Apple Watch Order Statuses Shifting to 'Preparing for Shipment'

Apple Watch order statuses have begun changing from "Processing Items" to "Preparing for Shipment" as Apple gets ready to send out the first Apple Watch orders to customers who pre-ordered their devices on Friday, April 10. Apple Watch orders that have changed to "Preparing for Shipment" are still listing prospective delivery dates of 4/24 to 5/8, but the first orders are expected to begin arriving on Friday April 24, the official launch date of the Apple Watch. Now that order statuses have shifted, customers should begin receiving shipment emails in the near future.

applewatchpreparingforshipment2
The change to customer order statuses comes just minutes after Apple began charging credit and debit cards for Apple Watch purchases. As we have previously mentioned, bulk shipments of the Apple Watch have already been arriving at central distribution centers across the United States from China, where the Apple Watch was manufactured. Apple Watch orders will ship out from these central distribution centers via Fedex and UPS, so despite the late shipping date, many devices will arrive on Friday.

With the iPhone 6, Apple also shipped hundreds of thousands of devices to central distribution centers before updating customers on the status of their orders. iPhones began shipping out on Monday and Tuesday for a Friday delivery, and it's likely Apple Watch orders will follow the same general timeline.

Deliveries could come from any of the major shipping hubs in the United States, which include Memphis, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky (UPS' WorldPort location); Indianapolis, Indiana; Newark, New Jersey; and Oakland, California. Many orders are likely to pass first through Anchorage, Alaska, where both UPS and FedEx have logistics centers, before heading out to other distribution sites.

The earliest Apple Watch pre-orders listed ambiguous delivery dates of 4/24 to 5/8, but Apple's head of retail Angela Ahrendts stated in a memo to employees last week that "customers who pre-ordered will start receiving deliveries next Friday as planned," so customers who managed to pre-order in the minutes before shipping dates started slipping will see deliveries this week.

Once an order changes to Preparing for Shipment, customers may be able to track by reference number using a phone number on the UPS and FedEx websites to get tracking information before a shipping email even goes out.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
airpods color prototypes

Apple Tested AirPods in Bright Colors

Saturday December 27, 2025 6:06 am PST by
Apple reportedly tested a version of the first-generation AirPods with bright, iPhone 5c-like colored charging cases. The images, shared by the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami," claim to show first-generation AirPods prototypes with pink and yellow exterior casings. The interior of the charging case and the earbuds themselves remain white. They seem close to some...
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected

Tuesday December 23, 2025 5:21 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the ‌iPhone‌ mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Samsung Developing 'Wide Fold' With iPhone Fold-Like Design Ahead of Apple's 2026 Launch

Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026. Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
iPhone SE Cosmopolitan Clean

Apple Discontinued These 25 Products This Year

Wednesday December 24, 2025 7:24 am PST by
With the end of 2025 near, the time has come to look back at the devices and accessories that Apple discontinued throughout the year. Most of the products that were discontinued this year were simply replaced by a new model with an updated chip. However, the iPhone SE line was entirely discontinued when the iPhone 16e launched, and the iPhone Plus line is being phased out. Below, we have...

Top Rated Comments

sampaul Avatar
140 months ago
Oh my gawddddd!
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nathanalf Avatar
140 months ago
My order hasn't updated yet (42mm Space Grey Sport, 2:04 confirmation email).

Eek


Edit: debit card still not charged either
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jhts Avatar
140 months ago
Mine is still processing, I'm from the UK.

Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
basehart Avatar
140 months ago
I can only imagine how fast Karl Lagerfeld and Beyoncé must have been refreshing their browsers to be able to get their gold watches delivered so quickly.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Patriot24 Avatar
140 months ago
Okay guys and gals,

I just talked to a contact at Apple (he's not a customer support person and that's the most I can say. but he did have information that was being distributed for phone support staff)

he said that they have a memo in which they told their phone support employees that "having a change in your order status is not an indication that you will or will not receive your watch before those who are yet to get an order update."

He went on to describe and insist "A change in order status does not indicate an April 24th delivery and the lack of a change to order status does not indicate that you will not be receiving your product at launch. On the contrary, orders are being processed differently this time around and the specifics of logistics in which bands, which models, which delivery companies, are all contributors in the timing of the status changes and will continue to be processed 24 hours a day. Orders processed today may not ship till Friday, while orders processed tonight may not ship till Monday and orders processed tomorrow may very well arrive Friday."

"The process in which the orders are being scanned and attached to the product for shipment are not being based on time of order specifically. The first come first serve only applies to the delivery window, not to the time of day. All 4/24-5/8 orders, regardless of wether they were 1 minute or 4 minutes after the Site and App went live, will be processed for the same shipping windows. The determination of the products arrival will solely be based on inventory, geographic location, and delivery provider."

"The fact that your order hasn't updated is irrelevant. Your shipping window is your shipping window, regardless. Orders began updating today and will continue to update. With most orders already in the process of shipment, it is a matter of being input into the system. Your devices arrival date has been determined regardless of when you receive the notification at 4:00pm or 4:00am, the outcome will be the same."

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Picapau21 Avatar
139 months ago
No. You should EXPECT to get the product within the window that was provided by the company with the intent to TEMPER your expectations. It is completely ridiculous to be so invested in something you've never needed before that you can't wrap your entitled and privileged mind around waiting a few days for it.

Maybe some of you should take some of that energy, aggression, and time before getting your watch to see if you can help in any way with disaster relief or just help out some underprivileged people in the area you live. I think you could use some "humbling-down" to remind how unimportant this really is.

Btw I ordered in the first few minutes, have received nothing yet and amazingly I'm still alive.

Look I see your point and its a valid argument and they did provide a 2 week window but unfortunately Apple are benchmarked against a higher standard than most and have a very loyal fan base. Which is why so many people are upset that they didn't receive their watch on launch day. Most people have previously been able to receive launch day products by ordering early.

But i think your comments serve no purpose. I think the importance of material things are relative to the person...the "why don't you go work for a charity" argument is just very weak. Why does any body work? Why do we buy anything? why doesn't anybody share all their wealth and live in a socialist society... Don't indulge because the third world needs food etc etc etc..

It just so happens that many people are quite excited by the new product and are disappointed that they have not received it. As I said you trying to act all high and mighty actually serves no purpose.

I actually work in health care and spend a lot of time at work...as you say "helping people". However I would prefer to spend my free time as I wish...if that means posting on this forum, along with countless other, then I will!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)