Apple launches tool to check Activation Lock status of an iOS device
Apple today launched a utility on its website that allows anyone to check the activation lock status of an iPhone handset. Users will be required to provide the IMEI or serial number of the device they wish to test.
The tool will be useful for customers who are buying a used iPhone, iPad or iPod touch on popular reseller sites such as eBay or Craigslist. Prospective buyers will be able to confirm the phone has been removed from iCloud and is ready for use by a new owner before purchasing used hardware.
Activation Lock is a theft deterrent feature of Find My iPhone in iOS 7/8. It requires a user to enter the Apple ID and password of the original owner before resetting the phone or disabling iCloud on the device. The feature is turned on automatically when Find My iPhone in enabled on a device running iOS 7 or later.
Though useful for iOS device owners concerned about theft, the feature can be a problem for used phone buyers who inadvertently acquire a device with activation lock enabled. To use these locked devices, the new owner must obtain the Apple ID account credentials of the previous user before enabling iCloud on the device or resetting their newly purchased phone.
This new utility will allow a buyer to check the status of a device before purchasing it. It also makes it easy for the original owner to confirm that Activation Lock has been successfully disabled before selling a device. You can check out the new Activation Lock tool on Apple's website.
[Via iDownloadblog]
