Cannot set up Apple Watch

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Level 1

4 points

Cannot set up Apple Watch

Greetings! My wife's Apple Watch is lost. I'm trying to set up a new Apple Watch. I can pair the new watch but it fails to set up. I get as far as entering her Apple account and password, and then I get the error: "Verification failed. An unknown error occurred." I assume it's because her old watch is still paired, but I'm not sure.

I've logged into her Apple account on the computer, marked her watch as lost, and deleted it from her account, but it still shows on her iPhone.

Her iPhone has the latest software update and I've reset network settings. I'm stumped. Any ideas?

Posted on Dec 5, 2025 7:52 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

azaksalmarzur28

Level 2

462 points

Dec 5, 2025 10:04 PM in response to zapfed

Your wife’s new Apple Watch won’t set up because the lost watch is still paired or Activation Lock is still active. Unpair the old watch in the Watch app, remove it from Find My → All Devices, restart the iPhone, and try again. If verification still fails, sign out/in of Apple ID. If the old watch still shows in Find My, Apple Support must remove the Activation Lock manually.

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