Can You Sell an iCloud Locked iPhone? What to Do First

"iCloud locked" is one of the most searched phrases around selling a used iPhone, and it causes a lot of confusion. The short answer: an iPhone that is still locked to an Apple Account cannot be sold to us or to any buyer who wants to use it. The good news is that when the phone is yours, removing the lock usually takes a couple of minutes.

This guide explains what the lock is, how to remove it, and what to do when you cannot.

What iCloud lock actually means

When Find My is turned on, Apple ties the iPhone to the owner's Apple Account. This is called Activation Lock. After the phone is erased, it cannot be set up again without that account's password. Apple describes it on its Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad page.

Activation Lock is a theft protection feature, and it works. That is exactly why a locked phone has no value to the next owner: they cannot set it up.

Being signed in is not the same as being locked

This is the part most people miss. If you are still signed in to your own iPhone, it is not a problem yet. You can get a quote, agree on a price and set up a meetup. The one condition is that you sign out of iCloud before we meet, because we cannot pay for a phone that is still tied to an account.

A phone is actually locked when the account on it is one you cannot sign out of: a forgotten password, a previous owner's account, or an account that belongs to someone else.

How to remove it when the phone is yours

If the phone is with you and you know your Apple Account password:

1. Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out. Enter your password when asked.
3. Erase the phone: Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings.

Apple lists the full steps in what to do before you sell or trade in your iPhone, and our checklist walks through them with the order that matters.

If the phone is not with you, or it will not turn on

You can still remove it from your account from any browser. Sign in at iCloud.com, open Find Devices, choose the phone and remove it. Apple explains it in remove a device from Find Devices on iCloud.com. This is also the fix for a phone that is broken and will not power on, since you cannot sign out on the phone itself.

If you forgot your password

Use Apple's account recovery to reset your Apple Account password, then sign out as above. If you are the original owner and have proof of purchase, Apple support is the place to ask about the lock itself. We cannot remove Activation Lock, and no legitimate buyer can.

If you bought it used and it is still locked

Contact the person who sold it to you. They can remove it remotely from iCloud.com in a couple of minutes, without needing the phone. If they will not or cannot, the phone cannot be activated, and it is not something we can buy.

A phone from a school or an employer

Some phones are managed by an organization. Even after a personal Apple Account is removed, a managed device can still be tied to that organization, and only they can release it. Ask the IT team to release the device before you sell it.

Carrier locked is a different thing

A carrier lock ties the phone to T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon or another carrier. It does not stop the phone from being set up, and we buy carrier locked phones every day. They are priced differently, and this guide explains how. When you tell us a phone is "locked", we will ask which kind, because the two are very different.

How to check a phone before you sell or buy

The free IMEI check on our homepage shows the lock status, including whether Find My is on. What an IMEI check tells you explains each result.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell an iCloud locked iPhone for parts?

Not to us. We pass on any device that is still iCloud or Activation Locked. Once it has been signed out and Find My is turned off, we are glad to quote it.

Does erasing an iPhone remove Activation Lock?

Erasing it from the phone's own settings asks for the Apple Account password and turns Find My off as part of the erase. Erasing it without the password does not remove the lock.

Can you unlock an iCloud locked iPhone for me?

No. Only the account owner can remove Activation Lock, or Apple with proof of ownership. Be wary of anyone who offers to do it for a fee.

I am still signed in to my phone. Can I get a quote now?

Yes. Get your quote and set up the meetup. Just sign out of iCloud and turn off Find My before we meet.