Have you ever lost your iPhone in the past? This is the last thing that you would like to experience in the near future. To start with, iphone devices are known to be prestigious as they come with fancy features other phones do not have. From allowing you to take high quality photos to allowing you to browse faster and use different apps seamlessly, there are many advantages of having these devices. However, once you lose it, you will be inconvenienced a great deal. Despite this, you can actually report your IMEI and block it immediately. This way, your device will not be able to operate in the country in which it was registered. This article will outline some of the ways you can block the lost or stolen iPhone with IMEI number, so that you can take appropriate action.
Block Your Stolen iPhone With IMEI Number
By block your stolen iPhone with IMEI number, no one will be able to hold your personal data. This option works well for those iPhone users who have stored valuable personal data in their devices and would like that information to remain confidential all the time. However, for you to block your iPhone with IMEI number you need to first of all, find it. IMEI number basically refers to the International Mobile Equipment Identity number.
To get this number, you should type *#06# in your mobile device and a 15 digit number will appear on the screen. Better still, you can go to the Setting and General section and then look for the IMEI. Sometimes, this number is also written in the case of the device that came with your iPhone.
Since IMEI number is very unique, you should write it down somewhere and then keep it safe, such that no one can access it without your consent. Once you have this number, report the case to the local police office. By contacting the local law enforcement agency, you will be able to increase the chances of retrieving your lost device. Ideally, you should do this as soon as possible. Remember that the longer the waiting time, the slimmer the chances of getting your phone back.
Reporting the case to the police is not enough. You should also contact your carrier and then tell them the IMEI code of your phone. Thereafter, they will be able to block the device. In this case, the device normally gets blacklisted immediately. Even if the thief tries to replace the SIM card, the device will not be of much help to him or her. The device will no longer use its network of origin anymore.
In actual sense, it will be useless right from that moment. Taking this initiative is only crucial when you know that there is no way you will be able to get your device back. The good news is that your personal data will be safe. Even if the thief tries to unlock it, the whole endeavor will not be successful on his side. Neither can it be used on any other network, which means no one will be able to activate the iPhone. As a result, the thief will not sell your device to anyone out there.
Block Stolen iPhone Using Find My iPhone
Besides using the IMEI number, you can also block your stolen iPhone using Find My iPhone in order to find, block or even erase your device remotely. However, this is only possible if you had the Find My Device feature enabled in your previous device.
By enabling this feature on your device, you will be able to thwart unwanted phone usage in terms of data and voice calls. This way, the cell phone service provider will be able to deactivate your device. Since the thief might easily disable ‘Find My iPhone’ feature on your lost device, you should locate your device fast to avoid future problems.
Remember that for you to use this feature to block your iPhone, you should have enabled it in your device, while still it was in your possession. This is because you cannot enable it once the device has been lost. To do this, you should go to the ‘Setting’ application on your device and then choose ‘iCloud’ from the menu. Thereafter toggle the icon next to ‘Find My iPhone’ to the ‘On’ position by just tapping it once. Here are the other steps that you should follow:
- To start with, go to the icloud.com/find on your computer and then log in using your Apple id and password. If you do not have a computer, you can consider using another iPhone to do the same. Click on the ‘Find My iPhone’ icon so as to initiate a search for your device.
- Open the app and then choose the device. By doing this, the feature will pinpoint the location of your device on the map.
- Having established the location of your device, you can now block or lock it completely from your current location. Here, you can consider using the Lost Mode feature in order to lock your device remotely by using a pass code. This way, you will be able to save all your data.
- Better still, you can erase all the data present in your device by taping on the Erase iPhone option. If you choose to do this, you should ensure that you have backed up all your data before it got lost.
It is important that you contact your service provider from another phone in case you are unable to get a computer. Also, you should do this in case your iPhone does not appear on the ‘Find My iPhone’ map. This is because an iPhone that has been switched off or one with a removed SIM card, it might be very difficult for you locate your device using the ‘Find My iPhone’ application. Here, your service provider will deactivate your SIM card and thereby stop anyone from using your cellular account without your consent.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
1. is it possible disable a stolen iPhone?
Yes, but it depends on the duration within which you choose to do it. This is because a thief can use your device and rack up phone and data charges to your account if you do not report it in good time. Also, it is important to note that if your iPhone has a SIM card, the thief can easily disable the ‘Find My iPhone’ by removing the card. Therefore, the sooner you locate your iPhone, the better.
2. Can someone use my iPhone if it is stolen?
Not really. Remember that your iPhone is still tied to your Apple ID. Therefore, it cannot be used with another account. This is the reason why you should report the case to the authorities as soon as possible so that your phone can be blocked as soon as possible.
3. Can someone unlock my stolen phone?
To start with, you will note that modern devices are normally encrypted by default. However, this encryption normally works well if you are using a secure PIN or password to protect your devices. In case you are not using any PIN or you were using an easy PIN such as 1234,a thief can readily access your device do anything he or she pleases with it.
4. Can a thief change IMEI number?
Also known as the International Mobile Equipment identity number, this number is a unique ID that cannot be changed as it is punishable by law. Therefore, this number will remain and can be used to track and locate your device if you do it in good time.
5. What can someone do with my Phone’s IMEI number?
First, you should ensure that you keep the IMEI number secret all the time. However, this number is normally used by operators in order to track your device in case of emergency situations. They also use it to find out details about your phone’s brand, capabilities, and models and so on.
6. Will the police retrieve a stolen iPhone?
Yes. In case you cannot recover the phone right away, it is imperative that you file a report with the police in the place where the phone was stolen. By reporting you can get the data about your device as you will be asked about its IMEI and they will proceed from there. This way, you might be able to recover the phone in the long run.
7. Are stolen iPhone’s useless?
Yes. Thieves cannot use the current iPhones now as they are always secured. Unless you had not secured your iPhone with a strong password, chances of using the stolen phone are very small. In fact, the stolen phone might get blocked by the real owner and thereby make it completely useless. You cannot even sell it to another person out there.
Final Thoughts
The thought of losing your precious iPhone is unimaginable. Knowing that some of the iPhone models cost an arm and a leg, losing it can actually be very frustrating. From not being able to communicate with those whom you love to not being able to browse the internet like you used to do, there is a whole spectrum of problems that you are likely to encounter once you lose your iPhone. However, if this happens, do not hesitate to block the iPhone device with either IMEI or Find My Device feature. You should carry out these operations as soon as possible. This way, your personal data will remain safe and you will render the lost phone useless. Consider these ideas today and you will not regret it.
