Lock iPhone when stolen. How to lock iPhone when stolen and why do you need to do it? How to enable Find My iPhone

If you suddenly become a victim of intruders and have it stolen from you iPhone or iPad action must be taken immediately. First of all, you should remotely block devices through the iCloud website.

In order to prevent fraudsters from using your gadget, you should go to iCloud.com as soon as possible and log in there using the Apple ID that was used on the stolen device.

Next, go to the "Find iPhone" section;
From the list that appears, select a stolen iPhone or iPad;
It should be noted that if the location of your device is marked with a green dot on the map, this means that your smartphone or tablet is connected to the Network. If the dot is gray, then your device is disconnected from the Internet and has not been connected to it for more than a day;

Next, you will see a window in which you should select "Lost Mode" and enter the password. If the password has not been set earlier, the system will set it remotely;

Stored on a stolen phone or tablet important information, you can erase all data from the device by clicking on the corresponding menu.

However, it should be remembered that if this function is used, the gadget cannot be tracked on the map. Therefore, you should think carefully before using this option;

To protect yourself as much as possible from the consequences of stealing your gadget, you should perform several steps:

Don't forget to activate the function Find iPhone... Make sure the remote search function is enabled in iOS settings -\u003e iCloud;

In the same window, find the "Last Location" menu and enable it if it is not active. Thanks to this feature, you will be able to track the location of your device even if it is disabled;

Make sure you know your Apple ID password. In case you forgot it, you need to change it on the Apple website. New Password you will receive after answering a series of security questions;

Use your device lock password and Touch ID features. Indeed, if you install the unlock of the gadget by scanning your fingerprint, by doing so you will actually make your device useless for intruders. Without a password or without your fingerprint, the gadget simply cannot be activated.

To enable the password, go to Settings - Password - Password protection - Enable password;
There is also the ability to delete data from the device in case of 10 unsuccessful attempts to enter the password.

Reading time: 6 minutes

In this article, I will tell you about the ways to lock your iPhone if it was stolen from you, or you left it somewhere inadvertently and cannot be found.

This article is suitable for everyone iPhone models 11 / Xs (r) / X / 8/7/6 and Plus on iOS 13. Older versions may have different or missing menu items and hardware support specified in the article.

Looking for an iPhone

Beginning with iOS systems 7, the gadget menu has a Find iPhone application. On all devices, the option is enabled by default and shows geolocation. You can manage your lost gadget through the program. In "Find iPhone" you need to allow access to geodata in order to determine the location of the phone in the future.

Ask your question to a specialist

Don't know how to solve a problem in the operation of your gadget and need expert advice?

First, we enter the application. You must have any gadget from Apple: another iPhone, iPad. In the utility, you need to enter the e-mail and password from your account Apple ID. Any internet connection (LTE, 3G or Wi-Fi) is required to block.

After logging in, a map with a list of available gadgets will appear on the display. If the stolen phone has the Internet and is connected to geolocation services, then its location will be immediately displayed on the map. During selection in the list desired device, the application will suggest the following standard actions:

• Erase iPhone (delete information).
• Lost mode (needed to block).
• Play sound (this option is useful if the phone is lost at home).

Lock iPhone with standard iOS functions

Let's take a closer look at Lost Mode. Let's define how to activate this function:

After completing these simple steps, the stolen device will be a useless "brick". Without knowing the password, nothing can be done with it. You just need to wait for a call back. When the Internet appears on your mobile phone, you can see its location through the program, and then start taking the necessary steps to return the device.

The system will automatically enter power saving mode from iOS 9 and above to save power. Even if the craftsmen can reflash it using the DFU mode, completely replace the system, all the same, the lock will not be reset. It turns out that an expensive phone will become a beautiful trinket that can only be sold for spare parts.

Now you know how to find your lost iPhone. Sometimes the police find expensive phones with the help of the owners who provide information about the lost gadget.

Lock iPhone via website

This method is suitable in order to block a lost gadget without additional device... To do this, you need to have a computer with Internet access. It is important to remember your username and password here, without which you cannot log into iCloud.

We follow the instructions:

• Go to the iCloud.com resource.
• Enter your Apple ID e-mail / password.
• Select "Find iPhone".
• All devices available for control will be displayed on the screen.
• Click on the required gadget.
• We select "Enable Lost Mode".
• Then we set the code, type the message, enter the number for communication.

If you are sure that the iPhone was stolen from you and they want to reflash it, the device will definitely not be returned, then all files can be deleted from it using the "Erase iPhone" option. Now you just need to wait until the phone is turned on when it is displayed on the map.

If the phone is not under a password, attackers can only see some of your information, but they will not be able to untie it from Icloud or reflash it. Debit, credit cards that have been added will be blocked for the time this mode is activated.

Now you know what to do in a situation with a stolen iPhone, how to block it through the site. By following the instructions above, you can secure your information.

When it is not possible to find an iPhone via iCloud

If your iPhone has been stolen, but you cannot use iCloud for any reason, you need to contact the police. In this situation, do not even think about how to block the device, as you will waste your time.

When mobile phone connects to the operator's network, the gadget transmits its IMEI number. The operator can geolocate the device and lock it. In any case, the user will not be provided with this information, since the data is secret, therefore they are transferred only to the relevant authorities.

Find iPhone via mobile operator very easy. In practice, this method is not very effective, since the operator sends data to the police a few days or weeks after the loss.

During this period, the device can enter another country on the illegal market. If the user did not bother to enable the search option, then the probability of the phone returning is minimal.
Stolen iPhone offline

If the iPhone is in cloud storage is shown as an offline device, which means it is not connected to the Internet at the moment. In this situation, it is impossible to block the device. The user can only wait for the moment when the phone is turned on - a notification will be sent to the e-mail about this.

If the gadget was locked through a password, then you won't have to wait long, since to reset it, you need to reflash the gadget, activate it, and then you will need to connect to the Internet. When this is done, the gadget will display the Lost Mode, that is, the attacker will receive your message.

If the phone was not turned on after the loss, then the attacker will not be able to finally unlock it and use all its options. The device will be in a locked state.

If an Apple gadget is stolen from you, you do not need to erase it from iCloud memory. Sooner or later, the device will be connected to the Internet, after which there will be a chance to return it. Otherwise, only the police will help you, but there will be very little chance of success.

Third Party Applications

Help to determine the location of the phone special programs... They must first be installed on the device.

Contact If Found

With help of this application a special screen saver will be created for the desktop. It will display the owner's number with a message. Is functioning free utility on iOS 9 and up. Software doesn't always help, so it's better to use standard features systems.

iHound

The app is a real detective. As soon as the robbers connect the iPhone to the computer, a message will be sent to the owner by e-mail with the exact address of the gadget. The application also fixes its geodata hourly, after which it will be transferred to you.

Reward If Found

Here you can create a splash screen using any owner data. When the robber turns on the gadget, a message addressed to him will be displayed. There is no need to neglect this method, although the chances of returning the iPhone are small. It will help in a situation when a conscientious person finds the device, after which he wants to return it to the rightful owner.

iLocalis

The app needs to be used on a jailbreak device and is available in Cydia. When the nano-SIM card is changed in the device, the software will easily recognize this, after which it will inform the owner via SMS or during the first connection to the Internet.

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It so happens that sometimes the owners of iPhones lose them or become victims of theft. Expensive mobile devices attract the attention of thieves, but if the iPhone is properly prepared for work, it can not only be blocked from a distance, but also located on a map. By remote access the device is blocked, turning into a thing that is unable to function. Let's take a closer look at how to block an iPhone if it is stolen or lost.

Turning on the iPhone for the first time means setting up the device for further work. We go to the corresponding item, then to iCloud to enter an account there apple records ID. If it is absent, you must register and authorize. The Apple site also provides the ability to register an account using a PC. These data are entered when the smartphone is first turned on.

how additional option identification for logging into the gadget - scanning the fingerprint of the Touch ID sensor available on latest versions iOS. Accordingly, only the owner of the device is able to unlock it due to the uniqueness of the results of fingerprinting (line patterns on the skin).

After "recognizing" the owner of the iPhone, select the "Find iPhone" option. To activate, move the mark until it turns green. Then do the same with the "Last Geoposition":

This action will help to instantly determine the location. That's it, the iPhone is ready to show up, lock up if stolen or lost.

How to block a stolen or lost iPhone

Let's consider several options for blocking the device:

Through another "apple" device with its own "account"

Install, for example, on the tablet "Find iPhone", if the application was not previously available. Find My Phone will help you find and lock your phone when connected to Wi-Fi, 3G / 4G or LTE. If you go into it, you will see a map of the area. When the iPhone is marked with a green circle, the device is turned on while online:

If the dot is lit in red, the smartphone has been disabled for at least 24 hours. You need to block the device by "remote". To do this, we activate the "Lost Mode" available on iOS5 and older in the application:

The display will show the message required to enter the field. A sentence is entered here expressing a request to call back on telephone number or indicating the address of the owner.

It is clear that not every thief or one who finds a loss will return the device. But it is not recommended to persistently call your number yourself, otherwise there is a risk that the iPhone will simply be turned off.

So, we perform step by step instructions to block the phone through the "Lost Mode":

1. Click on the corresponding button.
2. Enter your four-digit password.
3. Write to cybercriminals or those who find the device their mobile number, as well as a message (containing no threats or swear words) asking them to return the iPhone. These numbers will be displayed on the screen.
4. Activate the function.

Even if the robbers are advanced users trying to reflash the device using, for example, the DFU-mode, change the system, blocking for such tricks will not give in. The gadget, in fact, will become a useless "brick", suitable only for analysis for spare parts.

ICloud lock

A tablet, computer or other iPhone connected to the Internet via the "cloud" service will also help in installing the unit by, again, introducing an "apple" ID number into it.

In "My devices", located at the top and in the center, the iPhone model is selected. The window containing information about the "apple" gadget shows the "Lost Mode" function. Enter the four-digit lock code twice.

The thief will be content with contemplating a technically perfect device, but not using it. Even if the device was disconnected from the Internet, the lock will work when turned on. The location of the phone is also visible through Icloud. When in the immediate vicinity of the owner, the latter activates a sound signal. Finding your device on icloud.com is the same as using the Find iPhone app on your smartphone.

If, after all the steps and appeals to conscience, the smartphone is stubbornly not returned, the owner can remotely start unlocking and deleting important data through the "Erase iPhone" function. But there is one unpleasant moment in this: the location of the device will no longer be determined.

It should also be remembered that the smartphone does not need to be removed from the "account", since with this action the activation lock will be removed, which is what the thief needs to use the "smart" gadget. One has only to resort to reactivation.

If Find My iPhone is off

IPhone owners neglected presets, with the Find My Phone function disabled, are able to secure the gadget with the following actions:

1. Changing your Apple ID account password. This will restrict the ability of a stranger to access personal information in the AppStore, iTunes, Cloud or Imesage. But at the same time, determining the location of the device is impossible.
2. Change of logins and passwords for entering various "social networks" associated with the iPhone.
3. Blocking with subsequent restoration of the mobile phone number through the operator cellular communication.
4. By writing a statement to the police, whose employees are able to find a stolen or lost phone by IMEI.

It is also possible to block a smartphone using the "IMEY" code, but not independently, but by involving the police.

By accepting a statement from the owner of the iPhone with the specified serial number (taken from the package), employees verify its authenticity. The cellular operator, responding to an official request, confirms the information. It is clear that this does not happen instantaneously, it takes a certain amount of time.

How to disable Lost Mode

If such a function was once activated, it is required to disable it when the device is located. This is done in three ways:

From a locked device

To perform the action, enter the lock password. The iPhone will be unlocked immediately, making the "Lost Mode" irrelevant.

From "Aycloud"

The procedure for deactivating the mode from the "cloud" is similar to turning it on:

1. "My devices".
2. Choosing your phone.
3. Lost Mode.
4. “Exit Lost Mode”, confirm.

For complete unlocking, a password is entered, since it has remained and will remain valid in the future as a code.

From the Find My iPhone app on another device

It is carried out in the same way as above.

The article describes the main and popular options on how to block a lost iPhone or stolen by someone. Find My iPhone is clearly preferred. The remote method allows you to monitor the location of the iPhone. It is worthwhile to immediately make simple settings for searching and saving / deleting data immediately after purchasing an expensive device. Moreover, Apple has provided all the possibilities for this.

IPhones are not cheap, very often the owners become victims of theft. And they are also lost and simply forgotten somewhere. Apple developers care about the customer experience. Engineers have thought of a whole algorithm on how to track the location of a smartphone in the event of a robbery. Let's find the answer to the question: how to block an iPhone if it was stolen and trying to reflash it?

So how do you find your iPhone when you're in trouble? Starting with iOS 7, there is a Find iPhone app in the menu. By default, it is enabled on all devices and shows geolocation. Through it you can manage your lost device. The program needs to allow access to geo-data in order to determine the location of the mobile in the future.

First you need to enter the program. Any device from Apple is needed. It could be an iPad, another iPhone. In the application, you need to enter the mail and password from your Apple ID. And to block you need any Internet (WiFi, 3G or LTE).

After logging in, the display will show a map and a list of available devices. If the stolen mobile phone has the Internet, and there is a connection to geolocation services, then its location will be immediately displayed on the map. When you select the desired device in the list, the application offers several standard actions:

• play sound (this function is useful in case of a home loss);
• lost mode (intended for blocking);
• wipe iPhone (wipe data).

Blocking by standard means of iOs

Let's find out: how can you block it? Let's dwell on the Lost Mode in more detail, find out how to activate the function.

1. Click on the Lost Mode function;
2. Enter a password to lock your lost smartphone. The robbers will not know this password. Only you can turn it on when you receive it.
3. Add a contact number. The numbers will be displayed on the display of the stolen mobile phone.
4. It is recommended to write a short SMS to the cybercriminals (to your number) in order to return the mobile as soon as possible.
5. Activate the function.

After simple manipulations, a stolen mobile phone will become a useless "brick". It is impossible to do anything with it without knowing the password. You cannot make calls, send SMS, watch photos, scroll through the menu. You just have to wait for a call back. When the Internet appears on the cellular, you can find out its location through the program and then take the necessary actions to return the expensive equipment.

IOS 9, iOS 10 systems automatically go into power saving to save power. Even if the craftsmen reflash it through dFU mode, will completely change the system, the lock will still not be reset. In fact, expensive electronics will turn into a beautiful trinket that will be sold for spare parts.

Now you know how to find lost iphone and how to track it in case of emergency. Sometimes, the police find expensive mobile phones with the help of the owners, who provide information about the stolen or lost device.

Blocking through the site

If you didn’t know how to block a lost device without another device, then this guide is for you. So how can you do this? This requires a PC or laptop and Internet access. The most important thing is to remember your username and password, without them you will not be able to log in to icloud. To restore them, you will have to read another article.

Instructions

1. Go to iCloud.com
2. Type mail / password from Apple ID.
3. Select Find iPhone.
4. The screen contains all the devices that are available for control.
5. Click on the desired device.
6. Select "Enable Lost Mode".
7. Next, set the code, number for communication, type a message.

When you are sure that your smart phone was stolen from you and they want to reflash it, you can’t get it back, then you can delete all files from it using the "Erase iPhone" function. Now all that remains is to wait for the phone to be turned on and appear on the map.

If the mobile phone is not password protected, the robbers will only be able to see some of your data. But they won't be able to untie it from iCloud or reflash it. Credit or debit cards that have been added will be blocked while Lost Mode is activated.

Now you know what to do if an iPhone is stolen, and how to block it through the site. At any time, you can secure your information by doing simple manipulations by following the instructions for the points.

Stolen iPhone offline

How to find your device if you see the device is offline when you enter Find My iPhone? It means not active and not connected to WiFi or 3G. When the cell is turned off, it can be locked via Lost Mode. But this feature will only be active when the stolen device is connected to WiFi. To the mail to which the Apple ID is registered, notification will comethat the smartphone was connected to the Internet.

How long should you wait? When there is a password on the cell phone, you need to wait for the moment when it will be reflashed. As soon as the device is connected to the network, Lost Mode is instantly activated. This will prevent attackers from taking advantage of the information.

If you did not manage to put the password and TouchID on your iPhone and is offline, then the robbers will still not be able to press anything. This is because you had the Find iPhone feature turned on earlier. You can't turn it off because only your iCloud password is required. The device will be completely blocked and disabled.

Find My iPhone is not enabled

Can you find a phone in this case? The chances are quite small, but it is worth trying, it is useless to use programs here. Let's find out how to find an iPhone in a different way.

You have to file a report on theft to the police. Law enforcement agencies will help to find the stolen mobile. Employees will ask for the serial number (IMEI) of your device. Only after a few days, they will be able to determine the location of equipment, even with a complete shutdown.

Every time the machine connects to the network cellular operator, broadcasts its IMEI. This helps to find its geodata. The operator can easily lock the device, as well as determine its location. "Have" a very effective option of salvation in the most difficult situations, it should not be neglected unambiguously.

What should you do first if you lost your iPhone? It is imperative to change the Apple ID pass so that attackers do not use the data. And only after that contact the competent authorities. As they say, salvation is the work of the drowning themselves.

Apps to help

When such a misfortune occurs, some applications will be able to block the phone and determine its location. But first they must be installed in the system, otherwise everything will be useless.

Contact If Found

This application creates a special screen saver for your desktop. It contains the owner's number with SMS. Free software works on iOS 9 and up. Contact If Found will not always help and better use the standard iOs capabilities.

iHound

This is a real detective. So how do you track the location of your iPhone with it? Even if it was turned off before, the craftsmen will want to reflash it. As soon as the robbers connect the mobile to the PC, the owner will receive a letter with the exact phone address. In addition, the program records its geodata every hour and transfers it to the contact information you specified.

Reward If Found

Using the application, you can create a splash screen with any owner data. As soon as the robber turns on the device, he will immediately see the message that was addressed to him. It is unlikely that this will help bring back smart technology, but you should not neglect any means. This will help if the gadget is found by a conscientious person and wants to return it to its rightful owner.

iLocalis

So how do you find a lost iPhone using apps? This app is only suitable for jailbreak devices, available only in Cydia. If a nano-SIM card has been changed on your stolen phone, the program will easily recognize it and report it via SMS or at the first connection to the Internet.

Conclusion

In the above article, we tried to answer how to quickly find and return a stolen iPhone to its rightful owner in the event of an attack by intruders. There are many software ways to block and disable a device, the main ones we have considered.

Of course, craftsmen have found ways to work around this problem. Most often this is the soldering of special boards, with a different identification number and other parameters. This service is usually expensive because the chips are not easy to obtain. Law enforcement agencies know about this, but they cannot do anything, the repairs are taking place within the framework of the law.

Video

No one is safe from the unexpected loss of a smartphone. For modern man this is the loss of not just an expensive gadget, but also all contacts, accounts, access passwords, personal records, photo (video) materials. It is not always possible to restore them, and people who have found (stolen) the phone can use the information stored on it for the purpose of profit.

Therefore, to protect yourself from third-party access, we recommend activating at least protection in the form of entering the home menu via Touch ID. Touching the fingerprint scanner will take you a split second, but it can save you from being hacked by fraudsters.

We block the phone

So, the iPhone is stolen - what to do? Your further actions will depend on whether the proprietary Find iPhone mode has been activated on it. If it was, great, you have a chance to block it and locate it. Or if the iPhone has already been turned off, find out where it was last seen.
For reference: it is turned on in the settings section - iCloud. You can activate (as well as deactivate) it only by entering the correct Apple ID. An important point to track the movement of the device on the device must be activated geolocation service.

The most important feature of this mode is the ability to remotely lock the device.

And even if the iPhone is turned off now, the system will be able to block it later, as soon as the scammers try to turn it on, and the device gains access to the Internet. For these reasons, you should not delete from your account a lost device that was turned off by scammers for a long time. Since in this case all the last commands you entered will be canceled, including blocking. After waiting for the time, the device will sooner or later still try to turn it on, and then, having gained access to the network, the smartphone will successfully execute your command.

But in any case, your personal data will be inaccessible. After activating this mode, the use of all payment cards tied to the gadget is automatically suspended. In this case, the system will offer to create a lock password, it consists of four digits. Remember it - suddenly the iPhone will be found, and then you will need it. When the Lost Mode is activated, a service message is displayed on the screen of the gadget (even if it is locked) indicating that this iPhone has been stolen and is indicated contact number for communication. Only it will be possible to make a call from a blocked device. You can type any text for the message - through the iCloud service - in the "Find iPhone" menu. We recommend that you immediately offer a reward for the return - it will suddenly work. In addition, if the gadget has just been stolen, you can set the playback of a loud sound signal, which will be emitted by the smartphone.

Of course, all the described manipulations must be performed as soon as possible - from a smartphone (tablet, computer) of a friend, neighbor, or colleague. In this case, the chance to fully protect at least personal information from hacking is much higher. Go to the iCloud website from any device, enter your Apple ID password. In the list of devices (if you have several), select the iPhone, and activate the Lost Mode.

When the device is found, you can disable the lock by entering the password on the screen, or by disabling it via iCloud (or "Find" mode).

At worst, using the mentioned option, you can completely erase all data from the iPhone. The erasing process will start immediately as soon as the smartphone gains access to the Internet via a cell or Wi-Fi, and the command will go to its control unit.

After that, the iPhone will be reset to factory settings, but do not untie it from your "account" yet, as then the remote lock will also be disabled. This means that scammers will be able to do whatever they want with the smartphone. This is an extreme measure, usually it is applied only when the value of the data exceeds the value of the device itself.

Don't ignore the important and useful Find iPhone option. After all, if your iPhone is stolen, with its help you can even remotely protect your personal data from hacking. At the same time, it becomes just a useless piece of metal, and it can only go as a donor of spare parts.

Find was not enabled

In the case when this option was not activated, the user's options, of course, are much more limited. But you can still do something. Basically, it all comes down not so much to the real search for the lost apparatus, but to the maximum complication of the sale of the stolen to the fraudsters.

So, first of all - change passwords for all significant resources as soon as possible. ICloud First the personal identifier of the gadget and the subscriber in the ecosystem must be changedApple - "accounting" Apple ID.Thanks to this, it will be possible to block access through the stolen device to the iCloud private cloud box (especially when it is connected to other apple devices - for automatic synchronization).

It does not hurt to declare on specialized "apple" services about the loss (theft) of an iPhone. To do this, you will also have to indicate to the operators the serial number of the device and its imei. After that, he will immediately make his way through the bases, and service centres such a smartphone will definitely not be taken for service.

Oddly enough, but often gives the result of contacting the police. Bring a statement about theft to the nearest branch, taking with you a receipt, a box with the specified imei, serial number. At the request of the police, the operator - using imei, can determine the location of the gadget. However, most likely, it will be possible to establish an extremely inaccurate place - between the nearest three towers (and this may be kilometers of distance). And in the case when the device is turned off, the search becomes completely impossible.

But do not despair - sooner or later, scammers will sell the stolen goods to an inexperienced novice user, and it is possible that imei will appear in the databases. Of course, the state of your device can be shocking. After all, locked gadgets are often disassembled for parts or hacked into the system, dropping the "native" imei.

Therefore, when buying used iPhones, immediately punch them on imei and serial number... If the smartphone is problematic, the application of the real owner about the theft of the device with such imei will be immediately indexed in the search engine. You can check the gadget by following the link: https://www.icloud.com/activationlock/.
The operator by imei can also block calls and mailing from your device. Although these expenses are nothing compared to the cost of an iPhone. And the likelihood of returning the device to the rightful owner is extremely small, because if it was not just lost, but stolen, then the card is usually thrown away immediately. Fraudsters rarely make calls from stolen but not yet blocked iPhones - why shine?

conclusions

In view of all of the above, we strongly recommend not to ignore the mentioned iPhone services and enable them, according to the manufacturer's recommendations. After all, it is for them that you pay such a high cost. Apple promises you reliable protection of your smartphones even if they are stolen and turned off. You are given a lot of ways to block access to both the smartphone menu and the data stored on it (Apple ID password, Touch ID, iCloud services, "Find iPhone") - use it!