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Can You Factory Reset An iCloud Locked iPhone?

It is possible to factory reset an iCloud locked iPhone. The factory reset will wipe and remove all the data and settings on the Apple device.

It is worth noting that the factory reset will not remove the iCloud Activation Lock.

After restoring factory settings on your iPhone you will need to run the iOS setup wizard to configure your device. The setup wizard will contact Apple’s activation server to see if the device has an iCloud activation lock.

If an iCloud account is connected to the iPhone then you will be prompted for the Apple ID and password. You will not be able to proceed with the setup process without entering the iCloud account credentials.

To find out more, see Can iCloud Activation Lock be removed?.

Factory reset iPhone

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What if you forget your Apple ID?

apple id password recovery

If you are the owner of the iPhone and have forgotten your iCloud account details, you can reset your Apple ID password. This will allow you to rest your iOS device and remove the iCloud lock.

Apple has provided several ways to reset your Apple ID password:

  • By answering your security questions
  • Requesting a password reset email
  • Account recovery process
  • Via the iForgot website
  • Using two-factor authentication
  • Using two-step verification
  • Via the Apple Support App

What if you don’t know the Apple ID?

If you bought a second-hand iPhone or other Apple device and it still has the iCloud lock enabled, you can ask the seller to remove it for you. This can be done on the device itself, or remotely via the iCloud website.

Failing that, you can ask Apple for help. Show valid proof of purchase to Apple Technical Support and see if they can help.

You can use a dedicated software tool or service to remove the iCloud lock and unlock iPhone if you have any of the following issues:

  • cannot contact the previous owner
  • Apple won’t help you
  • You don’t know the Apple ID and can’t reset it

Will a factory reset remove the iCloud lock?

The reason most owners want to factory reset their iCloud locked device is to remove the Activation Lock. The hope is that a reset will unlock the iCloud lock and allow the device to be setup and used normally.

Unfortunately, a factory reset will not remove the iCloud lock. So if you are hoping to remove the Activation Lock by resetting your iPhone – it will not work.

To find out more, see Does factory reset remove Activation Lock?.

Removing iCloud Activation Lock

remove unlock iCloud activation lock

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The best way to unlock iCloud is not to factory reset iPhone. Instead, to get rid of the iCloud lock on your iOS device, you should:

  • Ask the seller to remove it
  • Ask Apple Support for help
  • Use an unlocking service
  • Use an unlocking tool
  • Bypass iCloud Activation Lock via DNS

For further information, see How to bypass Activation Lock.

You also have the option of replacing the iPhone motherboard to remove the iCloud lock completely. But it is a risky, complicated and costly process. As a result, it is not recommended.

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Can you remove Activation Lock without the previous owner?

remove iCloud without the previous owner

If you bought a second-hand iPhone or other Apple device and it still has the iCloud lock enabled, you can ask the seller to remove it for you. This can be done on the device itself, or remotely via the iCloud website.

Failing that, you can ask Apple for help. Show valid proof of purchase to Apple Technical Support and see if they can help.

If you cannot contact the previous owner and Apple cannot help you, then a good solution would be to use a dedicated software tool or service to remove the iCloud lock and unlock iPhone.

To find out more, see How to remove Find My iPhone Activation Lock without the previous owner.

Unlock iCloud Locked iPhone

When you set up a brand new iPhone the owner is asked to enable Find My iPhone. When you do so, unique data will be written to your Apple account, and your phone will be marked as iCloud locked.

An iPhone can only be linked to one iCloud account, which means that in order to sell it to someone else the account must be deleted from the phone.

If you do not enter the user name and password of the Apple ID originally set up on the phone, it is very hard to remove the lock, activate it in another account, or disable Find My iPhone.

If you do know the iCloud account credentials your iPhone will be successfully unlocked and you will be able to use your phone normally.

However, please keep in mind that the reason Apple introduced iCloud Activation Lock is that if your Apple iPhone is lost or stolen, others cannot use it.

What is a factory reset?

A factory reset erases all the iPhone’s settings, restoring it to its original state from when it was brand new.

The process deletes all the data on the device such as downloaded apps, photos, videos, and files.

A factory reset is typically done to rectify major errors and issues affecting the device.

Can you jailbreak an iCloud Locked iPhone?

You can jailbreak an iCloud locked iPhone but it won’t remove the Activation Lock. You will simply end up with a jailbroken but still iCloud-locked device.

So if the purpose of the jailbreak is to remove the iPhone iCloud lock don’t bother. It simply won’t work.

To find out more, see Can you jailbreak an iCloud locked iPhone?.

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