Erase iPhone through iCloud.

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Level 1

8 points

Erase iPhone through iCloud.

So recently my iPhone has been stolen from me at gun point. I have been thinking of wiping the iPhone clean from iCloud as I know I have no hope of even getting the iPhone back. The iPhone is on "Pending Lost Mode". My question to the community is the following... If I erase the iPhone through the iCloud function I know everything on the phone will be wiped the minute it takes a sip of wifi or data. I just want to know if once the iPhone is wiped clean and stripped off all the information that's on it, would the thieves be able to use the iPhone like normal and go through the activation phase without any issues or would the iPhone during the activation phase ask them to log in using the old icloud credentials in order to finish activating the phone?

iPhone XS Max, iOS 12

Posted on May 31, 2019 4:55 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Michael Black

Level 10

80,671 points

May 31, 2019 5:11 PM in response to keklul

An erase in iTunes or remotely does not alter activation lock. As long as you leave that device listed under your tracked devices in your iCloud account, activation lock remains in effect.

Erasing it will break the remote tracking link so you’ll no longer have any remote location information. But activation lock remains as long as you leave that device linked to your AppleID and iCloud account.

Find My iPhone Activation Lock - Apple Support

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Answer 2

May 31, 2019 5:52 PM in response to keklul

Yes, as long as that device remains listed under your device’s in your account (www.icloud.com). When anyone tries to activate that erased device, as long as it’s still linked to your AppleID and iCloud account, they would need your password to compete activation.

You should also report the theft to your carrier. In the USA all carriers participate in a universal blacklist, which is also honored by most or all Canadian and Mexican carriers nowadays.

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Answer 3

keklul Author

Level 1

8 points

May 31, 2019 5:19 PM in response to Michael Black

Just to make sure I understood your response, I can erase the phone and still have the activation lock on correct but I just won't be able to track the phone and anymore. They would still need my icloud credentials in order to get past the activation phase correct?

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Erase iPhone through iCloud.

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