iPhone 12 iCloud Activation Lock bypass guide

The verified solutions in this guide will explain how to bypass the iCloud lock on iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max smartphones.

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 12 range of smartphones, which have the iCloud Activation Lock feature.

Bypassing Activation Lock on a pre-owned iPhone 12

If you bought or inherited a second-hand iPhone 12, then you need to talk to the previous owner and ask them to remove the iCloud Activation Lock.

This can be done in person, or remotely.

If they have forgotten to do this before selling the iPhone 12 to you this request shouldn’t cause a problem. It would only be an issue if they have sold you stolen goods, and don’t know the Apple account details to unlock it.

Assuming the phone is not stolen, you don’t need to worry about returning the locked device for them to unlock. The Activation Lock can be removed remotely without them having the iPhone 12 in their possession.

To do so, they simply do the following:

1. Go to the following website address: appleid.apple.com.
2. When prompted, Sign in.

   

3. Once logged in, click Devices.

   

4. Then click on the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max.
5. Finally, click the Remove from account button.

   

On your own device

If the iCloud Activation Lock prevents you from using your iPhone 12, the official Apple solution is to unlock it using your Apple ID and password to turn off Find My.

If you can’t remember your Apple account details, you can use iForgot to reset them. Follow the on-screen instructions and you will be able to reset your account immediately.

In addition, if you forgot your Apple ID, you can find it by trying the following:

• On another Apple product you own, go to iCloud or Media and purchases and you will see your Apple ID.
• If you own an Apple Mac look at System preferences. > Apple ID.
• On Apple TV, go to Settings > Apple ID
• On the iForgot Apple ID recovery page, click If you have forgotten your Apple ID, you can look it up. Provide your name and email address and your Apple ID will be displayed.

To find out more, 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 the iPhone 12 you can bypass the Activation Lock yourself using an activation lock bypass tool or service.

However, you need to be careful and use a reputable company to avoid being scammed.

You see, there are many companies online that claim to be able to help you bypass Activation Lock. Yet, my testing has shown that most iCloud unlocking hacks don’t work.

Scams to be wary of:

• Downloadable software tools.
• Hackers and hacks.
• Online tools that claim to ‘interface‘ with Apple.
• PDF downloads with unlocking instructions.

To find out more details, see unlocking iOS device iCloud lock.

Prices

If you look online you will see iPhone 12 iCloud unlock prices go from $20 USD to $50 USD.

However, you need to be careful as many suppliers only show the deposit.  A second fee, which is often far higher, is required before the unlock is completed. Keeping the deposit low makes the service look cheaper.

When you add the final fee to the price, the cost is actually far higher than you expect.

When we reviewed the best iCloud Lock bypassers, we took this into account so that the overall fee was provided for you to compare. We also noticed that prices fluctuate by as much as $20 USD, so the prices we paid for the service may not be the current fee charged.

Pros and cons

Free iPhone 12 iCloud unlock

Bypassing the Activation Lock on iPhone 12 for free is possible if you know the Apple ID and password to allow you to turn of Find My.

If you don’t know the Apple credentials of the previous owner, then the best free method is to use a DNS bypass:

1. Power up your iPhone 12.
2. Go through the iPhone setup process until you see the Choose WiFi Network screen.
3. Click the small i next to your WiFi network.
4. Tap Configure DNS.
5. Then, tap Manual.
6. Next, tap Add Server and type in the IP address that is nearest to you from the list below:
   • 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
7. At the top of the screen, tap Back.
8. Tap your Wi-Fi network.
9. Enter your Wi-Fi password and click Join.
10. The iPhone 12 will try to activate and go to a new screen. Don’t let it, hit the Back button repeatedly to return to the WiFi page.
11. You will be logged in to the DNS server and you will see the iCloud bypass screen showing iCloudDNSBypass.net.

There are also a number of tools, services, and websites that claim to be able to remove Activation Lock for free. To find out about them, see Tools that unlock iCloud Activation lock for free.

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:

1. On the DirectUnlocks website, provide your iPhone 12’s IMEI number.
2. After your iPhone’s details have been checked and verified, you can click Unlock iCloud!
3. To proceed, provide an email address and agree to the terms and conditions.
4. Select your preferred payment method, then pay the fee.
5. After 24-hours or so you will get an email confirming the unlock has been completed

Hack iPhone 12 using a tool

There are also many tools that claim to hack the Activation Lock. They vary in quality from good to unbelievably dangerous.

If you pick a bad tool you can break your iPhone 12 completely and infect your computer with viruses.

In our tests, we found iBypasser the best tool to hack the lock on iPhone 12. It works by connecting your iPhone 12 to your computer and running an unlock process.

Some of the things that made iBypasser the best tool included:

• Free trial.
• 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Easy to install and use.
• Excellent support.
• Regularly updates.
• Many positive customer reviews.

Turn off Find My to disable the lock

The Apple ID is the core element of the security system protecting your iPhone from unauthorized use. When it is linked to your iCloud account using your Apple ID it is almost impossible to remove.

Now Activation Lock is used in many Apple products, including the iPhone 12.

When you activate your device when you set it up it is automatically added to your Apple account preventing any other Apple ID from activating or using the same product. This means your iPhone cannot be wiped, reset, and reactivated without your permission.

Your permission is granted by providing your Apple credentials on the device itself. Activation Lock is part of Find My, the security app for all 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.

Wrap up

There is a great deal of demand to get past the iCloud lock on Apple products. As a result, many scammers have appeared ready claiming to have the answer. For the most part, they don’t. If you want to do things properly, only use the official methods to get rid of iCloud Activation Lock.

This means turning off Find My on the iPhone 12, or via your Apple account on the web.

If you can’t use the official Apple technique, then be careful and use one of the recommended suppliers in this guide.