This in-depth guide shows all the ways you can bypass the Activation Lock (also known as the iCloud Lock) on the iPhone 6.
The methods in this guide will work without the previous owners’ help, or without knowing the Apple ID password for the device.
The instructions in this article are only  for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, released in 2015, both of which include the iCloud Activation Lock feature.
Advertisement
Key takeaways
Activation Lock was designed by Apple as part of the phone’s security system. The lock was originally managed using the Find My iPhone app, but this was replaced by Find My in 2019.
There are a few ways that you can bypass the iCloud Activation Lock on an iPhone 6, such as:
- Reset the Apple ID password
If you know the Apple ID email account, and have access to the mailbox, you can recover the password and turn off the lock. - Ask the previous owner
Get the previous owner to remotely switch off Find My on your iPhone 6 and remove the iCloud lock for free. - Use DNS server
A DNS bypass can allow you to skip past the iPhone Locked to Owner message and use your phone without removing the lock. - Use an unlocking service
if you don’t know the previous owner’s Apple ID password the recommended method is to use a reputable unlocking service. - Hack the lock with a tool
Another option when you are unaware of the last device owner’s credentials is to use a computer to download and hack the lock using a third-party unlocking tool.
These options are described in more detail in this rest of this guide.
Bypassing Activation Lock on a used iPhone 6
If you bought or were given a pre-owned iPhone 6, then you should talk to the previous owner and ask them to remove the iCloud Activation Lock.
This can be done in person, or remotely with their Apple account details.
If this slipped their mind before they sold their device to you, this request shouldn’t cause a problem. However, if they got their hands on the device using illegal means, they probably don’t know the Apple ID or password. This means they won’t be able to turn off Find My and bypass the iCloud lock.
Assuming your iPhone 6 isn’t stolen goods, the previous owner can unlock it for you by removing the Apple ID remotely as follows:
- Go to this website: appleid.apple.com.
- Sign in with the Apple ID and password.
- On the menu, click Devices.
- Over on the right, click the iPhone 6.
- Then, click Remove from account.
Turn off Find My to disable the lock
If the iCloud Activation Lock prevents you from setting up or using your own iPhone 6 the official fix is to unlock it using your Apple ID password. Or you can go to Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone and toggle Find My iPhone off.
Advertisement
If you can’t recall your Apple ID or password, you can go to iForgot to recover your account. Simply click the preceding link and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your password and access your account. Once you’ve gained access to your Apple account you can turn off Find My and the iCloud lock.
If you can’t remember your Apple ID, you can find it by doing the following:
- On another Apple product you own, go to iCloud or Media and purchases.
- If you own an Apple Mac, look at System preferences > Apple ID.
- On Apple TV, you will find your Apple ID under the Settings.
- On the iForgot website, click the link that says If you have forgotten your Apple ID, you can look it up. Enter your name and email address when prompted to see your Apple ID.
To find out more about account recovery, see how to reset your Apple ID or password.
Remove the Activation Lock yourself
If you can’t get in touch with the previous owner, or they are unable to unlock your iPhone 6 you can bypass the Activation Lock yourself using an activation lock bypass tool or service.
However, you need to use a reputable company and avoid scammers.
There are many companies online that claim to be able to help you bypass Activation Lock. Yet, my testing has shown the iCloud unlocking advice they provide is incorrect.
Types of scams to watch out for
- Software downloads and hacks that damage your iPhone or computer.
- Online tools that claim to ‘interface‘ with Apple servers but just ask you to fill in quizzes or click ads.
- Paid PDF downloads with instructions that don’t work.
For more information, see the iCloud Activation Lock iPhone unlocking guide.
Prices
When you look into iPhone 6 iCloud unlock prices you will notice they go from $10 USD to $50 USD. However, you need to be careful as most suppliers break their fees down into 2 parts:
- A deposit
- A final fee
The headline fee advertised on most websites is just for the deposit. Be prepared to pay a second fee to finalize the unlock process. Suppliers keep the deposit price low to give the impression that they are cheap. Instead, they are hiding the true cost to persuade you to use them.
When we reviewed iCloud bypass suppliers, we took this odd payment structure into account to make it easier to compare services. We also noticed that prices fluctuate by as much as $10 USD.
Pros and cons of paying to unlock an iPhone 6:
- You can use your device normally.
- All functions and features on your iPhone work normally.
- It is permanent – you only need to do it once.
- It’s easy – no skills are required.
- The market is packed with scammers.
- Services are not free.
- The two-part payment structure.
- It can take a few days to do.
Free iPhone 6 iCloud unlock via DNS
Bypassing the Activation Lock on an iPhone 6 for free can be achieved by entering the Apple ID and password on the device when prompted.
If you don’t know the Apple account credentials of the previous owner, then an alternative free option is to use a DNS bypass. To do a DNS bypass you do the following:
- On your iPhone, go through the setup process until you see Choose WiFi Network.
- Click the i beside your WiFi network.
- Tap Configure DNS > Manual > Add Server and type in the IP address that is nearest to you from this list:
- USA: 104.154.51.7
- South America: 35.199.88.219
- Europe: 104.155.28.90
- Asia: 104.155.220.58
- Australia and Oceania: 35.189.47.23
- other continents: 78.100.17.60
- Next, tap Back.
- Then, select your Wi-Fi network.
- Provide your Wi-Fi password, then click Join.
- Your iPhone will try to activate on a new screen. Don’t let it, hit the Back button to go back tothe WiFi page and you will be signed in to the DNS server.
- Once logged in you will see the iCloud bypass screen that says at the top iCloudDNSBypass.net.
For more information, see the free iPhone iCloud lock guide.
Use iCloud lock removal service
In a recent review, I tested a range of tools to find the best online iCloud bypass service that can remove the Activation Lock. I concluded the best service was provided by DirectUnlocks.
To find out more, see the DirectUnlock review.
At the time of writing, the unlock fee was £29.00 GBP, which is around $35 USD.
For more in depth step-by-step instructions on ordering the unlock service correctly, see our full usage guide. Alternatively, here is a brief guide:
- Go to the DirectUnlocks website where you can enter the IMEI.
- Select your iPhone model from the drop-down list.
- Then, click Unlock iCloud!
- Agree to the terms and conditions.
- Then, pick your payment method and pay for the iCloud account to be removed.
- A confirmation email will be sent to you. When unlocked, you will be emailed.
Hack iPhone 6 using a tool
There are many software tools that can be used to hack the Activation Lock. They vary in quality from good to poor. If you install the wrong tool you can permanently damage your iPhone 7 or infect your computer with a virus.
However, there are some tools available that work well, with our tests showing iBypasser as one of the best options.
In our tests, some of the things that made iBypasser the best included:
- Free trial.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Easy to install
- Excellent user interface.
- Brilliant support.
- Regular updates to the tool.
- Positive client feedback.
To find out more, see Activation Lock hacking tool.
How iPhone 6 security works
Activation Lock is a security feature used in many Apple products, including the iPhone. When you activate your iPhone it is added to your Apple account preventing any other Apple ID from activating or using the same device.
This means your iPhone cannot be wiped, reset, and reactivated without your permission.
Activation Lock is part of Find My, the security app for Apple devices.
Find My iPhone is a free service that helps you find your lost or stolen iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. It uses GPS and Wi-Fi to show the location of your device on a map. You can also remotely lock your device so someone can’t use it and erase all the data on it.
If you want to switch off the lock and know the Apple ID, then see How to switch off Activation Lock.
Wrap up
Even though it is an aging design, there is still demand to bypass iCloud Activation Lock on iPhone 6 phones. This demand has resulted in a whole host of scammers appearing. They are happy to take your money without even attempting to bypass the iCloud lock, so be careful. It’s best to use Apple’s official method to get rid of the iCloud Activation Lock on your phone. If the official method doesn’t work, try one of the suggested techniques in this guide. Otherwise, you may get ripped off.
