accidently removed device from icloud

Question

accidently removed device from icloud

So I recently got my iphone stolen from me and i was going to use Find My IPhone on www.icloud.com to find the location of it. This was the first time something like this happened to me so i didnt really know what to do. i accidentally clicked on the button that removes my iphone from my icloud. I felt panicked at the moment so i wasnt able to read what i was clicking on. The next thing i know, i had delete my iphone from icloud. Now what i want to know is HOW i can get it back to my icloud so I can maybe find it. Thanks

iPhone 5s

Posted on Jan 16, 2016 7:30 PM

Reply

Answer 1

zinacef

Level 10

88,828 points

Jan 16, 2016 9:46 PM in response to linfromoregon

If you accidentally removed your device from Find My iPhone, then it's going to be little more difficult to locate/retrieve it -- iCloud: Remove your device from Find My iPhone; however, you can go to the bottom of this article -- If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is lost or stolen - Apple Support where it says "If Find My iPhone isn't enabled on your device" to see if that might help in your situation. Good luck.

Reply

Answer 2

Jan 16, 2016 9:46 PM in response to linfromoregon

If you were able to remove the device, it was because it was offline, so you would not be able to track it at that point anyway. However, once the device is turned back on and it reconnects to Wifi or Cellular, it will show up under your device list on Find My iPhone again.

The fact that you removed it does not turn off Find My iPhone on the device itself, so it is still protected by the Activation Lock.

Sorry about your phone 😟

GB

Reply

Answer 3

Jan 16, 2016 9:53 PM in response to gail from maine

Many thanks. Things like this just don't happen in my town. 😟 Even the police were surprised. So is there any way the thief can access the data on my phone without connecting to 3g 4g wifi? At least I was smart enough to have a passcode on it. Is there a limit on the number of wrong tries the thief has with that? Can the thief wipe the phone and sell it? Would the wiped phone show up on my account when it connects? I think I'll go back to tin cans and string...

Reply

Answer 4

zinacef

Level 10

88,828 points

Jan 16, 2016 9:56 PM in response to linfromoregon

The would be ne'er do well cannot access your iPhone as there's an Activation Lock on it -- Find My iPhone Activation Lock - Apple Support. Basically the iPhone device is now a dud.

Reply

Answer 5

Jan 16, 2016 10:06 PM in response to linfromoregon

Well, they can sell it to an unsuspecting person (we have so many posts here where someone has purchased a device from eBay or Craig's List that still has an Activation Lock on it), and when that person tries to erase the device it will not allow them to set it up or use it until they put in your Apple ID and password. So, you're good there. And with the Lock Screen passcode, they cannot get into the device unless they figure out the passcode, so unless they do, they won't be able to access your data.

There is a setting that will erase the phone after 10 Lock Screen passcode attempts, but doesn't sound like you had that turned on?

But again, if the device is powered on, then it is likely going to connect to Wifi or Cellular, and then you will be able to access the device on Find My iPhone again. You will be able to Track it. You also will be able to put it into Lost Mode, or erase it remotely. If you erase it, you won't be able to track it, but your Activation Lock will still be in place.

Best of luck,

GB

Reply

Answer 6

Jan 17, 2016 9:16 AM in response to gail from maine

Thank you both very much.

Reply

Answer 7

Jan 17, 2016 1:28 PM in response to linfromoregon

Most welcome.

Best of luck,

GB

Reply