Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod bear on

Notice My includes Activation Lock—a characteristic that's designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, if information technology'south ever lost or stolen. Activation Lock turns on automatically when you turn on Discover My on your device.

Activation Lock helps you keep your device secure, fifty-fifty if it'south in the wrong easily, and can better your chances of recovering it. Even if you erase your device remotely, Activation Lock can continue to deter anyone from reactivating your device without your permission. All y'all need to practice is keep Find My turned on, and remember your Apple ID and password.

With watchOS 2 and later on, you can use Activation Lock to protect your Apple tree Watch. And with macOS Catalina or afterward and Mac computers that have the Apple T2 Security Flake or Apple silicon you tin can use Activation Lock to protect your Mac, as well.

Here's how information technology works

Each time an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch on, Apple Scout, or Mac calculator that has an Apple tree T2 security chip or Apple tree silicon is activated or recovered, the device contacts Apple to check whether Activation Lock is turned on.

Activation Lock turns on automatically when you set up Find My.* After information technology's turned on, Apple securely stores your Apple tree ID on its activation servers and links information technology to your device. Your Apple ID password or device passcode is required before anyone can turn off Observe My, erase your device, or reactivate and use your device.

* Acquire how Activation Lock works for devices enrolled in Mobile Device Direction.

If your device is lost or stolen

If you e'er misplace your device—whether it's lost or y'all call back information technology might have been stolen—yous should immediately employ Marker Equally Lost in the Find My app.

Mark Every bit Lost locks your screen with a passcode and lets you display a custom message with your phone number to help yous become it dorsum. You lot can too remotely erase your device if needed. Your custom bulletin continues to display even subsequently the device is erased.

While Activation Lock works in the groundwork to brand it more difficult for someone to utilise or sell your missing device, Lost Mode conspicuously shows anyone who finds your device that it yet belongs to you and can't be reactivated without your countersign.

Learn what to do if your device is lost or stolen.

If y'all forget your Apple ID or password

Your Apple ID is the account that you use to sign in to all Apple tree services. Usually, your Apple ID is your email address. If you forget it, we can help you notice your Apple ID.

If you forget your password, learn how to reset your Apple ID countersign.

If you can't find your Apple ID or reset your password, you'll lose access to your account and might be unable to utilise or reactivate your device. To assist prevent this, visit your Apple ID account page periodically to review and update your account information.

Cheque for Activation Lock before y'all buy a device from someone else

Before you buy an iPhone, iPad, or iPod bear on, from someone other than Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller, make sure that the device is erased and no longer linked to the previous owner's business relationship.

On a device with iOS or iPadOS 15 or later that is protected by Activation Lock, you encounter an "iPhone Locked to Owner" screen when you plough on or wake the device. Don't take buying of whatsoever used iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch on if it'due south protected by Activation Lock.

If yous don't see that screen, follow these steps to check if the device is ready to use:

  1. Plow on and unlock the device.
  2. If the passcode Lock Screen or the Home Screen appears, the device hasn't been erased. Ask the seller to follow the steps below to completely erase the device. Don't take ownership of any used iPhone, iPad, or iPod affect until it'due south been erased.
  3. Begin the device setup procedure.
  4. If you're asked for the previous owner's Apple ID and password, the device is still linked to their business relationship. Hand the device back to the seller and ask them to enter their password. If the previous owner isn't present, contact them as soon every bit possible and ask them to use a browser to remove the device from their account. Don't take ownership of any used iPhone, iPad, or iPod bear on until it has been removed from the previous owner'due south account.

A device is ready for you to utilize when y'all see the How-do-you-do screen.

Before y'all give away your device or ship it in for service

Make sure that you lot turn off Detect My on your device before you give information technology away or send it in for repair. Otherwise, your device is locked and anyone that you give the device to can't utilise it normally and Apple technicians can't perform service repairs. Just sign out of iCloud and then erase all content and settings. This completely erases your device, removes it from your Apple tree ID, and turns off Observe My.

In iOS or iPadOS xv

  1. Tap Settings > [your name].
  2. Coil downwardly and tap Sign Out.
  3. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off.
  4. Go dorsum to Settings.
  5. Tap Transfer or Reset [Device] > Erase All Content and Settings.

In iOS or iPadOS 14 or earlier

  1. Tap Settings > [your name].
  2. Scroll downwardly and tap Sign Out.
  3. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Plow Off.
  4. Go dorsum to Settings.
  5. Tap Full general > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

Published Date: