Can Apple brick a stolen device?

Asked by: Mr. Jamie Gorczany  |  Last update: November 3, 2022
Score: 4.7/5 (11 votes)

This is because in case you didn't know, Apple has a system in place in which its stolen devices can be remotely bricked. This means that in the event someone has stolen a phone from a store or from an individual, there is the option to brick them and render them useless.

Can Apple brick a stolen phone?

If a law enforcement officer contacts Apple, as long as they have the serial number of the device, Apple can and will upon law enforcement request permanently brick the device and render it permanently useless through software.

Does Apple lock stolen products?

iOS and iPadOS has a feature called activation lock, which is designed to protect your devices in case of loss or theft.

What happens if your Apple product gets stolen?

Is your iPhone lost or stolen? If it's covered by AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, you can file a claim for an iPhone replacement. Use the Find My app or go to iCloud.com to mark your iPhone as lost. Do not remove your device from your account until your claim has been fully approved.

Will the police do anything about a stolen iPhone?

Police simply don't consider a find my iPhone hit just cause to go to someone's home, and no court will issue a warrant based on just that anyway, so they'd not be able to go in or do anything.

7 Things To Do if Your iPhone is Stolen or Lost

27 related questions found

Can a stolen iPhone be used?

What that means is even when a thief or a third-party has your ‌iPhone‌, it's still tied to your ‌Apple ID‌ and can't be used with any other account. Your ‌iPhone‌ can even be wiped completely and it will still be locked down, making it almost useless to anyone but you.

What can thieves do with a stolen iPhone?

They will try to wipe out the data including photos, videos, documents, audios, etc. from stolen iPhones for resale. Thieves know several techniques to erase everything from the stolen phone. Plus, thieves are also capable of tricking the buyer that stolen iPhone is clean and unlocked.

Can Apple track a stolen brand new iPhone?

No. If you have not set up the find my iphone feature on the iphone itself using your account, then it cannot be tracked at all.

What do thieves do with stolen phones?

Some thieves will use the information they find on phones (such as photos, texts or emails), then use it to hold the original owner to ransom. The best thing to do is to remotely wipe your phone as soon as you find out it's stolen – this can be achieved with apps such as Find My Device (free – Android and iOS).

Will police recover stolen phone?

Yes, the police can track a stolen phone using either your phone number or the phone's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity). Whether or not the police prioritize looking for your stolen phone is another matter.

How do I disable my stolen iPhone?

Point the Web browser to iCloud.com and log in using your Apple ID and password. Click on the "Find My iPhone" icon to initiate a search for your phone. Once your phone appears on the map, click on the "i" icon next to it. Click "Remote Lock" to stop anyone from using your phone.

Should I remove my stolen iPhone from icloud?

Answer: A: If you had a secure passcode on it, your data is safe. If you enable Lost Mode, your data is safe. If you remove it from your account, it could be reactivated but without your data Your data is not at risk.

Can a blacklisted phone be used?

If you choose to keep a device with a blacklisted number, you will most likely not be able to use cellular services. In other words, you will not be able to use your device as a phone. However, you will still have the ability to play music, movies, or games.

How does Apple track stolen phones?

As noted, Apple has been using proximity software since 2016 that disables any demo devices from working outside of the Apple store, except for responding to the “Find my iPhone” geolocation service that can track a lost or stolen device. So the company has the ability to disable and track any stolen device.

Can Apple track an iPhone that is stolen before I got a chance to activate it myself?

No, there is nothing you can do. If you activated Find My Phone before it was lost or stolen, you can track it only if Wi-Fi is enabled on the device. What you cannot do is track your device using a serial number or other identifying number. You cannot expect Apple or anyone else to find your device for you.

Can an unopened iPhone be blacklisted?

No, because your carrier wants to see a receipt from an authorized Apple reseller so they can challenge the blacklist.

Can you factory reset a stolen iPhone?

It can't be factory reset without information the user won't have. Anyone can use iTunes or finder to erase a device. There is no way to stop anyone from doing that.

What happens if IMEI is blocked?

Blocking the IMEI number will prevent the person who has the device from using the network. This will make sure that it is not used for any illegal activity. Blocking an IMEI number prevents one from using the network or a SIM card. This means that phone calls and SMS are not possible.

What happens if you use a blacklisted iPhone?

Blacklisted iPhones cannot access other phone carriers and therefore will not be activated until a phone carrier removes it from the list. Since blacklist reports are internationally monitored and traced, iPhones that are blacklisted cannot avoid foreign systems of trade.

Can a lost iPhone be unlocked?

YES. You can unlock it if you found a lost iPhone. The thing that put you in trouble is the iPhone's screen passcode as these days iPhone users set a screen passcode to protect the data stored in their device.

How do I block my stolen phone using IMEI?

How can I block my lost mobile phone?
  1. Go to android.com/find and sign in to your Google Account.
  2. The lost phone will get a notification.
  3. On the Google map, you will get the location of your phone.
  4. Choose what you want to do. If needed, first click Enable lock & erase.

How often are stolen phones recovered?

Only 10% of U.S. smartphone owners have their devices stolen, but once the gadgets are taken, 68% of victims are unable to get them back, a report Wednesday said.

Can a stolen phone be unlocked?

A thief won't be able to unlock your phone without your passcode. Even if you normally sign in with Touch ID or Face ID, your phone is also secured with a passcode.

Can police track a stolen phone with IMEI number?

Because the IMEI number is registered to your specific handset the Police will be able to track the device itself, even if the SIM card has been changed.