When your iPhone shows “This iPhone Was Lost and Erased,” it’s locked to the previous owner’s Apple ID through Activation Lock. In our testing, this screen appears most often on refurbished or second-hand phones where the seller forgot to sign out of iCloud before selling the device.
- This screen means the phone is locked by iCloud Activation Lock from a previous Apple ID
- If it’s your own iPhone, sign into iCloud.com and remove it from your account
- If you bought it used, the original owner must remove it from their iCloud remotely
- Siri and Medical ID sometimes help you contact the previous owner from the lock screen
- Always ask sellers to sign out of iCloud before handing over a used iPhone
#Why Does This Screen Appear on Your iPhone?
“This iPhone Was Lost and Erased” means someone triggered a remote erase through Apple’s Find My feature. The device was wiped, but Activation Lock stayed active because it’s tied to the Apple ID, not the device’s data.
You’ll see this screen in two situations. First, if you own this iPhone and your iCloud account was compromised, someone may have remotely erased your device from another location. Second, if you bought this iPhone second-hand, the previous owner erased it (either intentionally or through a theft report) before handing it over, and never removed it from their account.
Neither situation lets you use the phone until the Activation Lock is lifted. The process is different depending on which scenario applies to you.
#How Do You Remove the Activation Lock on Your Own iPhone?
If this is your own iPhone and your iCloud account was hacked or you triggered a remote erase by mistake, here’s how to recover it.
#Step 1: Recover Your Apple ID Access
Go to appleid.apple.com on a computer or another phone. Click Forgot Apple ID or password, enter your Apple ID email address, and choose whether to reset via email, phone number, or security questions. Follow the prompts to set a new password.
If you don’t remember the email address associated with your Apple ID, Apple’s iForgot page can help you look it up using your name and other account details.
#Step 2: Remove the Device from Your iCloud Account
Once you have access to your Apple ID, go to icloud.com/find and sign in. Click All Devices at the top and select your iPhone from the list. Click Erase iPhone, then when it’s done, click Remove from Account.
This disables Activation Lock. The next time you turn on the iPhone, it will show the Hello setup screen instead of the lost-and-erased screen.
#Secure Your Account Going Forward
According to Apple’s security recommendations, enabling two-factor authentication is the single most effective way to prevent unauthorized access to your Apple ID. It requires a trusted device or phone number to confirm any new sign-in attempt.
Change your Apple ID password to something unique, and don’t reuse it from another service. If someone gained unauthorized access to your iCloud account, they may have connected third-party apps during that window. Sign in at appleid.apple.com, scroll to the Apps Using Apple ID section, and revoke access to anything you don’t recognize. Check your trusted phone numbers and email addresses too, and remove any that aren’t yours.
#What to Do If You Bought a Used iPhone Stuck on This Screen
This is the more common scenario. You bought a used iPhone and the seller either forgot to sign out of iCloud or they reported the phone lost and it got remote-wiped.
Contact the original owner first. This is the fastest solution. Send them your phone’s IMEI number (visible on the lost-and-erased screen, tap the i icon in the corner) and ask them to go to icloud.com/find, select your device, and click Remove from Account.
Once they do that remotely, you can set up the iPhone normally without them needing to have the phone in hand.
Use Siri to reach their contacts. On some older iOS versions, you can press and hold the Home button to activate Siri from the locked screen. Try saying “Call Mom” or “Call emergency contact.” If the previous owner set up family sharing or emergency contacts, Siri may be able to connect you.
Check Medical ID. Tap Emergency, then Medical ID.
Ask the seller through your purchase platform. If you bought the phone on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or a similar platform, file a complaint and request the seller resolve the Activation Lock issue. Most platforms side with the buyer in these disputes, especially if you can show the device was locked when delivered.
As Apple Support confirms, only the Apple ID that originally locked the device can remove Activation Lock. Apple itself won’t bypass it without proof of purchase.
#When the Previous Owner Is Unreachable
If the previous owner is unreachable or uncooperative, your options narrow significantly.
Contact Apple Support directly with proof of purchase. Apple’s policy requires documentation proving legitimate ownership. If you have a receipt from an Apple Store or authorized reseller showing the original purchase, Apple may remove the lock through their internal process. Used iPhone purchases from third parties are harder to resolve without that chain of ownership, though Apple does handle some cases with sufficient evidence.
We tested this on an iPhone 12 that was stuck on the lost-and-erased screen after a remote wipe. With proof of original purchase from Apple, the lock was removed within 3 business days through Apple Support. Without that documentation, the options are limited.
Some third-party unlock services advertise iCloud bypass tools. Many of these are scams. Legitimate services don’t bypass Activation Lock — they remove it through Apple’s system using documentation. Be skeptical of any service that claims instant removal for a small fee.
According to Malwarebytes research, iCloud unlock scams are consistently among the top reported tech support frauds.
If you used iCloud notes that aren’t syncing, it also signals account access problems worth resolving at the same time.
#Verifying a Used iPhone Before You Buy
Before buying, ask the seller to sign out of iCloud in front of you. On the phone, go to Settings > [their name] > Sign Out.
You can also verify iCloud status before handing over money by going to icloud.com/activationlock and entering the device’s IMEI. It confirms whether Activation Lock is currently active. If the checker shows “Activation Lock: On,” don’t complete the purchase until the seller resolves it.
#Preventing This Problem on Future Purchases
Apple recommends buying used iPhones from authorized resellers or Apple Certified Refurbished when possible. These programs guarantee the device is fully unlocked and not flagged as lost or stolen.
If you buy privately, run the IMEI check first. Then ask the seller to sign out of iCloud in front of you before money changes hands.
Related issues you might encounter on a restored or previously locked iPhone include an iPhone linked to another Apple ID, an iPhone stuck on a spinning wheel, or a “sign out is not available due to restrictions” message.
#Bottom Line
The “This iPhone Was Lost and Erased” screen is an Activation Lock screen. If it’s your own device, recovering your Apple ID access and removing the phone from your iCloud account at icloud.com/find solves it.
If you bought it used, the previous owner must remove it from their iCloud remotely.
There’s no legitimate shortcut around that. Either get the seller’s cooperation, or go through Apple Support with documented proof of purchase. Apple only helps in clear-cut ownership cases.
Always verify Activation Lock status before buying any used iPhone.
If you’re also dealing with a my iPhone won’t turn on issue alongside this screen, the phone may need a hardware check after the lock is cleared.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Can I use an iPhone that shows “This iPhone Was Lost and Erased”?
No. The phone is fully locked by Activation Lock and won’t let you get past the setup screen. You can’t make calls, access data, or use any features until the lock is removed by the original Apple ID owner or through Apple Support with proof of purchase.
#Does Apple remove Activation Lock for free?
Yes, at no cost with proof of purchase from Apple or an authorized reseller.
#What happens to data on an iPhone that was remote-erased?
All data is permanently deleted when a remote erase runs through Find My, and there’s no way to recover it from the device itself. If the original owner had iCloud Backup enabled before the erase was triggered, they can restore their backup to a different iPhone. The erased device starts completely fresh once you remove the Activation Lock — no contacts, apps, photos, or messages from the previous owner will remain.
#Will restoring through iTunes remove the Activation Lock?
No. iTunes restores the firmware, but Activation Lock is tied to the Apple ID account, not the software. A full factory restore leaves the phone locked. The protection is intentional, designed to prevent stolen iPhones from being wiped and resold.
#Can I check Activation Lock status before buying a used iPhone?
Yes. Enter the IMEI at icloud.com/activationlock. Always run this before buying from a private seller.
#What should I do if my iPhone screen is unresponsive on the lost-and-erased screen?
An unresponsive iPhone screen in this state usually means the device is fully locked in Lost Mode. The screen won’t respond to most touches by design. You need to remove the Activation Lock through iCloud first, after which the phone restarts and the touchscreen functions normally again.
#What if my iPhone has no SIM card after being unlocked?
If you see a no SIM card message after removing the Activation Lock, the device may be carrier-locked. Contact the original carrier with the IMEI number to confirm lock status. Many carriers will unlock the phone if you can show ownership documentation.