How can I tell if an Apple Watch is stolen? (2024)

How do I check if an Apple Watch is stolen?

Find My is the only way that you can track or locate a lost or missing device. If Find My isn't enabled on your watch before it goes missing, there is no other Apple service that can find, track, or otherwise flag your device for you.

Can you reset an Apple Watch if stolen?

So, even if you have a stolen watch, you can not reset it easily. It can only be unlocked with proper resting. The owner can use the Find My App to find their location and report the stolen watch to the authority. But, you must have the Apple ID and password with you to reset the stolen watch.

Can I track my Apple Watch when its off?

If your Apple Watch is dead or offline, Find My will report its last known location before it was turned off. However, the location of the watch will only be visible for a very brief period of time.

Can Apple track Apple Watch by serial number?

You cannot track any Apple device with serial number.

What do I do if I bought a stolen Apple Watch?

There is no way around this security feature. Apple will not advise you of the previous owner's contact details, pass your details on to them, unlock the Apple Watch or enable you to trade it in. If you believe that the Apple Watch is, in fact, stolen, then I suggest that you hand it in to the police.

Can I use a found Apple Watch?

If you have found an Apple Watch, the politically correct thing to do is report it to your local police department. Otherwise, no, you cannot pair an already paired Apple Watch to your Apple ID. If the Apple Watch is unpaired, however, yes, you can pair it.

What to do if an Apple Watch is locked to owner?

You must contact the previous owner to get permission to use the device. If you cannot contact the previous owner return the device to where you bought it and get a refund. You will never be able to activate the device and no one can help you do it.

Can you reset an Apple Watch and give it to someone else?

Make sure the previous owner has removed Activation Lock from the watch and that the watch has been erased. They must unpair the watch and remove Activation Lock by entering their Apple ID password, so you can use the watch. If you see the passcode lock screen or the Home screen, the device needs to be erased.

How do I reset my Apple Watch without previous owner?

How can I find the last location of my Apple Watch?

To find your Watch using Find My Watch, go to the Watch App on your iPhone, scroll to the All Watches tab, and tap on the round Info icon on the right. Next, tap on Find My Apple Watch. This will allow you to see the Watch's approximate location using GPS and either WiFi or a cellular connection.

Does Apple Watch automatically track location?

Yes! Your watch knows your location whether you have GPS and Cellular, or just GPS services, and with the Find People app that comes installed on your watch, you can send your location directly from your wrist instead of fiddling with your iPhone while you're out and about.

Why is my Apple Watch dead but still showing location?

What you're likely experiencing if you're still seeing your Apple Watch's location update in Find My is a weird quirk of linking your watch to your iPhone. For some reason, when the Apple Watch battery dies, Apple seems to default to displaying the location of the iPhone linked to it as a fallback solution.

Can I lock my Apple Watch with serial number?

It is not possible to lock Apple Watch using the serial number. It is not possible to enable Lost Mode if Find my iPhone was not enabled on your Apple Watch beforehand or if your Apple Watch has been fully unpaired via your iPhone.

What happens if you bought a stolen watch?

The Unseen Dangers: Buying a Stolen Rolex

Law enforcement agencies actively work to recover stolen property, including high-value timepieces like Rolex watches. If a stolen Rolex is traced back to you, you could face criminal charges and the watch will likely be confiscated.

Does Apple cover stolen Apple watches?

Neither Apple's Limited Warranty nor AppleCare+ provides for a replacement Apple Watch in the event that yours is lost or stolen.

Can Apple Watch be blacklisted?

Apple store eventually found out and blacklisted the watch. The black list doesn't go into effect unless you try reset and sync the phone to a new watch since it needs to “phone home” or in this case Apple to look through the database.

Can you find the owner of a lost Apple Watch?

Its not direct - but it might link you to the original owner. You can't find the owner, nobody can find the owner. Hand it in as found property (police if you found it in the street, or a property office there is one for where it was found) and hope the owner guesses where they lost it.

How do you reset a found Apple Watch?

Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Go to General > Reset, tap Erase All Content and Settings, then enter your passcode. If you have an Apple Watch with a cellular plan, you're offered two options—Erase All and Erase All & Keep Plan. To completely erase your Apple Watch, choose Erase All.

How do I remove activation lock without previous owner free on Apple Watch?

As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, you'll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock.

What happens if someone else wears your Apple Watch?

If someone else puts your watch on, they will not be able to unlock or use it unless they also know the passcode (or, if you enabled the Unlock with iPhone option, you are within Bluetooth range and unlock your iPhone). Your watch can be protected by a passcode, which you should keep private.

How do I remove iCloud lock from Apple Watch?

Will Apple Watch sound when dead?

Sorry, but no. First, with a dead battery, it cannot operate any of the radios to listen for your request to make a sound. Second, with a dead battery, there is no power to drive the speaker to make a sound.

What does Apple Watch show when its dead?

Once the Apple Watch's battery is dead, it will show your iPhone location due to the pairing of the devices. That is why it appears that it is following you. Until the Watch has its battery charged, it will not display its location again.

What can police do about stolen Apple Watch?

Tell the Police

In instances where it is trackable in Find My, police may be able to use the facility to help get the Apple Watch back from the thief. Filing the report will also provide you with a reference number, which you should keep on file in case you need to contact the police again about the theft.

What can someone do with Apple Watch serial number?

It's unlikely someone would attempt to use a device's serial number to cause problems for you. A serial number isn't like a password or credit card number. No one could use a serial number to gain access to your device.