Cannot delete old Apple Watch 6 from my account

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Level 1

78 points

Cannot delete old Apple Watch 6 from my account

I got a new watch and want to trade the old one in (I've already set that up with Apple). I have erased the watch contents and shut off "Find My" - and when I turn the watch on, my phone asks to pair it, and the watch says to move closer to the iPhone. I thought that was enough to get it out of my account. But my when I log into my icloud account, it shows "unable to be removed from account" - It does NOT show up in Find My and it does not show up in the Apple Watch app on my phone.

Can I send this back to Apple now, or do I have to do something else with the watch to get it OUT of my account? Thank you!

Apple Watch Series 6, watchOS 26

Posted on Oct 31, 2025 10:36 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

brbo

Level 8

38,635 points

Nov 4, 2025 9:57 PM in response to Squiddz

Re: Cannot delete old Apple Watch 6 from my account

Wondering whether Apple Support's online articles (links below) can help:

"When you trade in a device with your purchase of a new iPhone or Apple Watch, you’ll receive a kit that has everything you need to send your trade-in device to Apple."

Please see: Prepare your iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android device for trade in - Apple Support

Seems "You need to turn off Activation Lock and remove your personal information from your device."

See Apple Support's linked article below for all the tips from Apple Support:

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Apple Watch, or buy one from someone else - Apple Support

If needed: View and remove your devices that are associated with your Apple Account for purchases - Apple Support

and

See "Find or remove devices in your list" in the article below:

Check your Apple Account device list to find where you’re signed in - Apple Support

All the best :-)

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Answer 2

Squiddz Author

Level 1

78 points

Nov 4, 2025 10:26 PM in response to brbo

Hi and thanks for responding. I had already tried all the steps in the Apple links you mentioned before I posted here - because even though I did, I couldn't delete it from my account. I could not turn off Activation Lock either. But I sent it back last week, we'll see what happens. Fingers crossed!

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Answer 3

brbo

Level 8

38,635 points

Nov 5, 2025 12:23 AM in response to Squiddz

Thank you kindly for taking the time to reply, and to let us know. All the best :-)

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