Remove an iCloud lock

Written by Boris

Are you going to sell an Apple device? Often the device is linked to your iCloud account which means it cannot be used by someone else so you will need to disable the iCloud lock. You can read here how this works.

What is an iCloud lock?

The iCloud lock is an activation lock designed by Apple. It is intended to keep your Apple device safe in the event of it being lost or stolen. When the iCloud lock is active on your device, it is possible to see where the device is located. This feature is called Find my iPhone or Find my iPad (FMI). It is not possible to fully factory reset the Apple device as long as the iCloud lock is active.

Removing the iCloud lock on your iPhone or iPad

To reset your iPhone or iPad to factory settings and remove the iCloud lock:

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad
2. Clik on ‘General’
3. Scroll to the bottom and clik on ‘Transfer or Reset’
4. Clik on ‘Erase All Content and Settings’
5. Clik on ‘Back up and Delete’ or ‘Delete now’
6. Enter your access code and log in with your iCloud account
7. The device will now be reset to factory settings and the iCloud lock has been successfully removed

Remove the iCloud lock on your Apple Watch

To reset your Apple Watch to factory settings and remove the iCloud lock you need the iPhone that the watch is connected to. You can read exactly what you need to do to get this done here:

1. Hold the Apple Watch and the iPhone close to each otherr
2. Open the Apple Watch-app on the iPhone
3. Clik on the tab ‘My Watch’
4. Clik on the name of your Watch
5. Clik on the i (info)
6. Clik on ‘Unpair Apple Watch’
7. Enter your Apple ID password
8. Clik op ‘confirm’
9. Your Apple Watch is returned to factory settings and the iCloud lock is removed

Remove an iCloud lock remotely

Have you already sent in the device or does it no longer turn on? It's still possible to remove the iCloud lock. The following steps explain how to do this:

1. Go to https://www.icloud.com/find
2. Log in with your Apple ID
3. Clik on ‘All devices‘ at the top of the screen
4. The device whose iCloud lock you want to disable must be turned off. The device displays the status ‘Offline’
5. Clik on the device that you want to unlock
6. Clik on ‘Remove from account’ (NB: do not clik on ‘Erase iPhone’)
7. The iCloud lock is removed!