- Verizon subscribers who are trying to activate unlocked Apple Watch Series 10 units are running into issues getting the watch to connect to the network.
- This only affects LTE watches that weren’t bought directly from Verizon, as Verizon doesn’t have third-party watch IMEIs in its database at this time.
- The only fix is to run through a lengthy process with customer service before they finally make a note to add your watch’s IMEI to the database.
If you’re encountering issues activating your Apple Watch Series 10 on Verizon’s network, you’re not alone. While watches purchased directly from Verizon work just fine, Apple Watch Series 10 owners who bought the LTE model elsewhere are finding it difficult to set up on Big Red without jumping through several hoops.
Several users on Verizon’s community forums (via Apple Insider) are experiencing activation issues due to problems that are apparently due to the device’s IMEI. The root of the issue is that when Apple sends hardware for Verizon to sell directly, the carrier adds the IMEIs in bulk to its database. As a result, activation is straightforward for those who buy from Verizon. However, these lists typically don’t include IMEIs from devices sold outside Verizon’s specific batch, which often leads to initial activation challenges for early adopters.