Remembering passwords for all your digital accounts can be pretty challenging. Password manager apps help, but not all of us are comfortable keeping all our sensitive account info in one app. But it can be pretty frustrating when you get locked out of your phone when you forget a password. For example, an iCloud locked iPhone is not much different from having a dead phone with you.
When the iCloud gets locked, you can’t access anything inside the phone, let alone make or receive calls with it. Sometimes, the strict security features that Apple implements can make it hard to unlock an iCloud locked iPhone, even if you’re the owner.
So, what should you do when you have ended up with your iPhone being iCloud locked? Well, if it’s actually yours, there are some easy troubleshooting steps that you can follow to get it unlocked. Stick around to learn more about these steps. But you shouldn’t try to unlock it if it isn’t yours. Instead, return it to the owner or turn it over to law enforcement.
What Happens When an iPhone is iCloud Locked?
At the core, an iCloud lock is a security feature that links your iPhone to your Apple ID. When you enable Find My iPhone, the feature automatically locks the device and prevents access to the phone. But there can be scenarios where your Apple iPhone can get iCloud locked without you even knowing it. For example:
Compromised Apple ID
If anyone with ill intent gets access to your Apple ID, they may initiate this Find My iPhone feature and lock you out of the device.
Secondhand or stolen device
If you’ve purchased an iPhone from a third party without checking its legitimacy, you can end up with an iCloud locked iPhone. The previous owner may initiate the lock, making the device unusable for you.
Remember: Removing the lock without authorization is unethical and illegal. It also violates Apple’s terms.
Can iCloud lock be removed?
Yes, you can remove the iCloud lock on your iPhone. However, the complexity of the process depends on a few things. First, if it’s your iPhone and you remember the Apple ID password, all you have to do is enter your credentials, and the phone will be unlocked.
However, if you’ve forgotten your password, you can contact Apple. The support team can help you unlock the iPhone with proof of purchase. But if you’ve fallen for a secondhand phone scam or lost the invoice and receipt, you have to resort to third-party tools. Note that not all third-party tools are reliable, so you can’t just choose one out of the blue.
Unlock iCloud Locked iPhone without Apple ID and Password
As mentioned earlier, not all third-party tools are reliable. If the phone is legitimately yours, you can try out the AnyUnlock tool from iMobie. We’ve tested the tool and can verify that it works as advertised. Among the key highlights are:
- Bypass iPhone locked to owner, remove iCloud activation lock without previous owner, without Apple ID and password.
- Easy and straightforward to use, unlock iCloud locked iPhone within 3 steps. A high success rate is guaranteed.
- Support iOS 12 to iOS 16.5.
- It can also bypass screen lock, MDM lock, Apple ID, etc., on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch.
Important Note: You should use the tool only to work with a phone that you own. We are not recommending the tool for bypassing a stolen device.
With that said, here are the steps that you should follow to unlock a locked iCloud iPhone with this tool:
- Download the AnyUnlock tool on your computer and install it
Gizchina News of the week
- Open the tool and press “Bypass iCloud Activation lock”
- Connect your iCloud locked iPhone to the computer
- Press the Start Now button and follow the on-screen instructions
- Confirm the device information that pops up on screen and press “Bypass Now”
- Wait for the “bypassed successfully” message
If you need visual guidance or more information about the process, check the video attached below:
Unlock iCloud Locked iPhone with Previous Owner’s Apple ID
If you haven’t forgotten the Apple ID information or know the previous owner’s Apple ID info, things will become easy for you. Simply enter the account information on the locked iPhone, and you should be able to access it again.
Remove iCloud Activation Lock Screen Using Find My
You can also use Find My to unlock the iCloud locked iPhone. Here’s how:
- Head over to www.iCloud.com/find
- Sign into your account with the right password and email address or phone number
- Select the device that you want to remove iCloud from
- Click Remove from Account
iPhone Activation Lock Removal Using DNS
If nothing appears to be working for you, your last resort is to use DNS bypass. Again, you should only use it to remove the lock from an iPhone that you own. With that said, these are the steps to remove iPhone activation lock with DNS:
1. Turn the device on and select your preferred language and region from the options
2. When you get to the WiFi network page, tap on the “i” option next to your WiFi network
3. On the details page, tap on the option that says “Configure DNS,” and use one of the following DNS according to your region:
- USA: 104.154.51.7
- Europe: 104.155.28.90
- Asia: 104.155.220.58
- South America: 35.199.88.219
- Australia and Oceania: 35.189.47.23
4. Don’t proceed to the next page; instead, go back
5. Configure the options available on the screen
Frequently Asked Questions
Does factory reset remove iCloud lock?
No, a factory reset doesn’t remove the iCloud lock of your iPhone. To remove it, you should log into iCloud with your Apple ID and remove the device from the list.
Can jailbreak bypass iCloud lock?
Jailbreaking an iPhone doesn’t bypass the iCloud lock. You may even fail to jailbreak an iCloud locked iPhone.
Final Words
All in all, unlocking iCloud locked iPhone is easy when if you remember your Apple ID and password. But if you don’t, the best option is to use iMobie AnyUnlock. As mentioned earlier, the tool has other functions too. So, you can use it for other iPhone troubleshooting. However, remember that we are not encouraging you to use it to bypass an iPhone you don’t own or is stolen. It’s illegal and goes against Apple’s policy.
