Preliminary operation
To block a stolen iPhone, the device must be turned on and connected to the Internet (if not, it will block as soon as a connection is available). In addition, the function must have been activated Find my iPhone in the iOS settings.
To activate the function Find my iPhone (which is totally free), just select the appropriate option during the procedure to activate iPhone or you can act at any time from the menu Settings of iOS. As I have already reminded you in other circumstances, just press the Settings icon on the iPhone main screen, go to the section [Account Name]> iCloud> Find My iPhone and move the option lever to the right Find my iPhone so that it turns green. On iOS 10.2.x and earlier, the same menu is accessible by going to Settings> iCloud> Find My iPhone.
Without these essential requirements, unfortunately you will not be able to block or track your smartphone remotely with everything that goes with it. So be careful and activate the function for the remote location of your "iPhone by" as soon as possible, before it is too late.
Another operation that I highly recommend you to do is to recover the IMEI code iPhone. If you have never heard of it, IMEI is a 15-digit code that allows you to uniquely identify mobile phones (not just iPhones) and block their access to the national network in case of theft or loss.
To trace the IMEI code of your "iPhone by", all you have to do is go to the menu Settings> Info of iOS or you have to type the code * # # 06 in the dialer. Alternatively, if you don't have your iPhone handy, you can go back to the device's IMEI by selecting its icon in iTunes and clicking on the item relating to telephone number.
If you encounter any difficulties, you can find out in more detail how to check iPhone IMEI by reading my tutorial dedicated to the topic.
Locate and lock a stolen iPhone
The function that allows you to block stolen iPhone it is very simple to use and can be used from any computer. In the unfortunate event that you need it, connected to the iCloud website, log in to the service using your Apple ID data and click on the icon Find iPhone.
On the page that opens, log in again with your Apple ID (if necessary) and click on the item All devices which is located at the top. Then select your "iPhone by" from the menu that opens and click on the icon Lost mode present in the box located on the right.
Now you have to follow the wizard for activating lost mode on your iPhone. So type a telephone number to be displayed on the device home screen (optional), enter a Numerical code to protect the iPhone from unauthorized access (this is only necessary if a security PIN has not already been set on the phone) and enter a message to be displayed on the smartphone. Then press the button end And that's it.
If you have no hope of recovering your iPhone and you want to delete all the data on the device (in order to protect your privacy), click on the icon Initialize the iPhone and accepts the "formatting" of the phone. This way no one will be able to recover your data but you will lose the ability to locate the iPhone remotely.
Lock an iPhone from iOS
If you don't have a computer at hand, you can remotely locate and lock your iPhone from another iOS device as well. All you need is the free Find My iPhone application which works almost identical to the iCloud website.
After starting the application on any iPhone or iPad, you must log in to your Apple ID (the same one associated with the "iPhone by" to be blocked), select the device name from the left sidebar and press on button to activate the lost mode or for initialize the iPhone. Easier than that?
iPhone stolen: what to do?
When a smartphone is stolen, it is necessary to report the incident to the competent authorities and contact your operator to request the blocking of IMEI and SIM.
After having reported the theft, then contact your telephone operator and request the SIM lock (which you will then receive in a new copy without losing your phone number). If you are unable to speak to a Vodafone, TIM, 3 or Wind operator, follow the instructions in my tutorial dedicated to the subject.
Once this has been done, all you have to do is fill out the form to request the IMEI code lock stolen iPhone. In this way you will block access to the network by the device throughout the national territory.
To block the IMEI of your “iPhone by”, fill in one of the forms listed below and send them following the procedure requested by your operator: some operators allow you to do everything online, others require the form to be sent by fax or registered letter.
- TIM
- Vodafone
- wind
- Three
- Poste Mobile
- Fastweb
Well, now I'd say that's really all. You have locked your iPhone, prevented access to the data on it and blocked the device on the entire national network. Obviously this does not reward the "trauma" of having lost a high-value smartphone, but it certainly limits the damage of what happened.
How to block stolen iPhone
