Learn How To Lock Stolen Your Apple iPhone 12 mini Properly

When it comes to security in smartphones, Apple stands at the forefront. The Activation Lock is a robust barrier to preventing unauthorized access and device theft. Losing your Apple iPhone 12 mini can be a disturbing event, as accidents are inevitable. Taking prompt action to stop unauthorized data access becomes important. This guide offers a step-by-step approach to how to lock a stolen iPhone.

Part 1. Major Threats To Consider When iPhone Is Stolen

A lost iPhone can become susceptible to a myriad of threats. It could compromise your privacy, security, and personal data. Here are the reasons why learning how to lock your Apple iPhone 12 mini when lost is essential:

Unauthorized Access to Personal Data: Thieves can exploit an unsecured Apple iPhone 12 mini to gain unauthorized access to personal information. These include contacts, messages, emails, and photos.
**Financial Exploitation:**With access to your Apple iPhone 12 mini, thieves may attempt to get stored payment methods.
Identity Theft: Stolen iPhones often contain a wealth of sensitive information. This makes them a prime target for identity theft.
Compromised Social Media Accounts: Using social media applications on your smartphone carries potential risks in the event of device loss. Unauthorized access to your social media accounts can lead to many problems, including misinformation and compromised privacy.

Part 2. Use Find My To Locate Stolen iPhone

On learning about how do I lock my stolen iPhone, Apple’s robust Find My feature emerges as a beacon of hope. It uses a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth signals to locate your Apple iPhone 12 mini accurately.

Key Scenarios Where Find My Works

Find My can be a source to track stolen iPhones, but certain scenarios are associated with its operations. To know more about these scenarios, this section continues the discussion further below:

iPhone Turned On:Find My can provide real-time location trackingwhen your stolen iPhone is still powered on and connected to the internet.
**iPhone Turned Off or In Airplane Mode:**The last known location before the Apple iPhone 12 mini device was powered down or put in Airplane Mode is accessible, offering a starting point for recovery efforts.
**Offline Finding with Bluetooth:**The Find My service leverages Bluetooth technology to create a vast network of Apple devices. With these, it can securely help locate your Apple iPhone 12 mini, even offline.
**Activation Lock Integration:**This service is also integrated with Activation Lock, adding an extra layer of security. The Activation Lock remains active if a thief attempts to erase your device.

How To Use Find My To Locate Your Stolen iPhone

Step 1. Access the Find My app on a trusted device and open it. If you can’t access one, use the iCloud website to access Find My service.

Step 2. After logging in, select the lost device, and you can see its last recorded location on the map.

Part 3. Using Lost Mode To Lock Stolen iPhone

Lost Mode locks the Apple iPhone 12 mini device and allows users to showcase a personalized message on the screen. This can help greatly in the safe return of the smartphone. The following are the simple steps you need to follow to learn how to block stolen iPhone with Lost Mode:

Activating Lost Mode Using Your Smartphone

Step 1. Within the Find My app, tap “Devices” from the bottom toolbar and select your lost device. Now, scroll down to “Mark As Lost” and tap “Activate.”

Step 2. You will now be given a summary of the Lost Mode; tap “Continue” to proceed. On the following screen, add a phone number, tap “Next,” and add a message that will be displayed on the lost device.

Step 3. After adding a message, tap “Next” on the following screen and press “Activate” from the top right corner.

Activating Lost Mode Using iCloud Website

Step 1. Access the iCloud website via your computer’s web browser. Sign in using your Apple ID, continue to click the “Grid” icon in the top right corner, and select “Find My.”

Step 2. In Find My, add your Apple ID password again to access “All Devices.” Now, choose the lost device from the list of all devices in the top left corner. Then, click “Mark As Lost,” and the following pop-up Lost Mode prompt, tap “Next.”

Step 3. Now go on to add your phone number and tap “Next.” Follow it by providing the message you want to display and click “Activate” to enable Lost Mode.

Part 4. Can’t Find Stolen Phone? Erase iPhone Completely

When efforts to locate a stolen iPhone fail, the need to protect sensitive data intensifies. As a result, the option to erase the Apple iPhone 12 mini device becomes a crucial step instead of how to lock the Apple iPhone 12 mini when lost. Here’s how to protect against the potential misuse of your information by erasing your device via Find My:

Step 1. After accessing Find My service, choose the lost device from the list and click “Erase This Device.”

Step 2. Select “Continue” on the erased iPhone screen for the Find My app. Once you’ve added the number, press “Erase” in the top right corner and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the procedure.

Step 3. If using the iCloud website, tap “Erase This Device” and click “Next” on the upcoming prompt. You will be asked to enter the Apple ID password, after which you can use the on-screen guidelines to finish the process.

Part 5. Other Things To Do iPhone Is Stolen

There are additional measures you can take to enhance your overall security apart from understanding how do I lock my stolen iPhone. The following are some options you should utilize in case of device loss:

To Do List #1. Report to Police

If your Apple iPhone 12 mini is stolen, it is crucial to immediately inform your local law enforcement agency. It facilitates the recovery process and assists in combatting criminal activities. Provide essential details about your Apple iPhone 12 mini, such as the Model, color, and IMEI number. Share information about your efforts to locate the stolen iPhone using Find My.

To Do List #2. Make an Insurance Claim With AppleCare

You can claim insurance if you have AppleCare+ coverage for your Apple iPhone 12 mini. AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss for iPhone includes protection against theft and loss incidents. It offers up to two incidents of such coverage every 12 months.

To qualify for theft or loss coverage, it is necessary for Find My to be enabled on your device at the time it goes missing. Moreover, it should remain enabled alongside Lost Mode throughout the claims process.

To Do List #3. Remove iPhone From Trusted Devices (2FA)

After your Apple iPhone 12 mini is stolen, it becomes essential to bolster the security of your online accounts. It is particularly essential for those safeguarded by Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), which needs to be removed:

From iOS Device Settings

Step 1. Access Settings on an iOS device logged in with the same Apple ID as the lost one. Here, tap on your name on the following screen and scroll down.

Step 2. Simply select the misplaced device, and in the subsequent interface, press “Remove from Account” to eliminate it from the list of trusted devices.

From the Apple ID Website

Step 1. If you cannot reach a secure device, visit the http://appleid.apple.com website and sign in with the identical Apple ID.

Step 2. Once logged in, click “Devices” from the left side and select the lost device. To remove this device as a trusted device, click “Remove from Account.”

Part 6. Precautions To Take for Avoiding Losing iPhone

Users can proactively adopt specific measures to reduce the likelihood of such an occurrence. The following essential precautions are recommended while learning how to block your Apple iPhone 12 mini when stolen:

Precaution #1. Enable Find My on Device

Activating Find My increases the likelihood of recovering your device. Take the following steps to enable the Find My feature on your Apple iPhone 12 mini:

Step 1. On your iOS device, navigate to “Settings” and tap the Apple ID on the top. Now, scroll down and press “Find My” on the following screen.

Step 2. Next, tap “Find My iPhone,” on the ensuing window, toggle “Find My iPhone.” This will enable the Find My service on your device.

Precaution #2. Enable Separation Alerts on iPhone

Enabling “Separation Alerts” assists in preventing the loss of your Apple iPhone 12 mini by alerting you when you distance yourself from it. Follow these steps to enable Separation Alerts on your Apple iPhone 12 mini:

Step 1. Navigate to and launch the Find My app on your Apple iPhone 12 mini. Select the Apple iPhone 12 mini device from the “Devices” tab for which you want to enable separation alerts.

Step 2. From the available options, tap “Notify When Left Behind,” and on the following screen, toggle “Notify When Left Behind.” You can also add locations on this screen by tapping “New Location,” for which you don’t want to receive a left-behind notice.

Precaution #3. Enable 2FA on iPhone

Activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) enhances the security of your Apple iPhone 12 mini. The mandatory secondary verification step makes 2FA crucial in securing your accounts. Follow these steps to enable 2FA on your Apple iPhone 12 mini:

Step 1. Access the Settings app on your iOS device and tap your name/Apple ID. Find and tap “Sign-In & Security” to proceed further.

Step 2. On the following screen, tap “Turn On Two-Factor Authentication.” Follow it by tapping “Continue” afterward, and use the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Bonus Tip. Find Stolen iPhone Back but Locked? Unlock With Wondershare Dr.Fone

Recovering your stolen iPhone successfully can be a joyous event. Yet, the frustration of discovering your device locked due to a forgotten password can be disheartening. Wondershare Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS) offers a solution to regain access to your device. This robust tool is crafted to help users unlock various iOS screen lock scenarios.

It provides a hassle-free solution for those locked out of their devices. This powerful tool effortlessly removes various lock screens on iPhones and iPads. It can bypass the iCloud activation lock without the need for a password.

Key Features of Wondershare Dr.Fone

If you are using iTunes for backup but have forgotten the iTunes backup encryption passcode, Dr.Fone can remove it without data loss.
This tool can remove Apple IDfrom your Apple iPhone 12 mini or iPad if you have forgotten its password.
You can free up your device by removing MDMand carrier locks using Dr.Fone.

Steps To Unlock Your Locked iOS Device Using Wondershare Dr.Fone

Wondershare Dr.Fone is a comprehensive toolkit that addresses many iOS-related issues. It offers a user-friendly solution to unlock your Apple iPhone 12 mini with the help of the following steps:

Step 1. Launching Wondershare Dr.Fone and Accessing Toolbox

Once you have installed and launched Wondershare Dr.Fone, access the “Toolbox” tab. Click “Screen Unlock,” and on the following screen, choose “iOS.” Click “Unlock iOS Screen” on the following screen and link your iOS device to the computer.

Step 2. Entering Recovery Mode and Choosing System Version

The next step requires you to put your device in Recovery Mode, for which you can follow the instructions given on-screen. After your device is in Recovery Mode, Dr.Fone will display its “Model.” Now choose the appropriate “System Version” and click “Start.” Here, Dr.Fone will start downloading the required firmware. Once it is downloaded and verified, tap “Unlock Now.”

Step 3. Acknowledging Data Loss Warning and Initiating Unlock Process

To show your acknowledgment of the warning, enter the asked code, which is “000000.” Afterward, click “Unlock” to initiate the screen unlocking process. Once the process is complete, tap “Done” to conclude the procedure.

Conclusion

Knowing how to lock stolen iPhones is essential for safeguarding personal and sensitive data. Apple’s Find My empowers users to remotely locate, lock, and erase their lost devices. If you have recovered your stolen device but it is locked, Wondershare Dr.Fone emerges as the top choice to unlock it within minutes.

Tips: Are you searching for a powerful Screen Unlock tool? No worries as Dr.Fone is here to help you. Download it and start a seamless unlock experience!

Complete Guide on Unlocking Apple iPhone 12 mini with a Broken Screen?

Is your Apple iPhone 12 mini screen broken, and you’re wondering how to unlock iPhone with broken screen? Then don’t worry; this guide is all you need to unlock iPhone with broken screen.

Locking an iPhone with a passcode is a great way to prevent it from getting into the wrong hands. However, some misfortunes can happen, and you might be left with a broken screen. In such cases, you won’t be able to get the data inside your phone. So, to get back at your files or to reset your device, you will need to unlock your phone first.

In this detailed guide, we will elaborate on the best possible methods you can employ to unlock iPhone with broken screen. Moreover, we will introduce you to the best unlocking tools available for your situation. So stay with us till the end.

Part 1: Use the Feature “Find My iPhone” to Unlock an iPhone with Broken Screen

Find My is a famous component in Apple devices that allows you to find your lost devices through GPS. The option has been revitalized much from that point forward. Presently it can be utilized to erase your Apple iPhone 12 mini from a distance. You can erase your information without a password) to save its data.

Also, if your Apple iPhone 12 mini screen is broken, you can use this feature to unlock or erase it. We will call this feature “Erase it effortlessly,” as it erases iPhones without a password.

Prerequisites:

The locked iPhone ought to have the Find My element enabled.
The locked iPhone ought to be signed in to your iCloud account
It must have an internet connection.
Apple ID and password are also required.

Step 1. Open iCloud.com on an internet browser.

Step 2. Enter your Apple account details as inquired.

Step 3. After signing in effectively, click on Find My and enter your Apple ID and password. Click on Sign In.

Step 4. Pick your locked phone under the “All Devices” segment.

Step 5. Click on ‘Erase iPhone’. Click on ‘Erase’ again after the confirmation text.

Step 6. Enter the password to proceed.

Step 7. A code will be sent to you. Enter the code to proceed.

Step 8. Presently, enter your mobile number. Then, click on the Next button and then “Done.”

Step 9. The iCloud will effectively begin the deletion, and you can see the Apple logo with a white bar noticeable on your locked iPhone. After an effective erase process, your Apple iPhone 12 mini will restart.

Step 10. Swipe up on the Apple iPhone 12 mini screen to begin once more.

Again, iPhone will show the Apple iPhone 12 mini locked message. You then need to remerge your Apple ID details and click on Next. You will then get the chance to make your new passcode.

Step 1. To begin, you ought to put your gadget in Recovery Mode. Here’s what you must do:

On iPhone 8 or Above: Long-press the side/power button until the phone gives you the slider to close down. Drag the slider across the screen and turn it off. Then, press the volume (+) button, then the volume (-). Then, at that point, long-press the side button again while connecting it to your PC to put your phone in recovery mode.

On iPhone 7: Connect it to your system while tapping the volume down button. Hold the button until this mode appears.

On iPhone 6S or Older: Switch off your Apple iPhone 12 mini, plug it into your PC and hold the home button until the phone shows this screen.

Step 2. Connect your Apple iPhone 12 mini and your system and open iTunes. After clicking, force restarts it by holding down both the volume and power buttons. You’ll then get an option to Restore. Select this choice, and your Apple iPhone 12 mini will download the required software. When done, you can set up and use your Apple iPhone 12 mini.

Use iTunes

You can erase your Apple iPhone 12 mini and its password once you synchronize it with iTunes. Follow these steps:

Connect it to the PC you sync with, and open iTunes. If they request a password, use another PC you’ve connected with. If that also doesn’t work, go for the recovery mode.
iTunes will coordinate your Apple iPhone 12 mini and make a backup. When the sync and backup are done, click Restore iPhone.
Select your Apple iPhone 12 mini in iTunes and pick the latest backup.
You’ll then see the “Set Up” screen after that. Here, tape on the “Restore from iTunes Backup” choice.

Part 3: How to Unlock iPhone with Siri If its Screen is broken

Siri is a voice assistant on Apple devices. Like other devices have Alexa and Google Assistant, iPhone has Siri. It empowers you to use the Apple iPhone 12 mini through voice commands. You can converse with Siri to unlock your Apple iPhone 12 mini password.

How might Siri unlock iPhone? One can use bugs in Siri to unlock iPhone. However, it is only possible in a few iOS versions.

Step 1. First and foremost, enable Siri. You should hold the home button of your locked iPhone and say ‘Hello Siri’ to enact her.

You need to ask Siri, “Siri, what time is it?” or “Siri, what time is it in the USA”? That will permit Siri to open the World Clock on your home screen.

Step 2. Presently, tap on the world clock symbol. Now, tap on the + sign in the upper right corner to add the clock feature to the home screen.

Step 3. At the point when another clock is added, you will have the choice to share the new clock.

Step 4. Click on the share button and Pick the Message choice.

Step 5. You don’t need to text a message. Instead, add something arbitrary in the “To” field.

Step 6. Add Siri to make another contact by tapping on the new or + symbol. Siri will open the New Contact interface with details like adding the name, photo, etc.

Step 7. Add the photo from the photo library. Tap on “Add Photo,” and it will open the library for you. Tap on Select Photo, and Siri will unlock the Apple iPhone 12 mini device and let you pick a photo.

Step 8. When the photo library is open, tap on the home button or return button to get back to the unlock screen to get to the Settings symbol.

Step 9. When you open your settings, you can now refresh your credentials. This might work by making a Face ID rather than a password to unlock your Apple iPhone 12 mini.

Besides, it works for iPhones with iOS 8.0 to 10.1. These bugs are fixed in the later versions of the Apple iPhone 12 mini and won’t assist you with fooling Siri into unlocking your Apple iPhone 12 mini.

Bonus Tips: Easy Broken iPhone Unlock Tool

Dr.Fone-Screen Unlock

The quickest way to unlock iPhone with broken screen is to use an unlocking tool. However, there are tons of tools available in the market, but it is our responsibility to suggest you the best way.

We strongly recommend you install the Wondershare Dr.Fone-Screen Unlock tool. It is a safe and easy-to-use tool with an excellent success rate. With years of service in the unlocking industry, the experts at Wondershare thrive to provide outstanding services to its customers.

Moreover, Dr.Fone will keep your data from being exposed to threats. It is a fast tool that requires no prior knowledge to use. However, this tool will erase your data forever. So before further ado, let’s see how to unlock iPhone with broken screen:

Step 1. Launch the Software and Connect your Device

Click the “Screen Unlock” option from the main homepage and connect your iDevice to your computer. Then go for the “Unlock iOS Screen” option on the program.

Step 2. Access the Recovery or DFU mode

Removing the lock screen requires you to boot your Apple iPhone 12 mini in Recovery or DFU mode. The Recuperation mode is suggested for iOS devices. But if you can’t, you can go for the DFU mode.

Step 3. Confirm your Phone Model

Dr.Fone will now show you the phone Model and OS version. You can choose the right information from the dropdown menu if the one on your screen isn’t right. Then, at that point, download and install the required firmware for your Apple iPhone 12 mini.

Step 4. Unlock the Screen Now

After the firmware is downloaded effectively, click Unlock Now.

In almost no time, the software will unlock your Apple iPhone 12 mini effectively. However, note that this unlocking will likewise wipe your user data.

The Bottom Line

Having an iPhone with a broken screen can make your life hard. It keeps you from communicating and carrying out important tasks on the phone. But we can make this situation work your way. Therefore, we have furnished the above list to help you unlock iPhone with broken screen. Even if none of the methods work, Dr.Fone can still get our phone unlocked.

How to Make the Most of Your Apple iPhone 12 mini Lock Screen with Notifications?

The Apple iPhone 12 mini lock screen has certainly changed a lot over the last few updates of iOS. Not only it provides an added security to the Apple iPhone 12 mini device, but with iPhone lock screen notifications, we can also save our time and efforts. With the introduction of iOS 18, we can also see a change in iPhone lock screen with notifications as well. To help you make the most out of lock screen notifications iPhone, we have come up with this ultimate guide. Read on and know all sorts of things you can do with iPhone notification lock screen.

Part 1: How to use iPhone lock screen notifications?

When it comes to iPhone lock screen with notifications, there are so many things that you can do. For instance, here are a handful of things you can do with iPhone lock screen notifications.

Reply to messages quickly

If you aren’t using this iPhone notification lock screen feature, then you are certainly missing out on something. You might already know that you can get a preview of messages on your home screen. Simply long press it (or 3D Touch) to interact with it. From here, you can reply to your messages without unlocking your device.

Interact with apps without unlocking your phone

Not just your messages, you can interact with other apps as well right from the lock screen notifications iPhone. After getting a list of notifications, you can simply tap on the “x” button to close them.

Though, if you want to know more, then just long press the notification. For instance, if you have got a notification for an email, then you can get various options just by long pressing it.

Search for anything

Besides interacting with widgets and apps, you can also search for something on your device and that too without unlocking it. Simply tap on the search bar to make it work.

Part 2: How to turn off notifications on iPhone lock screen?

Sometimes, people can access our private information just by looking at our notifications. In this way, they can get read your crucial information and that too without unlocking your device. By simply visiting your device’s settings, you can customize iPhone lock screen with notifications. In this way, you can turn on or off iPhone lock screen notifications for the apps of your choice.

1. Unlock your device and go to its Settings > Notifications to access all the features related to its notifications.

2. From here, you can view a list of all the apps that can access notifications.

3. Simply tap on the app of your choice (Mail, Message, Photos, iTunes, etc).

4. From here, turn off the option of “Allow Notification” to completely turn off the notifications for the app.

5. If you simply want to turn off notifications on lock screen, then switch off the option of “Show on Lock Screen”.

Besides that, there are a few other options as well that you can either enable or disable to customize your lock screen notifications iPhone.

Part 3: How to turn off notification view on iPhone lock screen?

The notification view can be used to see previous notifications on the Apple iPhone 12 mini device without unlocking it. Needless to say, most of the users don’t like to include this iPhone notification lock screen feature. To turn off the notification view of iPhone lock screen notifications, follow these steps:

1. Firstly, unlock your device and got to its Settings > Touch ID & Passcode option.

2. You would be needed to provide the passcode or your fingerprint in order to access these settings.

3. This will provide a list of features related to your passcode. Go to the section of “Allow Access When Locked”.

4. From here, make sure that the option of “Notification View” is turned off.

After turning the option off, you can exit from the Settings interface. In this way, your device won’t display the notification view.

Part 4: Changes on iPhone lock screen notifications on iOS 18

With the new update of iOS 18, we can see a drastic change in the Apple iPhone 12 mini lock screen notifications as well. Since the Apple iPhone 12 mini lock screen with notifications have been integrated into one, it becomes quite easier for users to access it.

Access iPhone notification lock screen on iOS 18

Some people find it a little tricky to access the lock screen notifications iPhone after the iOS 18 update. Instead of sliding the screen from the top, you need to swipe it from the middle. By swiping it from the bottom, you might get its control center.

Simply swipe up from the middle of the screen to get a list of all the notifications. Now, you can slide them to access the old notifications.

Nevertheless, you can swipe from the top to access the cover sheet.

Swipe left or right

This is undoubtedly one of the most evident new features of the Apple iPhone 12 mini notification lock screen of iOS 18. Now, you can swipe left or right to access various features. By swiping left, you can access the Camera on your device and by swiping right, you can access your Today View.

If you want to click pictures instantly, then simply swipe left the lock screen. This will launch the Camera on your device, letting you click pictures on the go. Similarly, by swiping right, you can access your Today View. This includes vital data from apps and widgets that your smartphone assumes is important for you regarding the day.

We hope that after following this guide, you would be able to gain in-depth information regarding iPhone lock screen with notifications. Apart from all the basic things you can do on the lock screen, we have also provided easy ways to customize it. Furthermore, there are so many things that you can do with the iOS 18 iPhone lock screen notifications. While most of the users loved the feature, some are quite hesitant about its application. What is your take on this? Let us know about it in the comments.

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Learn How To Lock Stolen Your Apple iPhone 12 mini Properly | Dr.fone