Activation Lock was introduced alongside iOS 7. Once activated on an iOS device, it prevented anyone from completing the setup procedure without first entering the original owner’s Apple ID credentials. This makes it much harder to sell stolen phones.
Apple’s Activation Lock website allowed anyone to check whether a device was locked. Buyers of used phones could ask the seller to send the handset’s IMEI or serial number. Entering the code into the Activation Lock webpage would immediately display the phone’s status. If the device was for sale but still locked, it would provide a warning indication that it may have been stolen.
When it was launched, Activation Lock caused a headache for genuine resellers. The issues have since been cleared up though. It’s common practice for phone shops to only accept devices that have already been unlocked. Private sellers on auction sites like eBay also tend to unlock their phone before listing it, letting prospective customers check its authenticity.
“This can help you keep your device secure, even if it’s in the wrong hands, and can improve your chances of recovering it,” Apple’s support pages read. “Even if you erase your device remotely, Activation Lock can continue to deter anyone from reactivating your device without permission.”
However, as of this week, Activation Lock’s core functionality has been disabled by Apple. The status checker webpage has been taken offline, preventing buyers from confirming if a phone has been stolen. Apple has made the changes quietly without discussing why. It remains unclear why it has turned off the important feature.
If Activation Lock remains unavailable, it’s possible that thefts of iPhones could increase. With customers unable to verify whether a sale is genuine, thieves would have a greater chance of moving on phones that have been unlawfully acquired.
In some cities, “phone snatch” raids are common, where robbers grab phones from unaware victims in the street. Activation Lock helped to prevent these devices from being sold on, reducing the effectiveness of the raids. Without it, the number of attacks could increase.
Activation Lock was enabled automatically on the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple Watch from iOS 8 onwards. If you’ve set up a new device in the past couple of years, it’s probably protected by Activation Lock even if you’re not aware of it. Although not a tool you’ll need every day, it could help you and others in the event your device is stolen.
Apple’s online support documents still advise how to use Activation Lock to protect your device. However, references to the online status page have been removed and direct links have stopped functioning. With no indication of when or if the tool will return, buying a used iPhone has just become a little more risky.
