Yes, a stolen iPhone can be factory reset (erased) by a thief using recovery mode, but thanks to Apple's Activation Lock, it will remain useless, prompting for the original owner's Apple ID and password to activate, effectively making it a paperweight until removed from your account, so NEVER remove it from Find My. You, the owner, can also remotely erase the device via iCloud to wipe your data, but this stops tracking and removes Activation Lock if you're not careful.
Use the Find My app to erase an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, or Mac. In order to remotely erase a device, you must turn on Find My [device] before it's lost.
Stolen iPhones become nearly impossible to jailbreak because Activation Lock prevents unauthorized access. The Activation Lock feature automatically engages when Find My iPhone is turned on and prevents unauthorized use of the iPhone until the legitimate Apple ID and password are entered.
If thieves want to run a factory reset or turn off any theft protection features on your device, they won't be able to do that without your biometrics. You can also extend this protection to all Google Accounts signed in on the same device.
Can I Factory Reset a Locked iPhone I Found? Yes, it is possible. But keep in mind that if it has an Activation Lock, you won't be able to use it unless you have the Apple ID and password of the iPhone owner. If possible, you must return the phone to the rightful owner.
If you lose an Android device or Wear OS watch, you can find, secure, or erase it remotely. You can also help a friend find, secure, or erase their lost device with the Find Hub app. If you've added a Google Account to your device, Find Hub is automatically turned on.
Three-finger gestures on iPhone primarily activate accessibility features like VoiceOver (for screen reading and navigation) and Zoom (magnification), allowing scrolling, zooming, and text manipulation (copy/paste/undo) with specific taps and drags, though some text actions work without VoiceOver enabled for quick editing. Common gestures include three-finger double-tap to toggle VoiceOver speech, triple-tap for the screen curtain, and pinching/spreading with three fingers for copy/paste actions, notes this YouTube video.
If they gain access to a lost phone, criminals can carry out numerous attacks and crimes, such as: Stealing money from bank accounts linked to the phone. Make unauthorized purchases using credit cards stored in the phone's wallet. Access any stored login credentials for accounts.
How to remotely erase your iPhone
In summary, while MOBILedit Forensic offers powerful capabilities for data extraction and analysis, a factory reset on modern Android and iOS devices effectively prevents recovery due to encryption and secure erasure mechanisms.
When you mark your device as lost: It will be locked with your device passcode.
Thieves often pass on their loot to handlers such as high street phone repair shops. Some dump the stolen goods in bins or bushes to be collected by another criminal in their network. The thief can receive £40 to £200 depending on the make and model, and whether or not the phone is unlocked.
If the phone was reported lost or stolen then the phone is blocked and basically a brick and unable to use on another carrier. The right thing to do is back up your data if there are any and then return it to the insurance company.
Erase iPhone using Settings
If you erase a device that's running iOS 15 or later, or iPadOS 15 or later, you can still use Find My to locate the device. Otherwise, you won't be able to find your device after you've erased it. You may still be able to find your Mac or Apple Watch if it's near a Wi-Fi network that was used previously.
That said, there are downsides to purchasing a locked phone as well. For example, you cannot switch carriers whenever you like. If you want to switch carriers, you'll need to purchase an entirely new phone (particularly if your current phone has a very limited antenna, as described above).
Remotely erase your device or a family member's device
In the list of devices, select the device you want to erase. to return to the list. Select Erase This Device.
The 15-digit IMEI number is a unique identifier for all cellphones, just like a fingerprint for humans. Telling your wireless carrier to block your iPhone's IMEI makes your phone worthless to thieves and blacklists it across all major cellular networks.
Is your iPhone lost or stolen? If you have Theft and Loss coverage, you can sign in to your Apple Account and file a claim for an iPhone replacement. Use the Find My app or go to iCloud.com/find to mark your iPhone as lost. Do not remove your device from your account until your claim has been fully approved.
If your mobile device is lost or stolen
Make a report to NSW Police via the Community Portal. If you have tracking software installed on your device, let NSW Police know. Apps such as 'Find My Phone' or 'Find My Device' can often help locate a mobile device that has been lost or stolen.
Use the Find My app
Open the app on another device that's signed in to your Apple ID, like a computer or iPad®. Select the Devices tab (you should see a list of devices), then select the name of the lost phone. Your phone's last known location should appear.
A criminal with access to your phone, whether they stole it directly or found it after you lost it, might be able to access your sensitive data or accounts.
*3001#12345#* on an iPhone activates the hidden Field Test Mode, a diagnostic tool for network engineers and power users to see detailed cellular data like signal strength (dBm), cell tower info, and network quality, accessible by dialing the code in the Phone app and pressing call, often after turning off Wi-Fi for accurate cellular readings.
You can double-tap or triple-tap the back of iPhone to perform actions such as taking a screenshot, turning on an accessibility feature, running a shortcut, and more. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, then choose an action.
If you know your Apple ID and password, you can sign into iCloud® on another device to unlock your iPhone without your passcode. Go to iCloud.com on another device and sign in with your Apple ID and password. Select Find My, and sign in if you're prompted.