How do you remove the band

Please refer to Change your Apple Watch band.

On a well used watch it can be difficult to slide the band out because sweat and other stuff can accumulate in the slide area. Sometimes soaking the slide are in water for a while makes it easier to slide out.

You may have to uses a piece of plastic to press the release button since that stick too. Do not use a metal object to press the release button.

On the underside of the watch, there are some very small buttons that you press to release the band and can slide it out.