What Activation Lock is
Activation Lock switches on automatically when Find My is enabled on an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. It links the device to the owner's Apple Account. After an erase, the device will not activate until that account's password is entered.
That is excellent protection for owners and a trap for buyers: a locked iPhone bought second-hand cannot be used, and Apple will only unlock it for the person who can prove they bought it new.
On or off: what to do
- Off: the phone is not linked to any Apple Account and can be set up as new. Re-check right before paying, because the seller can turn it back on in seconds.
- On: do not pay yet. Ask the seller to sign out of iCloud in front of you (Settings › [name] › Sign Out) or remove the device at icloud.com. Then run the check again.
- On and the seller refuses or cannot sign out: walk away. This is the classic profile of a lost or stolen phone.
Android has a similar lock
On Android it is called Factory Reset Protection (FRP). After a reset, the phone asks for the Google account that was last signed in. Samsung adds its own reactivation lock. There is no reliable public lookup for FRP by IMEI, so on Android ask the seller to remove their Google account in Settings › Accounts before handing the phone over.
Frequently asked questions
Does checking Find My status notify the owner?
No. The check reads the lock status only; it does not locate the device or contact its owner.
Both IMEIs of my dual-SIM iPhone give the same result. Is that right?
Yes. Activation Lock belongs to the device, not to a SIM, so both IMEIs report the same status.
Can Activation Lock be bypassed?
Not legitimately. Services that promise to remove it without the owner's account are scams or work only temporarily. Only the owner, or Apple with original proof of purchase, can remove it.
Last updated 12 October 2026