Removing Apple ID from inherited Apple Watch Series 5

OK, so I bought an Apple Watch off of Facebook marketplace. The original owner is dead. The person I bought it from is the third person that’s had it and he hasn’t had a charger for it for a while so he had no idea if there’s an Apple ID on it or not and I got a charger for it and there is an Apple ID on it since the original owner is dead. I have no way of proving he’s dead because I don’t know if it’s a male or female I don’t know where they live or what and I can’t do anything with the watch. Can somebody help me figure out how to remove the Apple ID because this is a gift for my brother and I can’t do anything with it unless I get the Apple ID removed.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Apple Watch Series 5

iPhone 16e, iOS 26

Posted on Nov 7, 2025 1:45 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 7, 2025 1:54 PM

You can't. Only the owner of the account used to lock it can remove the activation lock.

If you can't return it and get your money back, toss it in the recycle bin at your local electronics store. It's useless.


Apple can't help you.

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Removing Apple ID from inherited Apple Watch Series 5

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