iPhone Lost Mode: What is it, how does it work, and can it be removed?
Greetings! Apple mobile devices have a great feature that has already helped (and continues to help) many users to find their forgotten (stolen) iPhones or iPads. Many have heard about it - it's "find an iPhone." But, there is also an important component of this option - the loss mode. Not many people have heard of him now. Why? The thing is that they usually start using it when the device has already been lost or stolen.
I sincerely hope that it was not a similar misfortune (loss or theft) that brought you to this page, but just idle curiosity. I will try to fully satisfy him and tell you about the lost mode in the iPhone as detailed as possible, let's go!
What is Lost Mode in iPhone?
As I said, this is one of the components of the "find my iPhone" function. As a result, one cannot be used without the other. This mode allows you to perform two manipulations with your device at a distance:
- If your iPhone or iPad didn't have a screen lock passcode, set one.
- Display any message on the screen.
The default entry that appears when Lost Mode is turned on is “This iPhone has been lost. Please, call me". Plus, the phone number you provide.
Naturally, you are free to change it and write anything you like, up to the most serious curses.
How does Lost Mode work?
After activating the lost mode (how to do it is written below), the device screen is locked with a password (which was set earlier or the one that you specified yourself when you turned on this mode) and an inscription with the text you wrote is displayed on the screen. Now no one will be able to use the device and access it without knowing the password.
If someone wants to remove it, for example by flashing or restoring the iPhone (even with DFU), then:
- He will succeed. The password that is set to lock the screen will disappear.
- However, later, at the first boot, a special window will appear in which it will be written that this device is in lost mode and you need to enter your Apple ID account information to unlock it.
It is noteworthy that such devices are almost impossible to unlock in any way, even through Apple technical support. Checks, boxes and other evidence that the gadget was bought by you and belongs to you will no longer help here. Employees of the company will repeat only one thing - remember your Apple ID and password.
The most important thing to remember. If the iPhone or iPad is in the Lost Mode state and the credentials are not known, then with such devices you can do the following:
- Sell for parts.
- Just put it on the shelf.
At the moment, getting them to work is practically (99%) impossible.
How to turn on Lost Mode on iPhone?
There are two main ways to activate Lost Mode:
- Using the iCloud service web page.
- Through a special application available for free download in the App Store - "Find My iPhone" ("Locator").
Since it is much easier to get access to the Internet than another apple device with a special application installed, we will consider turning on lost mode through the iCloud online service.
To do this, follow this link and in the window that opens, enter the Apple ID and password that was set on the missing device.
We find a special icon with the image of the radar and click on it.
A list of all devices that are registered with this Apple ID and password is shown. In the case when there are several of them, select the one that was lost and turn on the necessary option in the window that opens.
Further, if the password on the phone screen has not been set, you will be asked to set it. If it is already standing, then we immediately proceed to creating an abusive note (a polite request) to return the phone.
Please note that the activation of the mode is possible only if the device itself is turned on and connected to the Internet. If these two conditions are not met and the phone (tablet) is offline, then the request to enable Lost Mode will still be processed, but it will be paused until the iPhone or iPad is connected to the network.
However, sometimes you have to do such actions several times, because the loss mode miraculously turns off “on its own”. As a result of what is this happening?
Why does Lost Mode turn off on its own?
A similar question arises for some users who enter their lost iPhone into lost mode, but after a while it turns off and you need to repeat the procedure. Why is this happening? I will try to explain in detail and with an example:
- You don't have a screen lock passcode, but Find My iPhone is turned on.
- After the loss, the person who found it puts the password on the screen (four-digit).
- You put the device into lost mode.
- By default, it is entered with the password that is already set on the device.
- The one who found it sees your message, but easily unlocks the iPhone or iPad, because he knows the password (after all, he set it!).
- All repeats.
What to do in this case? The only way out is to completely delete all information from the device. You can do this all in the same Find My iPhone menu on the iCloud web page.
After that, the one who stole or found the phone will not be able to use it in any way.
How to turn off Lost Mode on iPhone?
This can only be done directly from the device. To do this, you need to enter the password from the lock screen or, in the case when all data is completely erased, the username and password of the Apple ID account. You can't turn off Lost Mode remotely. In any case, it is not available to mere mortals.
I am aware of several cases where Apple technical support performed a similar operation. But, as I already noted in the article about the forgotten iCloud and password, at the moment this is practically not feasible. To turn off the loss through those. support needs to know a huge amount of information about the device:
- Place, date and other data about the purchase.
- Checks, account knowledge, etc.
- Security questions, backup mail.
- And much more.
Plus, you need some luck and an adequate specialist on the other end of the wire.
How do I know if Lost Mode is enabled on iPhone or not?
Of course, we are talking about remote verification (by IMEI), which will be relevant when buying a used iPhone or iPad. After all, having a gadget on hand, you can just look at it, and knowing the Apple ID and password, go to iCloud and find out this information there. But what if only the serial number is known?
Unfortunately, there are no completely free services that allow you to find out if the device is in lost mode or not. Yes, you can indirectly guess this by checking the status of the Find iPhone function. But this is also not an indicator, because the inclusion of one does not imply the automatic activation of the other.
In principle, there are a lot of paid sites that are ready to provide you with such information for a certain amount of money. But here there is a danger of running into scammers or simply getting incorrect data.
Therefore, if you really want to know if the lost mode is active on a particular iPhone or iPad, knowing only the serial number and not having access to it, it makes sense to order a check on several services and verify the information received from them. But only Apple can give a 100% guarantee, and, fortunately, it does not disclose such data.
How iPhone Lost Mode Works: Overview, Instructions
Mobile phones in today's world are versatile devices that offer a variety of possibilities. Today, smartphones can handle a huge number of operations. iPhone phones are gaining special attention. They stand out for their originality and variety of options. Apple phones have a so-called lost mode. This is a very useful feature that everyone can use. We have to find out how the "lost mode" of the iPhone works. What do owners of these phones need to know about it?
Definition
To begin with, you have to find out what it is all about. What is "lost mode"? For what purpose is it used?
The option being studied is one of the ways to secure a lost or stolen iPhone. In "apple" gadgets there is an option "Find iPhone". It allows you to determine the location of a device. “Lost mode” is one of the components of the operation, which not everyone knows about.
This option allows:
- Set a password on the lock screen if the combination has not been initialized before. A telephone is not required.
- Display any message on the device display. If the “lost mode” is enabled, then by default an inscription will appear on the phone indicating the loss of the device with a request to call the owner back.
Accordingly, the studied mode is a great helper when searching for a lost phone. The message displayed on the display can be changed by the subscriber at his discretion. But how does iPhone "lost mode" work?
Principle of operation
Everything is very simple. As soon as the option is activated (how to do this will be discussed later), the iPhone screen will be locked. It will be possible to unlock it only with the help of the password specified when the mode was turned on. In addition, a message with the specified text will appear on the display. No outsider will be able to use the phone.
Need to turn off Lost Mode? How to unlock the device in this case? You need to use iPhone recovery or gadget flashing. However, it will not be possible to completely get rid of the activated option. When you first turn on the "apple" phone, a message will appear on the screen stating that the operating system is in "lost mode". To remove it, you must be authorized using your AppleID profile.
It is interesting that unlocking the device with the "lost mode" turned on will not work. In this case, Apple support does not help. The iPhone 6, like any other Apple phone, will require an AppleID. The service centers will not help either - the employees will report that data from the profile is needed to unlock. Neither receipts nor documents on the phone allow you to return access to the device.
Now it’s clear how the lost iPhone mode works. If you failed to remember the data from Apple ID, you can:
- throw away the mobile phone;
- sell the device for parts.
To date, Lost Mode cannot be removed without a password and an AppleID login. This must be remembered by everyone.
Enable option
How do you turn on lost mode? iPhone allows you to bring the idea to life in several ways. Namely:
- using iCloud;
- using the Find My iPhone app from the AppStore.
Let's stop at the first option. It is used most often in practice. This is due to the fact that with such activation there is no need to use the lost device.
So, to enable "lost mode", you will need:
- Turn on your computer or any other device with Internet access. On a PC, the operation is faster.
- Connect to the Internet. In a browser, go to icloud.com.
- Sign in with Apple ID.
- Click on the radar icon. It's signed "Find iPhone".
- Select the desired device from the list that appears.
- In the right part of the window, click on the "Lost Mode" button.
- Enter a screen lock password. If it was installed earlier, you can immediately proceed to writing the message displayed on the display.
That's all. Now Lost Mode will be activated on the mobile phone. It is important to note that it will only take effect if the iPhone is turned on and connected to the internet. Otherwise, "lost mode" is activated immediately after entering the World Wide Web.
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Reasons for self-shutdown
This is what Apple offers. The iPhone 6 (and any other "apple" device) will be completely protected from use if it is lost. However, sometimes all the proposed actions need to be done several times. "Lost Mode" under certain circumstances turns off on its own.
Why is it so? Most often this happens if the person who found the phone sets a four-digit lock code on the display before turning on Lost Mode. In this case, you just need to format the device.
How to do it? You need to click on the "Erase" button in the "Find iPhone" mode. Next, data from the Apple ID is entered, and the operation is confirmed. There are no more options for the development of events. This is the only way a person can protect their personal information.
Disabling an option
It is clear how the "lost mode" works. iPhone allows you to turn it off. To do this, you must use the lost gadget directly. In addition, a person will need a screen lock code or data from their Apple ID profile.
Through technical support, it is possible to disable Lost Mode in exceptional cases. To do this, you need to have different information about the gadget. For example:
- data on the purchase of the device (date, place);
- checks and receipts;
- information written in the account;
- answers to control questions;
- backup mail.
As already mentioned, such an alignment is practically impossible to implement. If the unlock code is known, it is entered on the device, after which the Lost Mode is reset. Or the subscriber enters data from Apple ID (when formatting the device). Nothing difficult or special!
Is the mode enabled?
It is clear how the “lost mode” of the iPhone works. Is there any way to find out if this option is enabled? For example, if we are talking about buying a device from hand.
In this case, you can make sure only by personally inspecting the phone. If the subscriber knows only the serial number of the device, it will not work to make sure that the “lost mode” is disabled. Anyway, it's free.
Today, owners of "apple" devices are offered the use of paid verification services. Most of the time they are scammers. Therefore, there is no way to check the presence of Lost Mode on the iPhone without directly examining it.
How to turn on Lost Mode on iPhone or iPad
It's no secret that Apple mobile devices are quite popular with thieves. Apple has put in place a number of protective measures to make life as difficult as possible for attackers and to return the device to its rightful owner as soon as possible. First up is the Find My iPhone feature. But today we will not talk about her, but about the Lost Mode, which should be activated in case of loss or theft of an apple device.
Lost Mode is available on all mobile devices running iOS 5.0 or later with Find My iPhone enabled. This mode is one of the emergency modes of the device and is necessary to block and further search for iPhone or iPad. If the lost mode is activated, then it is impossible to unlock the device without a special code, as well as manipulate it through iTunes.
This mode is activated from another Apple mobile device or from a computer via iCloud. In this mode, the device is not flashed via iTunes using the usual methods. It is possible to call a locked smartphone, but you can only make calls from it to one trusted number, and incorrect attempts to enter a password will lead to a temporary blocking of a smartphone or tablet.
Activate Lost Mode via iCloud
1. On a computer with Internet access, go to the iCloud website.
2. Log in with your Apple ID account.
3. Launch the web version of Find My iPhone.
4. Select a missing or stolen iPhone from the All Devices list.
5. Click the Lost Mode button.
6. If you have not set a lock password on your device, please do so now.
7. Enter a trusted phone number. This number can be called from a blocked device.
8. Type the text message to be sent to the missing iPhone. You can offer a reward to the finder.
As a result of these actions, the smartphone or tablet will be put into emergency mode. His lock screen will display the message you typed and the trusted number. It will be impossible to unlock the device without knowing the password.
Turn on Lost Mode from another Apple mobile device
1. On a mobile device running iOS 5.0 or later, launch the Find My iPhone app.
2. Log in using your Apple ID.
3. Select the missing machine.
4. Tap on the Actions button.
5. Select Lost Mode and activate it.
6. Set a password, enter your phone number, and type your messages just like you would with iCloud.
7. Click Finish.
Turn off Lost Mode
If your device was found and returned, now it becomes necessary to disable this emergency mode. You can do this through iCloud or another iOS mobile device. You can also disable Lost Mode on a locked device.
In the latter case, to remove the mode, you will need to enter the correct lock password. It is possible to pick a password manually, but continuous guessing will take too much time, given the temporary blocking of input when the password is entered incorrectly. Therefore, selection at random is inappropriate. And the owner can remove the mode by entering the correct lock password.
Turn off Lost Mode in iCloud
1. On your computer, go to iCloud.com.
2. Log in with your Apple ID and launch the Find My iPhone app.
3. Select the locked machine from the device list.
4. Click the Lost Mode button.
5. Select Exit Lost Mode.
6. Confirm your decision.
The emergency mode will be disabled, but there is a small nuance. To unlock the smartphone, you will need to enter the set password. Also, this password will be automatically assigned as the iPhone lock code. You can change it in the system settings.
The procedure for disabling Lost Mode through another Apple mobile device is exactly the same as described above. Be extremely vigilant, a lock password is vital to keeping your iPhone safe. Therefore, this password must not be forgotten. If the password is lost, the device will need to be flashed with its preliminary entry into DFU or Recovery Mode. After flashing, to return the iPhone to normal, you will need to enter the Apple ID and password from which Lost Mode was turned on.
iPhone Lock: Lost Mode in Find My iPhone, How to turn on and off Lost Mode on iPhone via iCloud or other iOS device
Unfortunately, premium smartphones like the iPhone are increasingly becoming the target of intruders who are trying by all available means to take over someone else's iPhone. And the problem of blocking and further search for a lost or stolen iPhone by all available means is becoming more and more urgent. One of the easiest and most reliable ways to lock your iPhone is Lost Mode, which you can turn on through iCloud.
While turning on and off Lost Mode on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac (if you're the rightful owner of the device) is easy enough, users often have questions like, "How do I turn on Lost Mode on iPhone?", "How do I turn off Lost Mode on iPhone?" , "How to unlock an iPhone with Lost Mode enabled?".
Today I would like to tell you absolutely everything I know about Lost Mode in the Find My iPhone app.
Lost Mode Features
- Lost Mode is only available for devices running iOS 5.0 or later and Mac OS X.
- turns on from any computer (Mac or PC), tablet or smartphone (iOS, Android, Windows Phone);
- activated in the Find My iPhone web application in iCloud or from any iDevice from the Find My iPhone application integrated into iOS;
- if Find My iPhone is not enabled in the iPhone or iPad settings (Settings -> iCloud -> Find My iPhone), it will be impossible to turn on Lost Mode on the device;
- on an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook, activates when the device is connected to the Internet;
- in lost mode, the device is locked with a password set in: Settings -> General -> Touch ID and password (for iPhone 5s) and Password protection (for iOS devices without Touch ID);
- if a password is not set on the device, when you turn on the lock mode, you will be prompted to enter a password;
- 7 attempts to enter the wrong password block the device for 1 minute (it remains possible to make emergency calls);
- You can make a call on iPhone in Lost Mode;
- in Lost Mode You can call from iPhone, but only to the number you specified when you turned on Lost Mode in iCloud;
- in lost mode, iPhone or iPad cannot be reflashed (restored or updated) via iTunes using standard methods;
- to restore an iPhone in lost mode, you must first transfer it to DFU mode or Recovery Mode;
- After flashing an iPhone with Lost Mode enabled (from DFU Mode or Recovery Mode), Activation Lock is enabled on the device;
- Activation lock on an iPhone with "clean" iOS cannot be bypassed;
- In order to disable Activation Lock, you must enter the Apple ID and password from the account from which Lost Device Mode was enabled in iCloud.
As you can see, the "Lost Mode" function is certainly useful and allows you to reliably protect the device not only from unauthorized use (password lock), but also during flashing (activation of the lock).
How to turn on iPhone Lost Mode
Let's say you lost your iPhone and want to activate Lost Mode on it. You can do this in 2 ways:
- in iCloud from any computer, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection;
- from any other iOS device, it can be iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.
Requirements to activate Lost Mode iPhone
- iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad with iOS 5.0 and above.
Lost Mode is enabled in the Find My iPhone web or iOS app and is therefore only available for devices running iOS 5.0 and later. For older versions of the iPhone firmware (add link), the function is not available. - a Mac with OS X 10.7.5 or later onboard.
Turn on Lost Mode on iPhone in iCloud
- From any computer, tablet, or smartphone, in a web browser, go to: http://www.icloud.com/#find (you can go to icloud.com and go to the Find My iPhone app) and log in with the Apple ID that was listed in the device settings under " Settings -> iCloud -> Account ".
Enter a text message asking you to return the device. Be polite, offer rewards, don't threaten. Click " Done ".
- the phone will be locked with a password;
- your message will be displayed on the lock screen;
- the specified phone number will be displayed on the lock screen, which you can call directly from a locked iPhone;
How to turn on Lost Mode from another iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad
Lost Mode can be enabled not only through iCloud, you can do it from any other device with iOS 5.0 and higher, the only requirement is that the gadget must be connected to the Internet.
- On an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad running iOS 5.0, launch the Find My iPhone app (integrated with iOS) and sign in with your Apple ID and password.
How to turn off Lost Mode
Turning off the Lost Mode of an iOS or Mac device is much easier than turning it on, you can do this in 3 ways:
- from a locked device (on which lost mode is enabled);
- from iCloud in a web browser;
- from Find My iPhone in iOS.
How to Turn off Lost Mode on a Locked iPhone
The easiest and fastest way to turn off the mode directly from a locked device. All you have to do is enter the correct lock password. As soon as you enter the correct password, the device will be unlocked and Lost Mode will be deactivated.
An attacker can try to guess the lock password for your iPhone, but this will require 10,000 attempts, you see - not a little. Moreover, if you enter the wrong password 7 times in a row, the phone is blocked for 1 minute.
Estimate, if we assume that it takes 2 seconds to enter 4 characters, 10,000 attempts will take 20,000 seconds or 333.3333 minutes, or 5.5555 hours. Taking into account the fact that every 7 attempts, and this is 14 seconds, you will have to wait 1 minute (60 seconds), it may take 105714.2857 seconds or 1761.9047 minutes, or 29.3650 hours to guess the password. Already something, but the goal is not worth it. You can be calm, no one will pick up the password for the iPhone.
How to turn off Lost Mode in Find My iPhone with iCloud
Almost all actions are identical to the process of enabling this mode.
- Go to icloud.com in the Find My iPhone web app or go to: http://www.icloud.com/#find and sign in with your Apple ID.
- In the " My Devices " menu, select the device on which Lost Mode is enabled (it will have a padlock on its icon) and click on " Lost Mode ".
You can turn off Lost Mode from the Find My iPhone app on any other iOS gadget. The procedure is the same as in iCloud, I see no reason to repeat it. If you have any difficulties, write in the comments.
It turns out that remotely (from Find iPhone in iCloud or another iOS device) it is impossible to change the lock password, i.e. if you specified a lock password in the device settings (when you activate the lost mode, there will be no request to change this password) and accidentally forgot it, you can turn off the emergency mode, but you can’t get beyond the lock screen.
In this situation, iPhone recovery from Recovery Mode or DFU mode comes to the rescue. You can enter the iPhone into any of these modes from any state, iTunes will recognize the device in recovery mode and offer to restore (reflash) it. After restoring, set up iPhone as new. This is if you are the rightful owner, you have an Apple ID account with which you turned on Lost Mode.
For jailbreakers, this procedure is dangerous because as a result of recovery (not to the current iOS), with a 99% probability, an iTunes error will occur, because. it is impossible to restore the device to a firmware that is no longer signed (not up-to-date) by the Apple server. And this means that you will not have to restore, but update iOS with the loss of a guaranteed jailbreak.
How to reset iPhone lock password remotely: from iCloud or another iPhone
It is impossible to reset or change the iPhone lock password set in Settings -> General -> Password protection (Touch ID and password) via iCloud or from another iOS device via Find My iPhone.
Video on working with iCloud and its capabilities
Well that's it, I've tried to tell you everything I know about Lost Mode on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Mac computers. As you can see, the mode allows you to reliably and without any problems protect your iOS and Mac devices from theft or loss, however, there are nuances that must be taken into account, one of which is to remember or write down the lock password.
If you have any difficulties, questions or errors, ask in the comments, I will try to promptly help and advise you.