How to Find Your Apple Watch

Just like with an iPhone, even the best of us have lost or misplaced our Apple Watch.

But we've got good news. Thanks to the Find My app, you have a great chance of finding your Apple Watch if it ever goes missing.

Let's look at how to find an Apple Watch using this app what to do if you can't locate it.

How to Use Find My to Locate an Apple Watch

The first step if your Apple Watch is lost, misplaced, or even stolen is to open the Find My app on your iPhone. If you don't have your iPhone, Find My is also available on iCloud.com.

The first time you pair your Apple Watch to your iPhone, it automatically adds your Apple Watch to the Find My app.

As long as your Apple Watch is still paired to an iPhone or a Wi-Fi network, you should be able to see the location of the device. Anyone with a GPS or Cellular model Apple Watch is in an even better position as the watch can tell you its location as long as it's receiving a cellular signal.

Just to note, if for some reason the Watch isn't connected to a paired iPhone or receiving a Wi-Fi or cellular signal, you won't be able to see its location.

In the app, select the name of your Apple Watch to see an exact location and the last time the device was detected. You can also tap Directions to see the way to get to the watch if it isn't nearby.

Another option is to Play Sound. Your watch will make a loud noise, even if on silent until you dismiss it. That's a perfect way to find the watch if it's in some out-of-the-way place like under a couch cushion.

Below those options is Notify When Found. After turning that on, if your Apple Watch reconnects, you'll see a notification. You can then open up the Find My app and see a location update.

To find out more about this useful app, here's everything you need to know about the Find My app.

Switching an Apple Watch to Lost Mode

If you still can't locate the Apple Watch, the next step should be turning on Lost Mode. The setting for this can be found at the bottom of the Apple Watch information page in Find My.

After selecting Lost Mode, enter a phone number where you can be reached and then select Next. Then write a note you want to show on the watch screen. Finally, select Activate.

You'll also receive an email to confirm that Lost Mode has been activated. If your Watch is located, hopefully someone can contact you using the phone number and note you provided.

As a precaution, Apple Pay and other services are disabled when an Apple Watch is in Lost Mode.

If your Apple Watch is returned, make sure to turn Lost Mode off so you can use the device normally. To do that, select your Apple Watch in the Find My app, select Activated in the Mark as Lost section and choose to Turn Off Mark as Lost. Then tap Turn Off to confirm.

If All Else Fails...

Any Apple Watch stores personal information about you and even payment information from Apple Pay. But if your watch is permanently lost, there are a few ways to protect your data.

When in Lost Mode, for additional security, someone would need your Apple Watch passcode to turn off Find My, erase the Watch, or pair it with another iPhone.

A great step to take is to change your Apple ID password. That will prevent anyone from accessing iCloud data through your Apple Watch.

If for some reason you've forgotten your existing password, take a look at how to reset your Apple ID password.

On the Find My page of your Apple Watch, you can also select Erase This Device. If the watch ever connects to another iPhone, Wi-Fi, or cellular signal, it will delete all data on the device. This can't be reversed so you should only use it as a last resort.

You also can't track your Apple Watch in the Find My app after you erase it.

You won't have to worry about anyone using your lost or stolen Apple Watch as their own. Apple's Activation Lock feature will prevent that. Anyone trying to pair the watch with a new iPhone will need your Apple ID and password to do so.

Locating a Lost Apple Watch

While losing an expensive device like an Apple Watch is never enjoyable, we've shown you a number of ways to help get it back on your wrist safely.

Find My and Activation Lock are just some of the many security features Apple has created for the wearable device. Make sure you learn everything available at your disposal to keep your watch protected.

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