Selling or trading in your Apple Watch online for the best price isn’t hard it only feels complicated when you don’t know the right steps. In this article, I’ll show you the best place to sell your Apple Watch and share proven, easy-to-follow tips that will help you get the most money every time.
How To Prepare Your Apple Watch For Sale?
The first step in learning how to sell a used Apple Watch for the most money is preparing your watch properly before listing or trading it in. Preparation is crucial if you want a smooth and worthwhile selling experience.
To put it lightly, how you prepare your Apple Watch for sale can either make or break how fast you sell it and how much you get paid for it.
Evaluate Your Apple Watch Condition:
Before listing or trading in your Apple Watch, take a few minutes to evaluate its current condition. This ensures you know exactly what you’re selling and helps you set the right price.
Check the Body
Inspect for scratches, dents, or cracks on the screen and casing.
Battery Health
Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health to check capacity and performance.
Test All Functions
Make sure the touchscreen, haptics, speaker, mic, and sensors (like heart rate) are working properly.
Apple Watch Sale Preparation Checklist:
Use this checklist to make sure your Apple Watch is fully ready for resale or trade-in:
- ✅ Back up your iPhone to iCloud (Apple Watch data is included).
- ✅ Unpair your Apple Watch via the Watch app to create a final backup.
- ✅ Remove the watch from iCloud and Find My Devices.
- ✅ Erase all content and settings from your watch.
- ✅ Clean your watch and bands carefully using a soft, lint-free cloth.
- ✅ Take clear, well-lit photos from multiple angles.
Completing these steps ensures your Apple Watch sells faster, looks more appealing, and gives buyers full confidence.
Back Up Your Data:
Apple Watch itself doesn’t do direct backups; it syncs with your iPhone. Make sure your iPhone has an up-to-date iCloud backup so none of your data (health records, app settings, etc.) is lost when you reset.
How To Backup Apple Watch?
Apple Watch data automatically backs up to the iPhone it’s paired with. When you unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone, the watch is backed up completely to your iPhone to make sure that the latest data is saved, so you don’t have to do anything.
How to Unpair Your Apple Watch From iPhone:
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap on All Watches
- Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
- It will also create a final backup of your watch data before erasing.
This automatically removes Activation Lock, freeing it up for the next buyer to use without any complications.
How to Remove From iCloud & Find My:
Go to iCloud.com or the Find My app. Check under “Devices” and make sure your Apple Watch is no longer listed.
This step is crucial because without it, the new buyer can’t set the Apple Watch up.
How To Erase All Content and Settings
On the watch itself: Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
Erasing all content wipes everything and restores the Apple Watch to factory condition before you sell it.
How To Clean the Watch
- Wipe the screen and case with a microfiber cloth.
- If you have extra bands, clean those too.
The cleaner your Apple Watch looks, the faster and higher it’ll sell for because buyers will always prefer an Apple Watch that looks cared for and not one that looks like it could pack up at any time.
How to Clean Your Apple Watch Before Selling it
- Turn off your Apple Watch and remove it from the charger.
- Take off leather bands if attached.
- Wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth (dampen slightly with water if needed).
- Rinse gently under warm water for visible debris (no soaps or cleaners).
- For Series 10, use a soft-bristle brush to clear speaker ports.
- Dry thoroughly with a lint-free cloth, including the back crystal.
Take Quality Photos:
- Use good lighting (daylight near a window works best).
- Multiple angles: front, back, sides, charger, accessories.
Doing this builds buyers' confidence, helping you close the sale faster.
Why Not Sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace?
Selling your Apple Watch on platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace might sound like a good idea at first, but it often comes with hidden hassles.
1. Time and Effort
You’ll spend time taking detailed photos, writing listings, and responding to endless messages sometimes from buyers who never follow through. It can take days or even weeks before you find a serious buyer.
2. Hidden Fees and Uncertain Prices
eBay deducts seller fees that cut into your final payout, and you might also cover shipping or payment processing costs. On Facebook Marketplace, there are no fixed prices most buyers will haggle, sometimes unrealistically, just to get a bargain.
3. Scam and Safety Concerns
These platforms are known for all kinds of scams fake payments, chargebacks, no-shows, etc. It’s easy for a transaction to go wrong, especially when meeting strangers in person or trusting online transfers.
4. No Real Seller Protection
If a buyer claims the item isn’t as described or requests a refund, you may lose both your money and your watch. Once that happens, there’s little you can do to recover your payment.
| Issue | eBay / Facebook Marketplace | SellMyCellPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Time & Effort | Manual listings, messages, long wait for buyers | Instant quote in 1 minute, no listings needed |
| Fees | High seller fees, shipping costs | Zero fees + free insured shipping |
| Safety | Risk of scams, fake payments | Verified buyers & secure payment process |
| Seller Protection | Limited protection, risk of chargebacks | Guaranteed payments, transparent process |
Where To Sell Your Apple Watch For The Most Money
SellMyCellPhone is the best place to sell your Apple Watch if you’re looking for the best cash offers for Apple Watch and a fast, hassle-free selling experience with free shipping and up to $300 package insurance included.
The whole process takes less than 3 minutes, and prices stay locked in for over 15 days. Thousands of sellers already use SellMyCellPhone.com to sell Apple Watch online fast. Here’s how it works:
How To Sell Your Apple Watch To SellMyCellPhone
- Go to sellmycellphone.com/sell/sell-apple-watch-instantly.
- Select your Apple Watch model.
- Select your Apple Watch condition.
- Receive an instant quote and click Get Paid to accept.
- Proceed to checkout and follow on-screen instructions.
Thousands of devices have already been sold through SellMyCellPhone check what our customers are saying in our reviews here.
