Apple Watch Locked to Owner Bypass [5 Ways]

To fix Apple Watch locked to owner bypass, try unpairing it via the paired iPhone, asking the previous owner to remove it via iCloud, or contacting Apple Support; third-party unlock services exist but carry risks and should be a last resort. For iPhone iCloud Activation Lock, AnyUnlock can help you regain access quickly.

Author Avatar Joy Taylor Last Updated: Oct. 30, 2025

“My friend gave me their watch they don’t use no more I reset it but now every time I try to pair it has Activation Lock, and they no longer have the login information. What do I do”? Someone posted on Apple Discussion. It’s annoying to set up an Apple Watch only to find that it is prevented from logging in with the Activation Lock. You can remove the Apple Watch Activation Lock as long as you enter the correct Apple ID and password. Is it possible to bypass Apple Watch Activation Lock without the previous Apple ID information? Yes, here we introduce 5 ways for Apple Watch locked to owner bypass with or without the previous Apple ID.

You may also like: Unlock Apple Watch without Passcode >

What Is Apple Watch Activation Lock?

Activation lock is a security feature for Apple devices to prevent personal information from unauthorized access if they are lost or stolen. Apple Watch Activation Lock is included in Find My. With it enabled on your Apple Watch, your data will be protected with your Apple ID. And your Apple Watch will ask for your Apple ID and password when you want to do the following things.

  • Unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone.
  • Use your Apple Watch with a new iPhone.
  • Turn off Find My on your Apple Watch.

The Activation Lock on An Apple Watch

The Activation Lock on An Apple Watch

How to Turn on Activation Lock on Apple Watch?

It’s quite easy to turn on the Activation Lock on the Apple Watch. As long as you have enabled Find My features on your iPhone, you can pair your Apple Watch and iPhone. Both your iPhone and Apple Watch will be protected with the Activation Lock. Check if your Apple Watch Activation Lock is enabled with the following steps:

Step 1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Tap My Watch in the bottom-left corner.

Step 3. Scroll to tap your Apple Watch’s name.

Step 4. Tap the right side of your Apple Watch’s name. Look for a Find My Apple Watch option. If you see it, your Apple Watch’s Activation Lock is turned on.

How to Turn off Apple Watch Activation Lock?

There are 2 ways you can try to turn off Apple Watch Activation Lock if you know the Apple ID and password. One option is to turn off Activation Lock in the Apple Watch app, and the other is to turn off Activation Lock in the iCloud Find My app.

Turn Off Activation Lock in Apple Watch App

Step 1. Open Apple Watch app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Tap on My Watch, then tap All Watches at the top of the screen.

Step 3. Tap the info button next to your Apple Watch.

Step 4. Tap Unpair Apple Watch.

Step 5. Enter your Apple ID and password. Then your Apple Watch will be unpaired with your iPhone.

Turn off Activation Lock on iCloud Find My

If you can’t access your iPhone or if your Apple Watch isn’t paired with your iPhone, you can turn off Apple Watch Activation Lock on iCloud.

Step 1. Sign in to iCloud Find My.

Step 2. Select All Devices, then click your Apple Watch.

Step 3. Click Erase Apple Watch.

Step 4. Click Remove from Account.

Step 5. Enter your Apple ID and password. Then your Apple Watch Activation Lock will be turned off on iCloud.

5 Methods for Apple Watch Locked to Owner Bypass

An Apple Watch may stay “Locked to Owner” when it’s still tied to a previous Apple ID. Even without that account’s password, there are 5 effective ways to bypass Apple Watch Activation Lock. Let’s move to the methods part.

Way 1. Bypass Apple Watch Activation Lock with the Paired iPhone

To achieve Apple Watch locked to owner bypass, you can remove Activation Lock using the paired iPhone. It’s ideal when you can meet the previous owner in person, since the Watch and its paired iPhone must be close together to complete the unpairing. Follow the steps below to let the owner unpair the Watch from their iPhone and remove the Activation Lock:

Step 1. On the paired iPhone, open the Watch app → My Watch → select the locked Apple Watch.

Step 2. Tap the i icon and choose Unpair Apple Watch.

Step 3. Once unpaired, set up the watch again and link it to your own Apple ID.

Way 2. Apple Watch Locked to Owner Bypass with the Previous Owner

If you received the Apple Watch from your friend, relative, or someone you know, the best choice is to ask the previous owner for help. They can use the Apple ID and password to turn off Activation Lock on the Apple Watch quickly and safely. Then you will be able to pair and use it with your iPhone without previous Apple ID.

Step 1. Bring both your iPhone and your Apple Watch close to each other.

Step 2. Start the Apple Watch on the iPhone, tap the My Watch, and tap on the info icon next to the locked Watch.

View The Apple Watch Details

View The Apple Watch Details

Step 3. Select the option that says Unpair Apple Watch. This will remove the Watch from the iPhone.

Unpair An Apple Watch From The iPhone

Unpair An Apple Watch From The iPhone

Step 4. Enter the iCloud logins, and the Activation Lock should be removed. Your Apple Watch is now ready to be paired with any iPhone.

Way 3. How to Remove Activation Lock on Apple Watch Without Previous Owner via iCloud

If the original owner cannot unpair the Watch in person or has lost their iPhone, they can still remove the Activation Lock remotely through iCloud. Once the Watch is erased and removed from their account, Apple’s servers will unlink it from the previous Apple ID, allowing it to be paired with a new one.

Use iCloud to Remotely Remove Apple Watch Activation Lock

Use iCloud to Remotely Remove Apple Watch Activation Lock

To get rid of Activation Lock on Apple Watch in iCloud, you can try:

Step 1. Launch your web browser and access the iCloud website. Sign in to your iCloud account.

Step 2. You should now see various options on your screen. Click the option that reads Find iPhone to view and access the settings for the locked Apple Watch.

Step 3. Click on All Devices at the top and choose your Apple Watch from the list.

Access Find iPhone on iCloud

Access Find iPhone on iCloud

Step 4. On the following screen, click the Erase Apple Watch option followed by Remove from Account. Now, your Apple Watch will be wiped off and removed from the original owner’s account.

Way 4. Apple Watch Locked to Owner Bypass with Online Service

Online unlocking services are an alternative if official options don’t work. For example, the Apple iPhone Unlock service claims it can remove Activation Lock without the Apple ID or password by processing the watch’s serial/IMEI and performing a remote unlock. However, these services can sometimes work, but they carry real risks: privacy exposure, scams, unclear legality, and no guarantee of success. Check the following steps to bypass Apple Watch Activation Lock without Apple ID:

Step 1. Open the Apple iPhone Unlock website in one of the browsers on your computer.

Step 2. Find the serial number written on the case of your Apple Watch and note it down.

Step 3. Enter the serial number on the site you have opened, select your Apple Watch from the dropdown menu, and click on Remove Activation Lock.

Remove The Apple Watch Activation Lock Online

Remove The Apple Watch Activation Lock Online

Step 4. Proceed further, make a payment, and your order will be confirmed. In a few days, you will receive an email saying that your Apple Watch is unlocked and you can use it with your account.

Way 5. Contact Apple Support

Contacting Apple Support is the safest, most reliable way to remove Activation Lock: Apple can verify legitimate ownership and lift the lock, but the process requires thorough documentation: device serial/IMEI, original proof of purchase (or box), your ID, and sometimes additional account or purchase details. So, be prepared to provide those items and expect verification time.

Bonus Tip: Bypass Activation Lock on iPhone/iPad [One-click]

With the above methods, you may successfully solve how to bypass Activation Lock on Apple Watch. Besides, you may also need to get rid of Activation Lock on your iPhone or iPad. A complete solution to iOS locks, AnyUnlock – One-stop iPhone Unlocker, is available for you.

Acting as a professional iCloud Activation Unlocker, AnyUnlock is developed to help you get rid of Activation Lock on iPhone without Apple ID or password. There are no technical requirements to use this tool, and the whole unlocking process only takes a few minutes. Now, Windows PC and Mac computers are all supported. In addition, locks like screen lock, Apple ID, MDM lock, SIM lock, etc., can be unlocked by AnyUnlock as well.

Main Benefits of AnyUnlock:

  • Supports iCloud Activation Lock removal without Apple ID.
  • Easy one-click process, no tech expertise required.
  • Fast and stable unlocking within minutes.
  • Also removes Apple ID, Screen Lock, MDM, and SIM Lock for full device access.

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Steps to Bypass iPhone/iPad Activation Lock via AnyUnlock:

Step 1. Free download and install AnyUnlock on your computer > Choose Bypass iCloud Activation Lock option.

Bypass iCloud Activation Lock
Bypass iCloud Activation Lock

Step 2. Connect your iPhone and click Start Now > Tap on Jailbreak Now button to jailbreak your device > Once jailbroken, click Next.

Jailbreak Your Device
Jailbreak Your Device

Step 3.  Click on Bypass Now, and the activation bypass process will start immediately.

Bypassing iCloud Activation Lock
Bypassing iCloud Activation Lock

Step 4. Wait for a while, and the iCloud Activation Lock is bypassed successfully. Click Done to complete.

iCloud Activation Lock Is Bypassed Successfully
iCloud Activation Lock Is Bypassed Successfully

FAQs about Apple Watch Locked to Owner Bypass

Q1. How do I remove a previous owner from my Apple Watch?

Removing a previous owner requires them to unpair the Watch from their iPhone or erase it from the iCloud website> Find My > All Devices > Remove from Account.

Q2. Does resetting the Apple Watch remove the Activation Lock?

Resetting the Watch only wipes data. It doesn’t remove Activation Lock, which stays linked to the previous owner’s Apple ID.

Q3. How do I factory reset my Apple Watch without the previous owner?

To factory reset my Apple Watch without the previous owner, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. But the Watch will still ask for the previous owner’s Apple ID during setup.

The Bottom Line

In a word, this guide covers 5 proven solutions for Apple Watch locked to owner bypass, including how to remove Activation Lock on Apple Watch without previous owner. Kindly choose the way you’d like to use to bypass Apple Watch Activation Lock. Moreover, you are recommended to bypass iPhone Activation Lock with AnyUnlock. Get AnyUnlock to easily recover access to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch safely.

Free Download

Free Download

* 100% Clean & Safe

Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe

Author Avatar
Joy Taylor Twitter Share Facebook Share

Joy Taylor is a seasoned technical writer with over a decade of experience in mobile technology. At iMobie, she specializes in producing in-depth content on iOS data recovery, iPhone unlocking solutions, and iOS troubleshooting.

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