Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

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

Activation Lock helps you proceed your device secure, fifty-fifty if information technology'south in the wrong hands, and can meliorate your chances of recovering it. Fifty-fifty if you erase your device remotely, Activation Lock tin continue to deter anyone from reactivating your device without your permission. All you need to practise is keep Find My turned on, and think your Apple ID and password.

With watchOS 2 and later, you tin can utilize Activation Lock to protect your Apple Lookout. And with macOS Catalina or later on and Mac computers that have the Apple T2 Security Bit or Apple silicon you tin employ Activation Lock to protect your Mac, too.

Hither'southward how it works

Each time an iPhone, iPad, iPod bear upon, Apple Watch, or Mac computer that has an Apple tree T2 security chip or Apple 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 upward Discover My.* After it's turned on, Apple securely stores your Apple ID on its activation servers and links information technology to your device. Your Apple ID countersign or device passcode is required before anyone can turn off Notice 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 ever misplace your device—whether it'southward lost or you retrieve it might have been stolen—you should immediately use Mark As Lost in the Find My app.

Marker Every bit Lost locks your screen with a passcode and lets you display a custom message with your phone number to help you lot become information technology dorsum. Yous can too remotely erase your device if needed. Your custom bulletin continues to display even after the device is erased.

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

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

If you forget your Apple tree ID or countersign

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

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

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

Bank check for Activation Lock before you buy a device from someone else

Before you buy an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch 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'southward account.

On a device with iOS or iPadOS 15 or later that is protected past 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 impact if it's protected past Activation Lock.

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

  1. Turn 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 bear on until it'south been erased.
  3. Begin the device setup process.
  4. If y'all're asked for the previous owner's Apple ID and password, the device is nevertheless linked to their account. Hand the device back to the seller and inquire them to enter their password. If the previous owner isn't present, contact them equally soon equally possible and enquire them to utilize a browser to remove the device from their business relationship. Don't have ownership of any used iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch until information technology has been removed from the previous owner'south account.

A device is fix for y'all to employ when yous encounter the Hello screen.

Before y'all give abroad your device or transport it in for service

Brand sure that you turn off Notice My on your device before you requite it abroad or ship it in for repair. Otherwise, your device is locked and anyone that you give the device to can't use it usually and Apple technicians tin't perform service repairs. Just sign out of iCloud and so erase all content and settings. This completely erases your device, removes it from your Apple ID, and turns off Find My.

In iOS or iPadOS 15

  1. Tap Settings > [your name].
  2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
  3. Enter your Apple ID countersign and tap Plow 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 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 General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

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