In this guide, we tell you about your options to erase and set up an iPhone or iPad that’s linked to a deleted or forgotten Apple Account that you no longer have access to.
How to reset iPhone if the Apple Account on it has been deleted
Activation Lock
iOS 17.5: Repair State lets you send your iPhone to Apple for service without turning off Find My and Activation Lock
iOS 17.5’s Find My app lets you put your iPhone in a repair state so you can send it to Apple for service without deactivating the Activation Lock feature.
How to turn Find My Activation Lock on or off on Apple Vision Pro
In this tutorial, we will show you how to activate or deactivate the Find My Activation Lock on your Apple Vision Pro. These steps will also help double-check and ensure whether this feature is enabled or not on your headset.
8 things to do before selling or trading your Apple Watch
Learn what to do if you're selling, gifting, recycling, or trading your Apple Watch to ensure your private data stays safe and the new owner can use it properly.
What to do if your iPhone is lost or stolen
Learn what steps to take if you lose your iPhone or iPad in order to protect your personal data, track your device, and report the incident to law enforcement.
How to secure your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac with Find My Activation Lock
Protect your Apple devices from theft and unauthorized access by enabling Find My Activation Lock, ensuring enhanced security for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Watch.
How to check Activation Lock on iPhone and other Apple devices
Learn how to check the Activation Lock status before using a used/pre-owned iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or Apple Vision Pro to ensure a safe purchase.
Apple makes it easier for people to turn off Activation Lock on their own
Activation Lock is meant to be one of the most important security elements on an iOS device. But, like all security-related things, sometimes it can get in the way. But Apple is launching a new self-serve portal to help.
How to check and use Activation Lock on your Mac
Learn how to make sure the Activation Lock feature is enabled on your Mac, disable it if necessary, and find out if your computer is compatible with this security protocol.
The world of hacking iCloud-locked iPhones
An interesting in-depth report takes a look into how hackers are using password-phishing kits and fake receipts to remove Apple's Activation Lock protection on stolen iPhones.
How to check if the phone you’re buying was stolen
If you're in the market for a used iPhone, it's always a good idea to ask the owner to disable Find My iPhone, which automatically turns off Apple's theft-deterring Activation Lock feature.
But what if you're buying a non-Apple smartphone? Can you still check if it was stolen? As it turns out, that's exactly what CTIA’s Stolen Phone Checker service does for you.
Powered by the GSMA Device Check service, which provides up to 10 years’ of a device’s history as well as the device model information and capabilities, the free Stolen Phone Checker tool is an online service designed to help consumers, businesses and law enforcement agencies make informed purchasing decisions and limit the resale of lost and stolen mobile devices.
TUTORIAL: How to find your iPhone's IMEI number
This is a US-only service so this tutorial may not apply to international readers.
How to check if the phone you're buying was stolen1) Visit stolenphonechecker.org/spc/consumer on your device.
2) Enter the IMEI, MEID or ESN of the phone you're about to purchase. If you're buying an iPhone, you can find this information in Settings → General → About. If you're buying a non-Apple smartphone, ask the owner to provide the IMEI number.
3) Solve the captcha and click the Submit button.
If the phone isn't stolen,“Not reported lost or stolen” should appear next to Device Status along with some useful information, including the device model, manufacturer and more.
Regular consumers are allowed to check up to find phones per day. Again, this service is limited solely to consumers in the United States.
Related tutorialsCheck out the following how-tos:
What to do if your iPhone is lost/stolen How to remotely erase iPhone that was lost/stolen How to use Lost Mode if your iOS device is lost/stolen How to secure your iPhone with Activation Lock How to locate misplaced AirPods Checking Activation Lock status via Apple Support website Wrapping it upIf you have a question, post a comment below and we'll do our best to answer it. Please share this tutorial on social media and pass it along to the folks you support.
Submit your ideas regarding future coverage via tips@iDownloadBlog.com.
How to check Activation Lock status via Apple’s support pages
In the past, you could check the Activation Lock on a dedicated official iCloud page by entering the IMEI number. However, Apple removed it a few years back. Now the only reliable option to check a device's Activation Lock is by having physical access to that iPhone or iPad.
But, there is a workaround that might work for some. So the tutorial below talks about that trick which involves using the Apple Support page to check the Activation Lock. If it works for you, great! If it doesn't, you can follow these tips to check Activation Lock before buying a used iPhone.