 
  5. Tap again to confirm. 

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 X next to your device.
  5. Click Remove to confirm. 
Last Modified: