Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

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

Activation Lock helps you continue your device secure, even if information technology's in the wrong hands, and can improve your chances of recovering it. Even if you erase your device remotely, Activation Lock tin can proceed to deter anyone from reactivating your device without your permission. All you need to do is keep Find My turned on, and remember your Apple tree ID and countersign.

With watchOS 2 and later, you tin utilize Activation Lock to protect your Apple Watch. And with macOS Catalina or later and Mac computers that accept the Apple T2 Security Chip or Apple silicon y'all tin can utilise Activation Lock to protect your Mac, as well.

Here'due south how it works

Each time an iPhone, iPad, iPod bear upon, Apple Watch, or Mac computer that has an Apple T2 security chip or Apple silicon is activated or recovered, the device contacts Apple to bank check whether Activation Lock is turned on.

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

* Learn how Activation Lock works for devices enrolled in Mobile Device Management.

If your device is lost or stolen

If you e'er misplace your device—whether it's lost or you lot think it might have been stolen—you should immediately use Mark As Lost in the Find My app.

Mark As Lost locks your screen with a passcode and lets you display a custom bulletin with your phone number to help y'all go it back. You can likewise remotely erase your device if needed. Your custom message continues to display fifty-fifty after the device is erased.

While Activation Lock works in the background to arrive more difficult for someone to use or sell your missing device, Lost Mode clearly shows anyone who finds your device that information technology still belongs to y'all and tin't exist reactivated without your password.

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

If you forget your Apple tree ID or password

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

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

If yous can't find your Apple tree ID or reset your password, you'll lose admission to your account and might be unable to use or reactivate your device. To aid prevent this, visit your Apple ID business relationship page periodically to review and update your account information.

Cheque for Activation Lock before you purchase a device from someone else

Earlier you buy an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, from someone other than Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller, brand sure that the device is erased and no longer linked to the previous owner's account.

On a device with iOS or iPadOS fifteen or later that is protected by Activation Lock, you see an "iPhone Locked to Owner" screen when you turn on or wake the device. Don't take ownership of any used iPhone, iPad, or iPod bear upon if information technology'southward protected past Activation Lock.

If y'all don't come across that screen, follow these steps to check if the device is ready to utilise:

  1. Turn on and unlock the device.
  2. If the passcode Lock Screen or the Domicile Screen appears, the device hasn't been erased. Ask the seller to follow the steps below to completely erase the device. Don't have ownership of any used iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch until information technology's been erased.
  3. Begin the device setup process.
  4. If you're asked for the previous possessor's Apple ID and countersign, the device is nonetheless linked to their business relationship. Hand the device dorsum to the seller and ask them to enter their password. If the previous possessor isn't present, contact them every bit soon equally possible and ask them to utilise a browser to remove the device from their account. Don't take ownership of whatsoever used iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch until it has been removed from the previous owner'south business relationship.

A device is ready for yous to apply when you see the Hello screen.

Before you give away your device or send it in for service

Make sure that you lot plough off Find My on your device earlier you lot give information technology away or send it in for repair. Otherwise, your device is locked and anyone that you requite the device to can't apply it unremarkably and Apple technicians tin can't perform service repairs. Just sign out of iCloud and so erase all content and settings. This completely erases your device, removes information technology from your Apple ID, and turns off Find My.

In iOS or iPadOS 15

  1. Tap Settings > [your proper noun].
  2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
  3. Enter your Apple ID countersign and tap Plough Off.
  4. Go back to Settings.
  5. Tap Transfer or Reset [Device] > Erase All Content and Settings.

In iOS or iPadOS 14 or earlier

  1. Tap Settings > [your proper name].
  2. Scroll downwardly and tap Sign Out.
  3. Enter your Apple tree ID password and tap Turn Off.
  4. Get back to Settings.
  5. Tap General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

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