What happens if you buy a locked iPhone?


If a used iOS device has been ‘Activation locked' then only the previous owner can unlock it, either by providing you with the account ID and password, or by carrying out the steps detailed in How to remove Activation Lock – Apple Support (as he should have done before selling it).If you're looking for a used iPhone, find one in good condition and for a reasonable price, but the catch is, Activation Lock is on, it's an immediate red flag. An iPhone that has been Activation Locked can only be unlocked with the iCloud credentials of its owner.

Is it safe to buy locked iPhone?

You'll need the owner to unlock it before you're able to use it. When shopping for used iPhones online, it's best to skip ones that are locked devices. If the seller cannot unlock the iOS device, it's a red flag that should deter you from buying the phone.

What if I bought a locked iPhone?

The answer is yes, you can unlock a carrier locked iPhone from your home. You can use your laptop browser and log on to the carrier website, or try calling them to remove the lock. Once they unlock your iPhone, you can go ahead to put a new SIM card and complete the setup process.

Why do people buy locked iPhone?

The Pros of Buying a Locked Phone Wireless carriers can subsidize the retail price by having you locked into their network. Alternatively, they spread the device cost over a certain period through payment plans, so you don't have to pay the full price upfront.

Are iPhones locked when you buy them?

An iPhone is either locked (connected to one carrier) or unlocked (free to use with any carrier). When you buy one from a carrier, such as AT&T® or Verizon®, you are typically tied to them—the phone is locked—for the duration of your contract. When you buy a new iPhone from the Apple® store, it is unlocked by default.

Is it safe to buy locked iPhone?

You'll need the owner to unlock it before you're able to use it. When shopping for used iPhones online, it's best to skip ones that are locked devices. If the seller cannot unlock the iOS device, it's a red flag that should deter you from buying the phone.

What if I bought a locked iPhone?

The answer is yes, you can unlock a carrier locked iPhone from your home. You can use your laptop browser and log on to the carrier website, or try calling them to remove the lock. Once they unlock your iPhone, you can go ahead to put a new SIM card and complete the setup process.

Can a stolen iPhone be used if locked?

If your iPhone gets stolen and the thief tries to erase iPhone with the iTunes, your phone will get locked when it is erased. This erased iPhone will then keep prompting for the original owner's iCloud password. If that password cannot be entered, the phone remains locked.

What is a locked iPhone worth?

iCloud locked iPhones are worth almost nothing and are generally only purchased by companies who scrap them for spare parts. You'll have a very hard time finding interested buyers, as companies like GadgetGone do not accept iCloud locked iPhones. If, however, you came by the iPhone legally, then yes, you can sell it.

Is it illegal to buy iCloud locked iPhones?

It is not illegal to buy an iCloud locked iPhone. However, keep in mind that the vast majority of iCloud locked phones for sale are stolen. And it is illegal to buy stolen property.

How long does a locked iPhone last?

Why is my iPhone disabled? An iPhone will disable for 1 minute after six failed passcode attempts in a row. The seventh incorrect passcode attempt will lock you out for 5 minutes, the eighth attempt for 15, and the tenth for an hour.

Is it illegal to buy iCloud locked iPhones?

It is not illegal to buy an iCloud locked iPhone. However, keep in mind that the vast majority of iCloud locked phones for sale are stolen. And it is illegal to buy stolen property.

Should I unlock my iPhone before selling?

If you're selling an iPhone, you can increase the value if it's unlocked. That way, the buyer doesn't have to pay to have it unlocked or go through the trouble of figuring out how to unlock an iPhone themselves.

Is it safe to buy locked iPhone?

You'll need the owner to unlock it before you're able to use it. When shopping for used iPhones online, it's best to skip ones that are locked devices. If the seller cannot unlock the iOS device, it's a red flag that should deter you from buying the phone.

What if I bought a locked iPhone?

The answer is yes, you can unlock a carrier locked iPhone from your home. You can use your laptop browser and log on to the carrier website, or try calling them to remove the lock. Once they unlock your iPhone, you can go ahead to put a new SIM card and complete the setup process.

Can a stolen unlocked iPhone be tracked?

The only way to locate/disable/erase any lost/stolen iPhone is through Find My Phone or a similar app. However, this requires that Find My Phone be setup/activated, on your phone, before it was lost/stolen. You would then login at iCloud.com & try to locate it.

Can you sell a locked iPhone to Apple Store?

If it is locked with an Apple ID and passcode that is not yours, then no one but the original owner can use it. You can't trade it in. Contact the seller and either get them to remove activation lock or give you a refund. Apple will not do anything for you as this is an issue between a private seller and buyer.

Will Apple remove iCloud Lock?

There is no way around this security feature. Apple support can remove activation lock, but only if you can prove you were the original purchaser of the device and you can provide a copy of the original receipt.

Is it legal to bypass iCloud lock?

No. Take the phone and the original proof of purchase to Apple. They can remove the lock if you can prove original ownership. If you're the iPhone's original owner, take it and its purchase receipt to a physical Apple Store.

Is it illegal to remove Activation Lock?

If you're trying to remove someone else's activation lock, it's ilegal no matter what. As long as that “someone else” doesn't remove the lock themselves, it's basically you in possession of stolen property.

Is it cheaper to buy a locked iPhone?

What are the disadvantages of unlocked iPhones? The main disadvantage of buying an unlocked iPhone is the cost, especially if you're buying a new device. Unlocked iPhones are often more expensive than iPhones that are locked to a single carrier.

Is it good to buy a locked phone?

Also, locked phones prevent theft. Unlocked phones are more likely to be sold illegally or used overseas with different carriers. Verizon locks its new phones as a security precaution. (Users can unlock them; more on that below.)

Does anyone buy locked phones?

Some buyback stores will buy locked phones. Prices depend on your phone's model, capacity and condition as well as the type of lock placed on your phone. For example, blacklisted and finance locked phones can be worth between 55% to 98% of an unlocked phone's value.

What are the disadvantages of a locked iPhone?

When you buy a locked iPhone from your carrier, it usually only comes with the antennas that your specific carrier uses to transmit its signal. And different carriers transmit different signals. So, let's say you get an iPhone from Verizon, unlock it yourself, and then try to use it on T-Mobile: it probably won't work.

How many attempts until iPhone is permanently locked?

After 5 failed attempts, incremental time locks are what make you wait to type any other wrong passcode. It's the 10th attempt which locks the iPhone completely, showing a message ‘iPhone is disabled/security Lockout' For now, you have to connect your iPhone to iTunes to unlock it.

How much does it cost to unlock an iPhone with a passcode?

The short answer is no; Apple doesn't charge any money to unlock a disabled iPhone. The “iPhone is disabled” prompt appears when you put in the wrong passcode too many times.