Apple has brought a lot of great innovations to smartphones, and its iPhone has become an integral part of our lives, serving as not just communication devices but also as storage hubs for our precious data. One of the biggest nightmares for any iPhone user, however, is discovering that their iPhone is iCloud locked. What to do if your iPhone is locked to iCloud? Don't fret! If you'd like to learn more about how to unlock iCloud locked iPhone, we've put together this guide to teach you everything you need to know.
- Part 1. What Causes an iCloud Locked iPhone?
- Part 2. Is It Possible to Unlock an iCloud Locked iPhone?
- Part 3. How to Remove iCloud Lock from iPhone with Password
- Part 4. How to Unlock iCloud Locked iPhone without Password
- Part 5. Frequently Asked Questions about iPhone iCloud Lock
- Part 6. Conclusion
Part 1. What Causes an iCloud Locked iPhone?
iCloud Activation Lock is a security feature implemented by Apple to prevent unauthorized access to an iPhone. It links the device to the owner's Apple ID and requires the user's Apple ID and password for activation or reactivation after a factory reset. If you get an iPhone locked with iCloud, it could be caused by the following reasons.
1. Forgotten iCloud credentials
One of the most common reasons for an iCloud locked iPhone is the owner forgetting their iCloud credentials, including the Apple ID and password.
2. Purchasing a second-hand iPhone
Buying a used iPhone without ensuring its been properly disassociated from the previous owner's iCloud account can lead to the device being locked.
3. Lost or stolen iPhone
In cases of theft or loss, the owner may remotely lock their device using Find My iPhone, which effectively iCloud locks the device.
Part 2. Is It Possible to Unlock an iCloud Locked iPhone?
Although your iPhone is locked with iCloud, you can still remove iCloud lock from your device with ease. Suppose that you can remember your Apple ID and password, you can directly turn off iCloud Activation Lock on your iPhone. But if you forget your Apple ID password or got a second-hand iPhone but don't know the previous owner's Apple ID and password, you can turn to some different approaches, such as using a professional iPhone iCloud lock removal.
🔍Methods | 🧿Requirement | 💻Success Rate | 🎈Difficulty |
Settings | An Apple ID password | High | Easy |
Find My App | An Apple ID password and an Apple mobile device | High | Easy |
iCloud | An Apple ID password | High | Easy |
MagFone Activation Unlocker | A computer | High | Easy |
IMEI | A mobile device or computer | Medium | Moderate |
DNS | No requirement | Low | Moderate |
Jailbreaking | A Mac or Linux computer | Low | Moderate |
Part 3. How to Disable iCloud Lock on iPhone with Password
When iCloud Activation Lock enabled, it requires the user's Apple ID and password to set up the device after being erased or restarted. This feature is particularly useful in case of theft or loss, as it renders the device unusable for anyone else. If you want to sell your used iPhone or get a second-hand iPhone, you have to turn off iCloud lock before selling or reactivating it. To remove iCloud lock from your device, you can try the following steps when you know the Apple ID password or can contact the previous owner.
Option 1. Unlock an iCloud Locked iPhone via the Settings App
It's easy to manage the Apple ID on your iPhone's Settings. You can choose to directly remove iCloud lock by turning off Find My and signing out your Apple ID in Settings. Or you can ask the previous owner to remove your iCloud locked iPhone from the Apple ID in Settings. Here's how to.
Remove iPhone from Apple ID to disable iCloud lock
Step 1. In Settings on your iPhone, tap your Apple ID name.
Step 2. Scroll down to find your iCloud locked iPhone in the device list.
Step 3. Select your device and tap Remove from Account.
Step 4. Tap Remove to confirm that you want to remove your device.
Sign out Apple ID to turn off iCloud lock
Step 1. Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap your Apple ID name.
Step 2. Scroll down to tap Sign Out to log out your Apple ID.
Step 3. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off to confirm.
Option 2. Unlock an iCloud Locked iPhone via the Find My App
The same Apple ID can be used on multiple Apple devices. If you have signed in an Apple ID on all your Apple devices, you can use the Find My app to remotely control and manage your iCloud locked iPhone. Also, you can unlock your iCloud locked iPhone in the Find My app.
Step 1. Launch the Find My app on an Apple device where you use the same Apple ID.
Step 2. Tap Devices at the bottom of the screen and find your iCloud locked iPhone.
Step 3. Scroll down to tap Remove This Device, then tap Remove in the pop-up window.
Step 4. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Remove again to confirm.
Option 3. Unlock an iCloud Locked iPhone via iCloud Website
In addition to using Find My or Settings, you can remove Activation Lock on the web to unlock your iCloud locked iPhone even if your device is offline. You can log into iCloud.com with your Apple ID and password to turn off Activation Lock.
Step 1. Navigate to https://www.icloud.com/find and sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Step 2. Find and select your iCloud locked iPhone in the device list at the left column.
Step 3. In the device information window, select Remove from Account and click Remove.
Step 4. Enter your Apple ID password and click Remove Device to confirm.
Part 4. How to Unlock iCloud Locked iPhone without Password
However, it can become hassle if you forget your Apple ID password or purchase a used iPhone with activation lock enabled. When you can reset your Apple ID password or cannot find the previous owner, you need to try other solutions without requiring an Apple ID password. There are several solutions to help you unlock an iCloud locked iPhone without password. You can choose to use third-party services to quickly disable iCloud lock on your iPhone. Or you can jailbreak your iCloud locked iPhone to bypass iCloud lock. Let's see the details.
Method 1. Use a Professional iPhone iCloud Lock Removal
If you have access to a computer, you can use a professional iPhone iCloud lock removal. MagFone Activation Unlocker is such a tool that offers assistance users to users facing iCloud lock issues. By using MagFone Activation Unlocker, you can remove iCloud Activation Lock from iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Also, this tool can fix various activation issues like iPhone Locked to Owner and iPhone stuck on Activation Lock. Here we will guide you through the process of removing iCloud lock from an iPhone via MagFone Activation Unlocker.
Key Features of MagFone Activation Unlocker
* Security Verified. 5,481,347 people have downloaded it.
- Remove iCloud activation lock without Apple ID and password
- Turn off camera sound on iPhone in some restricted places
- Rescue iPhone from various iCloud activation failure cases
- Turn off Find My iPhone/iPad/iPod touch without password
Step 1Select Remove iCloud Activation Lock
First, download and install MagFone Activation Locker on your computer, then run it. On the main interface, select Remove iCloud Activation Lock and click the Next button. Before starting the activation lock removal process, carefully read the claimer and click the Agree button. Then go to connect your iPhone to the computer through a USB cable.
Step 2Start to Jailbreak iPhone on the Computer
Then, you need to jailbreak your iPhone depending on what iOS version your device is running. The process of jailbreaking an iPhone is different on a Windows PC or Mac. You can follow the onscreen instruction to download a jailbreak tool and jailbreak your iPhone. For more detailed steps to jailbreak an iPhone, you can check our tutorial.
Step 3Start to Unlock an iCloud Locked iPhone
Once you complete the process of jailbreaking an iPhone, you can check the device information on the screen. You can click the Start to Remove button to remove Activation Lock from your iPhone. Then you will get an iCloud unlocked iPhone. In the whole process, keep your device connected to the computer until the task ends.
Method 2. Disable iCloud Lock on iPhone through IMEI
There are several third-party services available online that claim to unlock an iCloud locked iPhone for a fee. While some of these services may be legitimate, others could be scams. It's essential to research thoroughly and read reviews before using such a third-party service online. If you consider unlocking your iCloud locked iPhone online, you can try Apple iPhone Unlock - an online platform to help users to remove iCloud lock by entering iPhone IMEI serial number.
Method 3. Reset DNS to Unlock an iCloud Locked iPhone
Instead of using an iPhone iCloud lock removal, you can try resetting DNS to bypass Activation Lock on an iCloud locked iPhone. By configuring a DNS through HTML or an online server, you can disable iCloud Activation Lock on your iCloud locked iPhone. Then you remove Activation Lock from your iPhone and reactivate your device. But this method is limited to those devices running iOS 10 and earlier.
Step 1. Follow the onscreen instruction to set up your iPhone until Choose WiFi Network.
Step 2. On the Choose WiFi Network screen, press the Power button and Volume Down button.
Step 3. Select More WiFi Settings and tap the i button at a WiFi network.
Step 4. Tap Configure DNS and tap Manual > Add Server, then enter the following DNS value depending on your location.
- Asia: 104.155.28.90
- USA: 104.154.51.7
- Europe: 104.155.28.90
- South America: 35.199.88.219
- Australia and Oceania: 35.189.47.23
- Other: 78.100.17.60
Step 5. Tap Save in the top right corner, then go back to Choose WiFi Network and tap Done.
Step 6. Select Set Up Manually, enter into the activated screen, and tap Continue.
Step 7. Choose set a passcode later and tap Don't Transfer Apps & Data > Don't Have an Apple ID.
Step 8. Tap Set Up Later in Settings and select Don't Use, then tap Agree > Continue.
Method 4. Bypass iCloud Lock on iPhone via Jailbreak
With the above methods, you can unlock an iCloud locked iPhone without password while not worrying about the security. As we all know, iCloud Activation Lock is developed by Apple, but jailbreaking an iPhone can remove Apple's various restrictions, including iCloud Activation Lock, on the operating system. To unlock an iCloud locked iPhone, you can use a jailbreaking tool like Checkra1n on a Mac or Linux computer. Besides, it only supports iOS from 12.3 to 14.8.
Step 1. On a Mac or Linux computer, download Checka1n.
Step 2. Connect your iCloud locked iPhone to the computer through a USB cable.
Step 3. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then do the same with the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears.
Step 4. Open the Checkra1n app and click the Start button.
Step 5. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the jailbreaking process.
Step 6. Once your iPhone is jailbroken, disconnect your iPhone from the computer.
Step 7. Open the Checkra1n app from the home screen on your device and select the Unlock Device option.
Step 8. Enter your iPhone's Activation Lock screen and wait for Checkra1n to remove iCloud lock.
Part 5. Frequently Asked Questions about iPhone iCloud Lock
Q1. How to check if an iPhone is iCloud locked?
A1: You can check if your iPhone is iCloud locked in the Settings app. If Find My enabled, this means that your iPhone is locked with iCloud Activation Lock. Or you can use your iPhone's IMEI number to check the iCloud lock status in those online services like IMEI24.com.
Q2. How to reset iPhone locked with iCloud?
A2: The steps to reset an iPhone locked with iCloud is same as an iCloud unlocked iPhone. But make sure that you know the Apple ID password. Then you can factory reset an iPhone locked with iCloud with the following steps.
Step 1. Head to Settings > General >Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Step 2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings, then tap Continue.
Step 3. Skip the backup process if you don't want to back up your device to iCloud.
Step 4. Enter your Apple ID password to sign out your Apple ID on your device.
Step 5. After turning off Find My, tap Erase button to confirm.
Q3. How to activate iCloud locked iPhone?
A3: To activate an iCloud locked iPhone, you need to remove iCloud Activation Lock from your device first. You can follow the steps in Part 3 or try the solutions in Part 4 to disable iCloud lock. Then you can activate your iCloud locked iPhone with another Apple ID.
Q4. Does jailbreaking an iPhone remove iCloud lock?
A4: Yes, jailbreaking an iPhone can remove iCloud lock, but this method is limited to a part of devices running 12.3 to 14.8. In addition, you can only use a jailbreaking tool to remove iCloud lock on a Mac or Linux computer.
Part 6. Conclusion
All in all, unlocking an iCloud locked iPhone may seem like a daunting task, but with the right methods, it's entirely achievable. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you'll be able to unlock your iCloud locked iPhone and regain access to your device in no time whether you can remember your Apple ID password or not. To quickly and efficiently bypass iCloud lock on an iPhone, don't miss MagFone Activation Unlocker. Have a try, and you'll find it out.