Barneylfc
Level 1
(4 points)
Q: How do I lock an iPad I don't have access to?
I can't go into specific details as to the reasoning for this question, but essentially, I want to know is there a way to render an iPad unusable that isn't reversed by simply entering the screenlock passcode?
The iPad is registered in my name, and my email address is the Apple ID. I do not have possession of the iPad, but the person that does is refusing to return it to me. I'm wary about reporting it stolen to the police, as it was bought as a gift, and technically isn't stolen. The person I bought it for rarely uses it, and it is primarily used by someone else. The person that mainly uses it is refusing to let the person it was bought for return it to me. (There is a link between the 3 of us by the way, so as I said, it isn't actually stolen, but just being withheld by someone that doesn't own it)
I have access to the icloud account as it's set up in my name. But on there, it seems if I do the lost my ipad function, it is unlockable by entering the screenlock passcode, meaning this option isn't really suitable. I want to render the iPad useless to the other person, but not completely wipe or lock it so it's not of any use to me when I do get it back.
Thanks.
iPad 2
Michael Black
Level 7
(25,323 points)
As long as no else knows your AppleID password so cannot access your iCloud account, what you could do is remote erase it. DO NOT remove it from your list of iCloud tracked devices. once the remote erase occurs, the only way to use it will be to active it, which cannot be done without knowing your AppleID password to get past activation lock. The device will be useless to anyone without your password.
Of course, all the content on it will also be gone, and unrecoverable if there is not an iCloud or iTunes backup available.
P.S. Nothing you do remotely, other than remotely wiping it, will stop someone with the screen lock passcode from getting in. The iCloud web interface lets you set a passcode if there was not one but does not let you change one if one is already in place. As long as whomever has it knows the passcode, there is nothing you can do remotely to stop them from using it, other than erasing it but leaving activation lock in place.
For example, the simple way to disable a "lost mode" lock is to just swipe to unlock and enter the screen lock passcode.
