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.
The good news is that Apple has software that can make it easy to track down a lost iPhone, and if it has been stolen you can use that software to wipe the iPhone and lock it down so that your data is protected.
Is your iPhone lost or stolen? If it's covered by AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, you can sign in with your Apple ID and file a claim for an iPhone replacement. Use the Find My app or go to iCloud.com/find to mark your iPhone as lost. Do not remove your device from your account until your claim has been fully approved.
Lost Mode also locks your device so that thieves can't access your personal information. In addition, Apple technicians won't perform certain services unless you provide proof of purchase. The policies are designed to reduce the number of stolen iPhones brought to Apple for repair.
A stolen phone can be used, and sold, by thieves. “It is also almost impossible for a thief to unlock your stolen phone, as most modern iPhones require facial recognition or a passcode to access any personal data,” says Eric Florence, cybersecurity analyst at SecurityTech.
Answer: A: You cannot track the location of an iPhone through the IMEI or Serial number. It can only be done through the Find My app and only if Find My was activated on the iPhone before it was lost/stolen.
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.
The iPhone has a unique Device ID (including the IMEI, MEID, ICCID, EID, SEID, and serial number). Replacing the SIM does not change the Device ID. You will not be able to activate the phone on a carrier network or get past the Activation Lock.
Block your stolen iPhone with IMEI number.
However, when it comes to blocking the iPhone, you can report yout lost or stolen device to your carrier with the IMEI number, so they can disable the iPhone. This will completely block your device, and no one will keep your personal data.
If you find a lost iPhone, Activation Lock will prevent you from using it if it's protected by Apple's Find My service. It's essentially a paperweight for as long as you have it in your possession. So don't expect to use an iPhone you've found.
You can't block it with the serial number. If you have removed the phone from Find My Phone, you can't access it.
In the eventuality that your iPhone is lost or stolen, you can quickly track it either via iCloud.com or using the Find My iPhone app on another iOS device (yours or someone else's). In both cases, the process is essentially the same, though it may look a little different.
If you lose an Android phone or tablet, or Wear OS watch, you can find, lock, or erase it. If you've added a Google Account to your device, Find My Device is automatically turned on.
It is difficult to unlock a stolen iPhone because there are different types of locks for the security of the device. There can be the Apple ID lock, screen passcode lock, or MDM lock. All these security locks require a different method to bypass them. Normally, when you get any stolen device, it has a screen passcode.
Method 3: Use iCloud to Find Your Lost iPhone Even When It's Powered Off/ Factory Reset. You can also use iCloud's website to track your lost iPhone even if it has been powered off or doesn't have enough battery backup.
For up to 24 hours after you turn off your iPhone, these components have power and tracking is still active. This is by design, so you can find your iPhone if it's lost or stolen and gets powered off. However, some hackers with system-level access can use this to gain control of your iPhone even when it's powered off.
Erase iPhone
And if your iPhone does get stolen, your data is accessible. Not only can a thief access your private data, but they can even access your deleted data. This is true even if you have passcodes on your phone.
AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss covers You for repair or replacement of Your device in the event of Theft or Loss, Accidental Damage or Battery Depletion and access to Technical Support from Apple (as set out in clause 4.5). The Policy is sold by Apple and Apple Authorised Resellers.
If the Activation Lock remains in place, the thieves' only option is to strip the device for parts. There is no way for them to access the information on the phone, and there is no way for them to reverse engineer access to your iCloud account.
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. You cannot recover your loss unless you insure your device for such loss. It is not covered by your warranty.
Its operational use aside, the IMEI number can help network providers track down a device in case it gets stolen or is lost.
All replies
If it is lost or stolen - no, you can't. You cannot. There is no function or method to finding a device using the serial number for it.
Can Police Track Your Phone? The police won't track your phone without reason, but they can access your device's location history in an emergency or if they suspect criminal activity. Once they have a warrant, the police can access a phone's GPS data through a cell provider and view its current or last known location.
All replies. If you have the phone: If it shows the “Hello” screen it has been erased. If you don't have the phone, but you went to https://icloud.com/find and erased it then it either has been erased or will be the first time it is turned on with an Internet connection.