Can You Use A Stolen Apple Watch?

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Did someone steal your Apple Watch? Are you wondering if someone can use your stolen Apple Watch or not?

Whether you have found an Apple Watch or have lost your Apple Watch, this article is for you. I will tell you if it is possible to use a stolen Apple Watch. Moreover, in this article, you will know how you can find your Apple Watch.

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Can You Use A Stolen Apple Watch?

Can You Use A Stolen Apple Watch

No, you cannot use a stolen Apple Watch. You will not be able to pair it with your iPhone without disconnecting it from the owner’s iPhone. However, if the watch is not locked then it can be used to a certain extent.

If the watch is not locked then you can use Apple Watch without an iPhone, you will be able to do the following things with it:

  • Health tracking
  • Workout tracking
  • See the time
  • Set alarms
  • Listen to music, etc.

Having said that, you should not do any of it and should return the watch immediately or report it to the police.

If someone stole your Apple Watch or you have lost it then you do not have to worry, nobody will be able to do anything if you lock your smartwatch. Apple Watches these days even come with an Activation Lock feature that prevents thieves from unlocking the watch even after the hard reset.

Moreover, the thief will not be able to pair the watch to their iPhone. This cannot be done until the watch is unpaired from the owner’s iPhone. And disconnecting the two devices require the owner’s Apple ID and password.

So you can rest assured that no one can use your stolen Apple Watch and can get access to your data.

What To Do If Apple Watch Is Lost?

You should immediately change your Apple account password, turn on the lost mode, and use the Find My app to get your Apple Watch location. This can be done from the Watch app on your iPhone.

As discussed, if you have locked your Apple Watch then no one will be able to use it. However, nothing is impossible and a hacker with a working knowledge of smartwatches may be able to crack the lock. Therefore, you should do the following things asap:

1) Change Apple Account Password

Apple Watch can be paired with another iPhone with the help of the Apple ID and password of the owner. Therefore, the first thing that you should do is change the password of your Apple account. Remember to keep a strong password that is not easily guessable.

2) Use Find My App

The next thing that you should do is use the Find My app to find your Apple Watch. Open the Find My app on your iPhone and in the Devices tab, select your Apple Watch. If your watch is connected to a WiFi or cellular network then you will be able to see the watch’s location on the map. Once you have found the location, all you have to do is go there and get your watch back.

However, the thing that you need to note here is that your Apple Watch will only transmit its location if it is connected to the Internet. If it is not connected to the Internet then you will not get its location.

You can also use the Find My app to make your Apple Watch ring, it will keep on ringing until you stop it.

3) Lock Your Apple Watch

If you are not able to find your Apple Watch using the Find My app then you should lock it immediately. All you have to do is turn on the lost mode and your watch will get locked.

To enable the lost mode on your Apple Watch follow the below steps:

  1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone and go to My Devices.Lost Mode Step 1
  2. On the next screen, tap on your Apple Watch name.Lost Mode Step 2
  3. Tap on the Activate button present below the Mark As Lost option.Lost Mode Step 3
  4. Scroll down and tap on the Continue button.Lost Mode Step 4
  5. On the next screen, enter the phone number on which the finder of your watch can contact you.Lost Mode Step 5
  6. After that, you will be asked to enter the message that you want to display on the screen of your Apple Watch. On the next screen, tap on the Activate button.Lost Mode Step 6

4) Report To Police

Once you have activated the lost mode for your Apple Watch, the next thing that you should do is report the theft to the police. Reporting to the police will have two benefits:

  • The police will help you find your Apple Watch back.
  • In case the thief uses your Apple Watch for some wrongdoings then you will be safe from criminal proceedings.

5) Erase Your Apple Watch

In case you are certain that you will not get your Apple Watch back then you can erase all of its data remotely. So that no one else can get hold of the sensitive information that you have on your smartwatch. To erase the data of your Apple Watch, follow the below steps:

  1. Open the Find My app on your smartphone and tap on the My Devices tab.Erase Data Step 1
  2. Tap on the Apple Watch name.Erase Data Step 2
  3. On the next screen, tap on the Erase This Device button.Erase Data Step 3

The thing that you need to note here is that, once you erase your Apple Watch data, you will not be able to use the Find My app to locate or control it. Therefore, erasing the data should be your last resort. Only opt for this option when you are sure that you will not get your watch back.

What Happens When You Turn On Lost Mode On Apple Watch?

Turning on the Lost Mode on your Apple Watch does the following things:

  • You will be notified when the location of your Apple Watch is available
  • The activation lock will be turned on
  • Your Apple Watch gets locked
  • Payments services from your Apple Watch are suspended
  • Your watch will display a message along with a phone number

What Happens When You Turn On Lost Mode On Apple Watch

Now let me tell you about these points in detail.

1) Notify When Found

As and when your Apple Watch is connected to the Internet and its location becomes available, you will receive the notification. So that you can immediately check it out and know where your Apple Watch is.

2) Activation Lock

Every Apple device is linked to an Apple ID, right? Once the activation lock is turned on then no one will be able to use your Apple Watch without entering your Apple ID and password. Even if the thieves hard reset your watch, then also they will have to enter the Apple ID and password to pair your watch with their iPhone.

3) Passcode Required

Your Apple Watch gets locked and will ask for a passcode in order to get unlocked. Until and unless the passcode is entered, it will not get unlocked.

4) Apple Watch Protected

Apple watches can make payments wirelessly. Once the lost mode is turned on, all the payment services that are available on your Apple Watch will get suspended. So that no one is able to make payments using your watch.

5) Phone Number & Message

A customized message and phone number that you provide appear on your Apple Watch’s screen. So that if someone finds your Apple Watch can know that the smartwatch is lost and can call you to give it back.

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FAQs

Can Someone Use My Stolen Apple Watch?

No, no one will be able to use your Apple Watch without your Apple ID and password.

Can Someone Wipe A Stolen Apple Watch?

No, your Apple Watch cannot be wiped without your Apple ID and password.

Can You Lock A Stolen Apple Watch?

Yes, you can lock your stolen Apple Watch remotely.

Can Someone Reset A Lost Apple Watch?

If you have turned on the lost mode on your Apple Watch then no one will be able to reset it.

How To Find My Apple Watch Location?

You can find your Apple Watch’s location using the Find My app on your iPhone.

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Hemant Mendiratta

Hemant's love for watches started when his grandfather gifted him his Rolex watch when he turned 18! Being a teenager it was a big deal for him. Later when he got his first job he bought Fossil Palm Pilot back in 2003 which was a smartwatch. Since then smartwatches have come a long way and so is Hemant's love for them. His experience with watches inspired him to start Wearholic and share his knowledge of wearables including watches, smartwatches, smart glasses, & smart clothing.

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