How to bypass Activation Lock on iPhone 16

This easy-to-follow guide will explain how to bypass Activation Lock, also known as iCloud lock, on iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max models.

The topics covered include bypassing:

• A pre-owned phone.
• Your own phone.
• For free.
• Online.
• With tools or hacks.

This short guide only takes a few minutes to read, yet provides the best methods to get your devive unlocked – even if you don’t know the Apple ID.

iPhone 16 iCloud lock bypass methods

An iCloud bypass is used to unlock an iPhone from its linked Apple ID.

There are many ways that you can bypass the Activation Lock on your iPhone 16 such as using a well reviewed online service, such DirectUnlocks or to try third-party software.

These methods allow you to bypass the iCloud Lock screen, erase your phone, reset the passcode, and set it up from scratch.

1. On a pre-owned device

If you bought or were given a locked iPhone 16, then you need to talk to the previous owner and ask them to remove the iCloud Activation Lock so you can use it properly.

It can be unlocked in person, or remotely.

If they have forgotten to unlock the device before selling it 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 to them for unlocking. The iCloud Activation Lock can be switched off remotely without them having the device to hand.

To switch off Activation Lock on a used iPhone they:

1. Go to: appleid.apple.com and Sign in.
   

   

2. On the menu, select Devices.
   

   

3. Next, select the iPhone you want to bypass.
4. To complete the bypass, click Remove from account.
   

   

2. On your own device

If the iCloud Activation Lock prevents you from using your own phone, the official Apple fix is to unlock it using your Apple ID and password. This turns off Find My.

If you can’t remember your Apple ID or password, you can use iForgot to reset it.  You will be able to reset your account by following the on-screen instructions.

If you can’t remember your Apple ID, you can find it by trying the following:

• On a different handheld Apple device you own, go to iCloud or Media and purchases and you will see your Apple ID.
• On Apple Mac look at System preferences. > Apple ID.
• On Apple TV, go to Settings > Apple ID
• On the 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 recover an Apple ID.

3. Bypassing the lock yourself

If you can’t get in touch with the previous owner, or they are unable to unlock the device you can bypass the Activation Lock yourself using an activation lock bypass tool or service. But you need to be careful and use a reputable company to avoid being scammed.

There are many websites that claim to be able to help you bypass Activation Lock. Yet, my testing has shown that most online iCloud unlocking solutions are scams. They simply 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, see remove Activation Lock from iPhone.

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4. Free iCloud unlock

Bypassing the Activation Lock 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 16.
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 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.

To find out more, see 12 tools that unlock iCloud for free.

5. Remove online

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 step-by-step instructions:

1. On the DirectUnlocks website, provide your phone’s IMEI number.
   
2. In the device model drop-down select your model, then click Unlock iCloud!
3. To proceed, 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

6. Hacking iPhone using software tool

There are also many tools that claim to bypass the Activation Lock. They vary in quality from good to awful, to downright dangerous. If you pick the wrong tool you can damage your iPhone or infect your computer with viruses.

In our tests, we found iBypasser the best tool. It works by connecting your iOS device to your computer and using an app to complete the unlock process.

Some of the reasons iBypasser is the best tool are:

• Free trial.
• 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Easy to install and use.
• Fantastic and responsive support.
• Regular updates to the tool.
• Positive feedback from buyers.

Find out more, get a free trial, and read the review of iBypasser.

Cost to unlock iPhone 16

We found iCloud unlock prices range from $10 USD to $50 USD. You need to be cautious as most suppliers only show the deposit, not the full fee.  A second payment, which is often far higher, is normally required before the unlock is completed.

Keeping the initial deposit low makes the service appear cheaper than it really is. When you add the final fee to the price, the cost is actually far higher. We recommend asking for the total price before you begin, so you know the actual cost.

We also noticed that prices can vary by as much as $20 USD from the same supplier. Ask for a discount via the contact us area as you can save yourself quite a lot of money. 

Pros and cons of paying for an unlock:

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 your iPhone 16, 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. You can see reviews of these suppliers here.