Hello my gf left her phone at a bar and it was turned off within a 30 min period so I don't think the person intends on returning it. The phone has not come back online yet, but I want to blacklist it so it would be difficult for them to sell. I also want to keep the service on it for a while in case someone turns it back on I can locate it. Can I blacklist the phone without disabling the data service on it?
Thank you,
That's a question only AT&T can answer. Only carriers can blacklist imei numbers.
However, as blacklisting by definition implies cell service cannot be attached to a device with the specified imei number, I would assume it's nort possible, but only AT&T can tell you exactly.
Are you kidding me? only ATT knows ? are you new to community forums? I find forums more resourceful than customer service reps. I am sure there are other people that have thought of this and been in this situation before. My gf was on the phone with them for 30 mins and the only insight they could give her was to go to www.apple.com/suport to learn how to use icloud. They didn't even know how to use it.
The USA universal blacklist service means that any blacklisted device will never connect to any USA carrier network ever again. Once entered, a device cannot connect at all to any network in the USA, plus most carriers in Canada and Mexico. Once blacklisted, a device cannot be un-blacklisted (the database was explicitly designed that way - once blacklisted, always blacklisted).
Blacklisting, by definition, disables service on the device as it cuts it off from all cellular networks that share the blacklist. In the USA that is all carriers.
Activation Lock, which is what they were sending you here about, is an Apple Service. If you had Find My iPhone turned on and a passcode on the phone then whoever got the phone will not be able to use it.
The reason you were directed to AT&T for blacklisting information was because that is within their purview not Apple's. They also have a user forum. If you blacklist the phone it will immediately stop service.
Call AT&T. Tell them your phone was stolen. They will blacklist it. They will also stop charging your for use until you replace the phone. Or report it to the police. They will contact the carrier to have it blacklisted. Note that if you ever find it you will not be able to use it, as blacklisting is forever. Note also that blacklisting is not worldwide; the phone could be shipped to China or most other countries and used. The only thing that would prevent it from being used worldwide is if it has Find my iPhone enabled.
Jonathan1683 wrote:
Are you kidding me? only ATT knows ?
No, he's not kidding. As wireless providers are the only people who can blacklist phones, you need to contact them about such services.
Blacklisting IMEI numbers is something only carriers can do. Apple does not blacklist phones in any way shape or form.
If AT&T sent you here for something it was not to blacklist an IMEI. It may have been to work out Activation Lock, which is a security feature provided by Apple but is entirely unrelated to your cell service. So perhaps before getting all bent out of shape you can clarify what they sent you here for, or what you were discussing at the time you were referred to Apple.
Find My iPhone Activation Lock - Apple Support
Phil/Temp I asked a question and I got the answers I was looking for here. I don't know what you need clarification on I never asked for you or apple to blacklist my phone and I never asked a question about activation lock. I understand how it works I asked if it was possible because I don't want to be stuck on the phone for hours with a CSR that does not know what they can do and I was successful finding help from people HERE that know more about it than I do. Thank you Lawrence and Michael no point in me trying then. Thanks for your help everyone.
can I blacklist my imei without deativating service ATT
