Activation Lock helps you keep your device secure, even if it falls into the wrong hands, and can improve your chances of recovering it. Even if you erase your device remotely, Activation Lock can continue to deter anyone else from reactivating your device without your permission. All you need to do is keep Find My turned on.
- With watchOS 2 and later, you can use Activation Lock to protect your Apple Watch.
- With macOS Catalina or later and Mac computers that have the Apple T2 Security Chip or Apple silicon, you can use Activation Lock to protect your Mac.
Here's how it works
Each time an iPhone or iPad is activated or recovered, the device will contact Apple to check whether Activation Lock is turned on.
Activation Lock will be turned on automatically when you set up Find My.* After it's been turned on, Apple will store your Apple ID securely on its activation servers and link it to your device. Your Apple ID password or device passcode will be required before anyone can turn off Find My, erase your device or reactivate and use your device.
* Find out how Activation Lock works for devices enrolled in Mobile Device Management
If your device is lost or stolen
If you ever misplace your device – whether it's lost or you think it may have been stolen – you should immediately use Mark As Lost in the Find My app.
Mark As Lost will lock your screen with a passcode and let you display a custom message with your phone number to help you get it back. You can also erase your device remotely if needed. Your custom message will continue to be displayed even after the device has been erased.
While Activation Lock works in the background to make it more difficult for someone else to use or sell your missing device, Lost Mode will clearly display to whoever finds your device that it still belongs to you and can't be reactivated without your password.
Find out what to do if your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen
If you've forgotten your Apple ID or password
- Your Apple ID is the account that you use to sign in to all Apple services. Usually, your Apple ID is your email address. You can also sign in with other email addresses and phone numbers on file in your Apple ID account. If you don’t remember your Apple ID, try to sign in with an email address or phone number that you use regularly with Apple Services.
- If that doesn’t work, we can help you find your Apple ID.
- If you forget your password, find out how to reset your Apple ID password.
If you can’t find your Apple ID (or another email address or phone number) or reset your password, you’ll lose access to your account and may be unable to use or reactivate your device. To help prevent this, visit your Apple ID account page periodically to review and update your account information.
Check for Activation Lock before you buy a device from someone else
Before you buy an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch from someone other than Apple or an Apple Authorised Reseller, make sure the device has been erased and is no longer linked to the previous owner's account.
On a device with iOS or iPadOS 15 or later that is protected by Activation Lock, you'll see an "iPhone Locked to Owner" screen when you turn on or wake the device. Don't take ownership of any used iPhone, iPad or iPod touch if it's protected by Activation Lock.
If you haven't seen that screen, follow these steps to check if the device is ready to use:
- Turn on and unlock the device.
- If the passcode Lock Screen or the Home Screen appears, the device hasn't been erased. Ask the seller to follow the steps below to erase the device completely. Don't take ownership of a used iPhone, iPad or iPod touch until it's been erased.
- Start the device setup process.
- If you're asked for the previous owner's Apple ID and password, the device is still linked to their account. Hand the device back to the seller and ask them to enter their password. If the previous owner isn't present, contact them as soon as possible and ask them to use a browser to remove the device from their account. Don't take ownership of a used iPhone, iPad or iPod touch until it's been removed from the previous owner's account.
When you see the Hello screen, this indicates the device is ready for you to use.