Should you erase a stolen iPhone?
Do these first
- Mark it as lost at icloud.com/find. This locks it with its passcode and suspends Apple Pay. You don't need a verification code.
- Report it to the police and your network.
- Review your Apple Account for anything you didn't change.
Our full plan is in what to do if your iPhone is stolen.
What erasing does
- All your content on the iPhone is erased.
- Activation Lock stays on, so your Apple Account and password are needed to set it up again.
- You get a confirmation email.
- If it had iOS 15 or later, you can still locate it afterwards. On older versions, you can't.
- If it's offline, the erase starts the next time it connects, and you can cancel until then.
What erasing doesn't do
- It can't be undone.
- It doesn't take care of your accounts. You still need to deal with your Apple Account, your network and your banks.
- It won't work if Find My was off before the theft. In that case, you can't erase the iPhone from afar, so change your Apple Account password right away.
How to decide
Wait if it may still come back, or if you're still working with the police. Lost Mode, Apple's name for a device marked as lost, locks it as soon as it's online. Erasing can't be undone, so you don't have to decide straight away.
Our suggestion, not Apple's: decide sooner if a thief may know your passcode, especially if Stolen Device Protection was off or the phone may be somewhere familiar, like your home or work. Lost Mode can be turned off by entering the passcode, so it protects you less in that case. See if a thief knows your passcode.
Erase once you're sure you can't get it back. That's when Apple suggests it.
How to erase it
- Go to icloud.com/find and sign in. If you're asked for a code, choose Find Devices.
- Select your iPhone, then choose Erase This Device.
- Follow the steps on screen. If you're offered a phone number or message and the iPhone was stolen, leave them out. A thief could use them to trick you.
You can also do this in the Find My app on another Apple device. Choose Devices, select the iPhone, tap More, then choose Erase. The wording varies slightly by iOS version, and you'll need your Apple Account password.
After you've erased it
- Don't remove it from Find My. That removes Activation Lock, which makes it easier for a thief to sell.
- If you have AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, keep it in Find My and your Apple Account until your claim is fully approved. This cover isn't offered in every country or region.
- Don't trust a message saying it was found. Apple says it won't contact you about this. Here's how that scam works.
How FirstHour helps
FirstHour can't erase your iPhone. That's done through Find My. What it can do is help before anything happens. Protect points out pictures of cards, IDs and codes, so you can deal with them while you have your phone. Plan B gets your first-hour plan ready, so you're not working this out while you're upset. Protect can miss things, such as handwriting and blurry pictures.
Questions
Can I still find it after erasing?
If it had iOS 15 or later, yes. Apple says you can still locate it in Find My or at icloud.com/find. That also depends on the iPhone being able to report its location.
Can I stop an erase?
Only if the iPhone was offline and hasn't started erasing yet. At icloud.com/find, select it, choose Stop Erase Request, and enter your password. In the Find My app it's called Cancel Erase.
Will erasing let a thief use my iPhone?
Apple says Activation Lock stays on, and your Apple Account and password are required to reactivate it, as long as you keep it in Find My. That's why you should never give them to anyone who says they've found your phone.
Sources
- If your iPhone or iPad was stolen, Apple Support
- How to find your lost iPhone or iPad, Apple Support
- Erase a device in Find Devices on iCloud.com, Apple Support
- Erase a device in Find My on iPhone, Apple Support
- Remove a device from Find Devices on iCloud.com, Apple Support
- Use Find My to locate your lost Apple device or AirTag, Apple Support
- Mark a device as lost in Find My on iPhone, Apple Support
- Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad, Apple Support