Hi Taaz,
What a complex and very challenging situation with your Apple Watch Series 4! 😔 I'm very sorry for this difficulty in having your watch locked due to too many passcode attempts, with your paired iPhone stolen, and Apple classifying it as "vintage" and denying technical support. It's quite inconvenient when something essential for daily life becomes inaccessible!
Let's try to help you by providing some tips and steps that might assist you in finding a solution!
The central problem is that when an Apple Watch is locked with a passcode, the only way to unlock it is by erasing all its content and settings. The difficulty in your case is that the standard methods for erasing (via the Watch app on the iPhone or directly on the watch) are not working, and the "vintage" status limits official support.
Here are the most important tips and last resorts to try and resolve this:
- Understand the Lock and "Vintage" Status:
- The first tip is to confirm: the Apple Watch locks itself after too many passcode attempts to protect your data.
- "Vintage" models are those that Apple stopped distributing for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. Support for them is limited and depends on the availability of parts or services. Unfortunately, the Series 4 falls into this category.
- For vintage and obsolete models: Obtain service for your Apple product after your warranty expires🔗 (This official article explains the vintage/obsolete status).
- Re-attempt Erasing Your Apple Watch via iCloud.com/find (With Persistence!): 🌐
- You mentioned that the "Erase Apple Watch" command appears, but the watch remains locked.
- The tip is to try the "Erase Apple Watch" command on iCloud.com/find 📍 (or via the Find My app on another Apple device) multiple times.
- Make sure your Apple Watch has a way to connect to the internet (via Wi-Fi or, if it's a Cellular model, through the mobile network) to receive the command. Keep it charged and near a known Wi-Fi network. Sometimes, the command takes time to be received.
- Re-attempt Erasing Your Apple Watch Directly On It (With the Correct Steps!):
- You tried on the watch, but the procedure is specific. The tip is to follow the exact steps to erase directly on the Apple Watch when it is locked:
- Place the Apple Watch on its charger.
- Press and hold the Side button (below the Digital Crown) until you see the "Power Off" slider.
- DO NOT release the Side button. Instead of sliding to power off, firmly press the Digital Crown until you see the option "Erase all content and settings" in the middle of the screen.
- Tap this option to erase the Watch.
- For more tips on erasing the Watch: If you forget your Apple Watch passcode 🔗 (This official article explains the process of erasing the watch to unlock it).
- Give your Apple Watch a "Breather" (Force Restart):
- Although the actions above are more direct, a restart can resolve minor system "hiccups."
- Press and hold the Side button 🔌 and the Digital Crown 👑 for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo 🍎.
Next Step (for "Vintage" Models and Persistent Cases):
If, even after all the tips above, your Apple Watch continues to be locked and you cannot erase it, unfortunately, a professional diagnosis by an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) is the next step.
- Since your Apple Watch Series 4 is a "vintage" model, service availability might be limited or come at a cost, even if the problem is a software or authentication issue.
- You can seek assistance to see if there is any other way to find a solution, even though Apple has already informed you about the "vintage" status.
- Find Locations 🔗
I hope these tips help resolve the problem and you can unlock your Apple Watch! 🤞
If this content was helpful or brought you clarity, a click on 'Vote positive' ⬆️ is a recognition that helps a lot! This way, the solution gains visibility and more people can be assisted.
Guibarboza 🙋🏻♂️
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