Can Apple block my iPhone?

You might think that Apple has the power to blacklist an iPhone, but it's actually only the wireless carriers that are responsible for blacklisting a device. Apple cannot change the status of a blacklisted iPhone, in fact they have a hands off policy for any devices that may have been stolen.

Can Apple block your device?

What does Apple have to do with your phone being stolen? They are the manufacturer. They have nothing to do with the situation at all. They provided a mechanism by which you could lock the device and make sure it's unusable to a thief.

Can Apple block an IMEI?

Question: Q: can apple block my stolen iphone by using it's IMEI number? Answer: A: Answer: A: No, but your wireless carrier may be able to stop it from being used on their network.

What happens when Apple blacklists a phone?

When you do a IMEI block your device is added to a blacklist rendering your phone useless to other carriers. If you block the device via Find my iPhone, your device is functionally restricted. Doing both when successful can completely render your device useless.

Does Apple blacklist stolen phones?

Apple does not blacklist phones, the carriers do that. If a phone purchased from a carrier and reported stolen in transit, the carrier can blacklist it. Apple does not have the power to do so.

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Can Apple disable a stolen iPhone?

As noted, Apple has been using proximity software since 2016 that disables any demo devices from working outside of the Apple store, except for responding to the “Find my iPhone” geolocation service that can track a lost or stolen device. So the company has the ability to disable and track any stolen device.

Can a blacklisted iPhone be tracked?

Once it's reported stolen by you, the IMEI number is blacklisted across the country. If an IMEI device on the black list is used to make a call, the police will get to know about it immediately. There is a chance that they will track the phone if it comes up for resale or reset.

What happens if IMEI is blocked?

Blacklisting works by blocking your phone's unique identifier (IMEI number). When a phone is blacklisted because it has been lost or stolen, it cannot make or receive calls or use data.

How do iPhones get blacklisted?

An iPhone reported as lost or stolen results in the device being put on the blacklist through this unique IMEI number. Blacklisting can also occur if the user of a device is no longer able to pay for their contract or it was acquired through fraud.

Can my stolen iPhone be unlocked?

Normally, someone cannot unlock your iPhone without a passcode. However, they can factory reset your iPhone and unlock it using the above method or some iPhone unlocking tools. If you turned on Find my iPhone earlier, the Activation Lock can protect your iPhone furtherly.

Can police track iPhone IMEI number?

How do police track IMEI numbers? Every phone has a specific 15-digit number known as the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number. This number can be used by the police to locate your lost or misplaced cell phone.

Can a stolen iPhone be reused?

What that means is even when a thief or a third-party has your ‌iPhone‌, it's still tied to your ‌Apple ID‌ and can't be used with any other account. Your ‌iPhone‌ can even be wiped completely and it will still be locked down, making it almost useless to anyone but you.

How do phones get blacklisted?

If a phone is blacklisted, it means that the device was reported lost or stolen. The blacklist is a database of all the IMEI or ESN numbers that have been reported. If you have a device with a blacklisted number, your carrier may block services. In the worst-case scenario, the local authorities could seize your phone.

Can you sell a blocked iPhone?

You may be able to sell your carrier-locked iPhone as long as it is legally yours. If your iPhone is currently locked to a network, it is legal to sell it even if you still owe money on the phone contract. Most networks do not want the phone back if you can't pay your bill or decide to sell it.

How do you tell if your phone is blacklisted?

To check whether a device is blacklisted, you will need to find the IMEI number to access the database. There are several simple ways to do this: Dial *#06# on your phone and the IMEI number will appear automatically on-screen. If you can, check under your phone's battery.

Can a IMEI blocked phone be unblocked?

In many cases, though, your only option to unblock IMEI number is to go through a third-party service.

What happens when a phone company blocks your phone?

Carrier block lets phone carriers block outgoing calls from your phone. You won't be able to connect to the person on the other end of the line. There'll be no dial tone. No chance to leave a voicemail.

How long does it take for IMEI to be blocked?

Once lodged, a request to block or unblock an IMEI Number may take up to 24 hours to complete.

What happens if you put a SIM card in a blacklisted phone?

If a phone is listed on the blacklist, wireless carriers will not allow the phone to connect to the cellular network even if using a valid SIM card. Devices are listed by their unique IMEI Number. Many countries have a similar Blacklist, and these are shared on an international database administered by the GSMA.

Can a carrier block IMEI?

It's fairly common, and hard to catch. Carriers look out for the IMEI of the “lost, stolen, or broken” phone, and blacklist the address if it's found on their network. What's more, carriers might blacklist the original device right away, making it incompatible across all major service providers.

Why does Apple disable phones?

Sometimes, you'll receive a plain iPhone is Disabled message. Other times the message asks you to try again in 5 minutes or to connect to iTunes. The cause is almost always the same: An incorrect passcode has been entered too many times.

Does Apple track stolen serial numbers?

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However, Apple does not maintain a serial number database in order to report a stolen device. They will provide some information to local police if requested under subpoena.