iCloud Activation Lock is not the end of the world

In January 2007 Californian tech giant Apple launched their first iPhone. In the 13 years which have followed the company’s flagship device has risen to an almost unimaginable level of popularity. The launch of the recent iPhone 12, with its return to a more linear aesthetic and 12mp camera, saw Apple fans as excited as ever, even in the midst of a global pandemic. As the popularity of iPhone has grown the technology crammed into each device has also exploded, dwarfing the original spec which itself was more powerful than the computer on board Apollo 11. Our growing dependency on smartphones as a function of our everyday lives has meant an increase in the amount of sensitive data stored on an iPhone. 

As the amount of sensitive data stored on our iPhones has increased, Apple has introduced measures to protect our devices in the event of a lost or stolen mobile. Back in 2014, Apple introduced the ‘Find my iPhone’ feature as an application preinstalled on every device, this came as part of the firms iOS7 software. The application formed part of a wider regulatory requirement which dictates Apple must give legitimate device owners the ability to initiate a kill switch should their phones be lost or stolen, meaning they could wipe their sensitive data, discourage theft, lock their device and drastically reduce its value. 

This is all well and good assuming that device owners don’t forget to remove their device from ‘Find my iPhone’ when selling it, disable their Activation Lock before trading in their iPhone or the current owner doesn’t accidentally disable their device with too many incorrect PIN entries. There are a whole host of legitimate reasons as to why an iPhone owner may want to remove iCloud Activation Lock from their device.

Since the amount of technology crammed into devices has slowly risen over the last decade, the second-hand smartphone market has boomed globally. Though people are keeping devices a little longer than had previously been the case, a lot of people are still trading in devices to raise money for future purchases. As more people buy second-hand iPhones the number of people buying devices locked to iCloud is increasing. When you purchase a device, all you have to rely on is the word of the seller, it’s easy to see how buyers end up feeling conned and stuck with devices that they think are useless. 

How to reliably remove iCloud Activation Lock

The vast majority of people still believe that if they purchase a device locked to an iCloud account or disable their own device that there is no way to remove the iCloud Activation Lock, but this is not the case anymore. You can reliably Unlock iCloud Activation Lock with iPhone IMEI. This service removes a previous iCloud account from the Apple device using an Applecare approved method and it’s super simple to get started.

The first thing you need to do is acquire your iPhone’s IMEI code, this is the unique identification code which connects your device to a global database which tracks the status and ownership of your device. You can find the IMEI either from the iPhone’s settings or by dialling *#06# which will return the information you need. Once located, enter the IMEI on iPhone IMEI’s website which will return your make and model thanks to a connection with manufacturers database. 

Once this step is complete your device is ready to be removed from the previous owner’s iCloud account and any iCloud Activation Lock can be professionally removed, leaving your device ready for action. Once this process is complete you will be able to add your own iCloud account to the device and use the phone as normal.

There are a ton of legitimate reasons why you may need to remove the iCloud Activation Lock from your device. Though there may well be a stigma around this process at phone shops and amongst the general public, it is well known that Apple’s well-intentioned measures often leave honest device owners out of pocket or worried about the usability of their iPhone. We’re glad these measures are in place but recognise the need to support those caught out by them.