My old iPhone was stolen about 8 months ago and it was reported to the police back when it happened. I didn't research well enough before I went through the steps of removing the iPhone from my device list. I understand now (albeit too late) that I shouldn't remove it from the device list. The removal is 'pending' but I want to stop the removal of it. How do I go about doing that?
iPhone 14 Plus
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If you’re in the US please call 1-800-MY-APPLE or outside the US, consult the support articles below.
Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support
Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
meddlin' civvie wrote:
I was in my iCloud account for the first time in eons and I saw the device list had some devices in it that I no longer have including the iPhone that was stolen 8 months ago. This is when I figured I would remove it along with the other dated devices in my list.
Sorry. You can't stop it. You initiated the removal. It's a done deal.
I did not make any attempt to remove the iPhone from the device list 8 months ago
And yet you told us that......My old iPhone was stolen about 8 months ago and it was reported to the police back when it happened. I didn't research well enough before I went through the steps of removing the iPhone from my device list.
Which of your statements above is correct?
It is now in the 'pending removal' to 15 Apr 2025 date. Since I took this action, I researched more and learned by Apple support/communities that it is a good idea to 'not' remove your 'stolen' device from the device list. This is where my question comes in: how can I stop or reverse my removal request from the device list?
There is no setting or option to cancel the request to remove a stolen device. You will have to wait until April 15 or later to see if the device was removed or not.
you need to login in to iCloud account and there you can modify the settings in devices section.
Thank you for your reply. The iPhone is 'pending' removal. I haven't found one spot where I can change 'removing' it from the device list. There may be other settings that can be tweaked but I've not found where I can cancel the request to have it removed from the device list.
Exactly what settings am I modifying in the device section of iCloud? When I am in there and looking at the settings, I do not find a setting that says "CANCEL THE PENDING REMOVAL OF THIS DEVICE"
It appears that my query isn't explained well enough and I'm not sure how I can make it any simpler other than:
'I mistakenly REMOVED my iPhone from the device list. The iPhone is now 'pending removal until 11 April 2025' which I'm sure is 30 days from when I first put in the 'remove request'. I want to CANCEL this PENDING REMOVAL request so that I can keep the iPhone in my device list. I can NOT add this phone back into the list (or at least I don't think it is possible) since it was STOLEN last year.
Sorry, I am confused.
In your first post, you say that the phone was stolen about 8 months ago....approx July 2024....and you went through the steps to remove if from the Apple ID List at that time.
OK, got that.
Yet, in your follow up post you say......"The iPhone is now 'pending removal until 11 April 2025' which I'm sure is 30 days from when I first put in the 'remove request''
So, the remove request must have been made on or about March 11, 2025. You would not have even been able to implement the remove from list instruction if it had already been previously entered 8 months ago.....unless the request was cancelled previously......in which case the iPhone was still on the list.....so there was no need to try to remove it again.
Can you clarify things for us?
Absolutely. I did not make any attempt to remove the iPhone from the device list 8 months ago. It never even crossed my mind. I reported it to the police and that was the extent of it.
Fast forward to about a week or so ago, perhaps 11 Mar... I was in my iCloud account for the first time in eons and I saw the device list had some devices in it that I no longer have including the iPhone that was stolen 8 months ago. This is when I figured I would remove it along with the other dated devices in my list.
It is now in the 'pending removal' to 15 Apr 2025 date. Since I took this action, I researched more and learned by Apple support/communities that it is a good idea to 'not' remove your 'stolen' device from the device list. This is where my question comes in: how can I stop or reverse my removal request from the device list?
Seriously, Bob, are you working overtime trying to trip me up on my details? I'm not going to spend energy and time on this reply.
Regardless of how you wish to criss cross my answers, the at the end of the day, I did the removal of the stolen iPhone on March 11 of this year, not when it was stolen. I didn't think to do it then. The only reason I did it this time was because it was the first time I had signed into my iCloud account in years and there were other dated devices that I could remove as well. Then I read some where that it is suggested to NOT remove the stolen device from your device list.
All I want to do is cancel my request to remove it from my device list. You replied "there is no setting or option to cancel the request to remove a stolen device. You will have to wait until April 15 or later to see if the device was removed or not." If this is your answer, you could have passed on all the earlier Columbo style interrogation comments and just said this. If this is the case and true, not very helpful. If it is NOT in my list, then what? I suspect the reason that one should keep stolen devices in their device list is if in the event they are activated or powered on, the device might be located.
Exactly what settings am I modifying in the device section of iCloud? When I am in there and looking at the settings, I do not find a setting that says "CANCEL THE PENDING REMOVAL OF THIS DEVICE"
Thank you, Kilted Tim. I fear that this is the case. I appreciate your comment.
how can I stop the removal of an iphone from my device list that is 'pending'?
