A week ago my iPhone 13 was stolen. I activated Lost Mode but it is still yet pending since it still has to connect to Wifi. I also blocked my phone through IMEI so that the thieves can’t use it, or that’s what I think it does. I want to know if it’s recommended to Erase or Remove my device from all my devices? Would any of these make unlock my phone to the thieves??
iPhone 13, iOS 16
paulii20 wrote:
A week ago my iPhone 13 was stolen. I activated Lost Mode but it is still yet pending since it still has to connect to Wifi. I also blocked my phone through IMEI so that the thieves can’t use it, or that’s what I think it does.
If your carrier blacklisted the IMEI, that will prevent the thieves from getting cellular phone, text messaging, or data service from that carrier – or any other carrier who acts on the first carrier's blacklist.
It won't prevent the thieves from unlocking the phone with your regular passcode to try to take a look at any locally-stored personal or financial data. Hopefully they don't know the passcode – and that will lock them out. Then there is the pending Lost marking to lock them out if the phone connects to the Internet using Wi-Fi.
I want to know if it’s recommended to Erase or Remove my device from all my devices? Would any of these make unlock my phone to the thieves??
Do not remove the phone from the list of devices associated with your Apple ID. That will remove Activation Lock – allowing the thieves to reset your phone and "make it their own."
Mark it as Lost (as you did). Try to remotely Erase it (if you feel that you must). But leave it on your account so that if the thieves do not know your Apple ID and Apple ID password, it will be a brick.
Note 1: If there is any chance that your Apple ID password was compromised, change it now.
Note 2: Sometimes thieves will contact the person they stole a phone from, claiming to be from "Apple Support" or the like, and supposedly wanting to reunite the owner with the lost phone. This is a phishing attempt to get you to remove the Activation Lock, to give them the credentials needed to remove Activation Lock, and/or to get personal and financial information that they can use to scam you further.
paulii20 wrote:
And, how do I pair my watch with the new phone? Since it was stolen I obviously can’t unpair it, to connect it to the new phone.
Unpair and erase your Apple Watch - Apple Support
You can erase your Apple Watch – restoring it to its factory settings.
"If you don't have the paired iPhone, you can erase your Apple Watch, but Activation Lock will remain." That is, after you erase the iPhone, and try to set it up again, it will require you to input the password for your Apple ID.
Someone who stole an Apple and tried to reset the Apple Watch without the help of the paired iPhone would be locked out by Activation Lock. Since you're the owner of the Apple Watch and presumably know your Apple ID password, you should be OK.
It does seem inconvenient that you have to erase the watch to repair it.
Thank you! I’ve been getting tons of calls and messages but yeah I’m not answering or clicking anything.
what does Erasing my device exactly do in this case? Also, if I click in make a sound, will it sound for them even if the phone is not connected to any wifi or cellular data, or if it’s turned off?
Just to be sure, I will have to erase both my stolen iPhone and watch from my devices, and then log in again my Watch to my devices to pair it with my new iPhone? I’m sorry I’ve never done this before but, how exactly do I log in again with my watch to my devices after I erased it? It will ask me my iCloud ID right?
If you erase the watch by itself, my understanding from the article is that it won’t make an automatic backup to the phone, and it will be Activation Locked to your Apple ID following the reset. Presumably then, if you know your Apple ID password, you will get a chance to pair it with a new iPhone.
That’s very reassuring! I just have a doubt. There’s just one thing.. in Find My in Notifications where it says Notify When Found it deactivated by itself. I turn it on again but when I leave the app it turns off or when I’m in the app it turns off by itself right away after I turn it on. Does this mean anything?? It wasn’t like this until I received the updated location from my phone yesterday and I got a notification, even on my watch (that is still paired to my stolen phone) saying “Find My was seen” after that the Notify When Found started turning off by itself.
paulii20 wrote:
That’s very reassuring! I just have a doubt. There’s just one thing.. in Find My in Notifications where it says Notify When Found it deactivated by itself. I turn it on again but when I leave the app it turns off or when I’m in the app it turns off by itself right away after I turn it on. Does this mean anything?? It wasn’t like this until I received the updated location from my phone yesterday and I got a notification, even on my watch (that is still paired to my stolen phone) saying “Find My was seen” after that the Notify When Found started turning off by itself.
You'd have to ask someone else about that – maybe Apple.
This thread indicates that the option is only available when a device can't be located. Perhaps whenever there is any update, the option shuts itself off?!?!?
What happens if I erase it? Also, I had my Apple Watch paired with my stolen iPhone. How do I pair it with my new one?
hmm okay got it. One more thing, what happens if I erase my device?
And, how do I pair my watch with the new phone? Since it was stolen I obviously can’t unpair it, to connect it to the new phone.
Deleting data from stolen iPhone
