Last updated on March 8, 2024

Regain Control of Your Locked iPhone: Your Guide to iCloud Unlock – Protecting Your Apple Device and Data

If you lost your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and you want to get it back, there are two options; Find My iPhone Activation Lock or pay the ransom to the person who stole it from you. If you decided to unlock iCloud, make sure you remember your Apple ID and password before doing so because if not, there will be no way to get it back if you reset your device’s settings as part of the iCloud unlock process.

iPhone / iCloud Unlock – Find My iPhone Era

In 2012, Apple released Find My iPhone, a feature built into all iPhones that allows you to remotely locate your device in case it’s lost or stolen. It also includes a feature called Activation Lock, which prevents anyone who doesn’t know your Apple ID and password from wiping or deactivating your phone if it is ever lost or stolen.

To erase all of your personal data, thieves need only reset your phone back to factory settings.

With Activation Lock enabled, however, they won’t be able to do so without entering your Apple ID and password first. If they don’t have that information — and if you have already set up Find My iPhone on the device — they won’t be able to bypass Activation Lock and will instead have to bring it directly to an Apple Store for help erasing it for them.

You can enable Activation Lock by going to Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone and turn on Find My iPhone. You can then choose whether or not to require your Apple ID password when someone restarts or restores your device using iTunes.

Steps To Unlock / Bypass iCloud

You can use any of these methods for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch unlocking. You can use one method or several methods at a time. The order in which you follow these steps does not matter.

You have to follow all these steps before you can use your iPhone again with a new owner. If you don’t follow all of them, your device will remain locked even after an erase. Remember that if you reset your device without unlocking it first, it will automatically relock itself when it restarts.

Make sure to unlock it before restoring it from backup! It’s important that you make a note of your Apple ID password before beginning. This is because you may need to sign in to iCloud later on during these steps (especially if using #4). Also remember that once your phone is unlocked / bypassed and connected to iTunes, it may appear as though nothing has happened. Don’t worry!

Step 1 – Restore in iTunes

(a) – Connect your iDevice with a PC or Mac via USB and launch iTunes. Click on your device in iTunes, then click Restore. Restore will delete all content from your device, so make sure you backup any valuable information beforehand!

The restore process can take up to 20 minutes, as it completely depends on your computer is currently syncing how much data. When finished, your device should be back to factory settings. Now we’re ready for step 2!

(b) – Change Your Apple ID: Once you have restored your iPhone or iPad to factory settings, open Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Apple ID:  Enter your Apple ID password when prompted and tap Sign Out.

Step 2 – Create New Apple ID

One of the problems with activating an iDevice for use is that it’s also locked down by Apple’s Activation Lock. To bypass it, you have to create a new Apple ID. You can do it on a new device by going into Settings > your name > Create New Apple ID.

You will need to enter a valid email address that isn’t already associated with any other Apple IDs.

Next, you will need to choose whether or not you want to receive updates from Apple regarding product releases and news about apps and services. If you do decide to sign up for these emails, make sure they are forwarded to another account so you don’t get spammed.

When finished, tap Create Apple ID and proceed to step 3. If you do not wish to sign up for these emails, tap Not Now and proceed to step 3.

Step 3 – Update the Software

Before you can bypass or remove Apple’s activation lock, you’ll need to update your device with a clean version of iOS 8.2 or higher. The easiest way to do that is by connecting your device directly via USB with iTunes installed on your computer.

Once connected, select your device from iTunes > Check for Updates in iTunes. Then select Download & Update. The update will run automatically and prompt you to restart your device when complete. After your device restarts, it should be unlocked and ready to use! If your device doesn’t connect to iTunes after trying these steps, follow our alternate method below.

*Note 1: If you have previously backed up your iPhone or iPad through iCloud or iTunes, those backups may still contain information related to previous owners (such as email addresses).

You may want to restore an older backup onto your new, unlocked iPhone before syncing anything new. Learn how to do that here.

*Note 2: It’s important to note that if you bypass the activation lock, it will void your warranty with Apple. To get it back, you’ll need to take your device into an Apple Store for a Genius Bar appointment.

Or call 1-800-MY-APPLE for more info on warranty coverage and repairs. Additionally, please note that these steps will result in the erasure of any personal data on your device.

Step 4 – Restore From Backup

If your iPhone is stuck on a screen that shows Connect to iTunes, it may be because it’s locked by Apple’s Activation Lock. If so, you need to restore from backup.

Once you do that, you should no longer be tethered to your computer—just launch Find My iPhone on a new device and go through setup again. You can also try restoring without connecting to iTunes.

To do that, hold down both Power and Home buttons for 10 seconds until you see an Apple logo. (This method will work only if your phone isn’t damaged.) When you first set up your phone after restoration, enter your Apple ID password as usual.

Then select Set Up as New iPhone, rather than Restore from Backup. This will erase all of your content and settings but bypass Activation Lock. However, if you want to transfer your data from another iOS device or from iCloud backup, choose to Restore from Backup instead.

The Setup Assistant process might take several minutes. So sit back and relax while Apple resets everything back to factory defaults; then enjoy exploring what makes your iPhone special!