[4 Ways] How to Unlock an iCloud-Locked iPhone

Is It Possible to Unlock an iPhone that Is iCloud Locked?

The iCloud lock feature on iPhones is a security measure designed to protect users' data in case their device is lost or stolen. However, it can also become a nuisance if you forget your Apple ID password or are unable to access your account for some reason. And you may ask - it is possible to unlock and iCloud locked iPhone?

The answer to this question is Yes, but before looking for methods to remove iCloud activation lock, you may firstly, need to know what it means when iCloud locked iPhone.

When your iCloud account is locked, it means you can do almost nothing unless you unlock it. The main and only screen on your device displays a message saying that the phone is locked, as the picture shows below.

To make your iPhone accessible again, you have to unlock. In this article, we will explore the methods to unlock an iCloud-locked iPhone, including official methods provided by Apple, as well as some unofficial workarounds. Please note that unlocking an iPhone using unofficial methods may affect your warranty and carry certain risks. Therefore, it is always recommended to try the official methods first.

Way 1. Reset Your Apple ID Password

If you forget your Apple ID password, you can reset Apple ID password by visiting the Apple ID account page on a web browser. You will be prompted to enter your Apple ID and choose a password reset method. Once you have reset your password, you can use it to unlock your iPhone. Here are the steps you can follow.

Step 1. Go to https://appleid.apple.com > Choose Sign In > Find the “Forgotten your Apple ID or password?” and click on it.

Step 2. Enter your Apple ID and click Continue.

Step 3. Enter the phone number that you used to create the Apple ID.

Step 4. You will receive a notification to reset your password > Tap Allow > Enter the iPhone/iPad passcode > Enter a new password and verify it.

When it completes, just set up your iPhone, and follow the onscreen instructions, here you can enter a new Apple ID password for the account to activate your iPhone again.

Way 2. Reset iPhone by Removing from Find My

Another way to unlock iCloud locked iPhone is to remove the iPhone from Find My on the website of iCloud. It enables you to unlock iCloud activation lock remotely. 

Step 1. Open a web browser and go to the website of iCloud > Sign in with your Apple ID and password.

Step 2. Click Find My button > From the drop-down menu, choose the device that needs to remove.

Step 3. Click Remove iPhone/iPad and confirm > Tap Remove from Account.

Way 3. Unlock iCloud Locked iPhone via DNS

It's worth trying to connect the device to Wi-Fi using a specific DNS, tricking it into believing it's locked. This method may not work with all versions of iOS. In addition, it lasts only a few minutes. To set up, follow the steps outlined below to try the iCloud DNS bypass.

Step 1. Turn on or restart the device and set it up until you get to Choose Wi-Fi network screen > Tap More Wi-Fi Settings > Tap the i symbol > Configure DNS.

Step 2. Choose Manual > Tap +Add Server to enter the server address for your location.
• USA: 104.154.51.7
• Europe: 104.155.28.90
• Asia: 104.155.220.58
• Others: 78.109.17.60

Step 3. Tap Save > Tap on the back option to select Ask to Join Networks to enter the network password and tap Join.

Step 4. When the device tries to activate, tap Back button to continue setting up the device normally.

Way 4. Unlock iCloud Locked iPhone with Online Service

Apart from the official methods Apple provides to unlock iCloud locked iPhone, there are some online services, like iPhoneIMEI, for you to remove iCloud Activation Lock. All you need to do is type the IMEI number of the device and wait for it to finish the unlock task.

Warm tip: How can you find the IMEI number of the device?
Option 1. Unplug the SIM tray, and you will find the IMEI number on it.
Option 2. Connect the device to computer and open iTunes, tap the phone model to get the IMEI number.

Bonus: Full Backup iPhone via FoneTool (No Apple ID Required)

Since some of the methods to unlock iCloud locked iPhone require you to erase iPhone, it is necessary to fully backup your iPhone before any operation. Here we'd like to recommend FoneTool, a powerful iOS data management tool. 

It helps backup everything from your iPhone to computer. Besides, you are allowed to fully restore the backup files to new iPhone with no Apple ID restriction, which means you can change Apple ID without losing data.

Free download this freeware to your computer by clicking the icon below, and follow the steps below to know how to full backup iPhone via FoneTool.

Step 1: Launch FoneTool and establish a connection between your iOS and PC using a USB cable > Go to the Phone Backup section, select Full Backup, and click Get Started.

Step 2: Ensure the security of your private data by enabling backup encryption > Choose a desired storage location on your PC to save the backup > Then, click Start Backup to initiate the backup process.

You can access the backup files on the Backup History page, and you can restore the backup to your new iPhone from here, too.

Conclusion

The iCloud lock feature on iPhones is a valuable security measure that helps protect users' data. However, it can also become a nuisance if you forget your Apple ID password or are unable to access your account for some reason. In this article, we have explored both official and unofficial methods to unlock an iCloud-locked iPhone. Hope you can successfully unlock iCloud locked iPhone after reading this guide. If this guide is helpful, please share it with others.