01
What Find My does
It gives the owner full control even when the device is far away:
- Shows the device on a map
- Plays a sound to find it
- Turns on Lost Mode with a message on screen
- Erases the device remotely
02
The link with Activation Lock
As long as Find My is on, the phone is tied to the owner's account. Even after a full erase, setup asks for the owner's Apple ID and password.
- This protects the owner if the phone is stolen
- It also locks out a buyer if the seller never turned it off
- Turning off Find My requires the owner's password
03
How to verify before buying
In front of the seller, ask them to:
- Open Settings → their name → Find My and turn off Find My iPhone
- Sign out of iCloud completely
- Erase via General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content
- Start setup yourself and confirm it does not ask for their account
04
Signs to walk away
Some situations need no second thought:
- The seller does not know the account password
- A "This iPhone has been lost" message on screen
- They want you to take it now and "unlock it later"
- The phone asks for an Apple ID after erase
Check the device before you pay
Start with a SerialKSA serial check, then finish the hands-on inspection in front of the seller.
Check now →Related articles
Frequently asked questions
What is Find My on iPhone?
An Apple feature to locate, lock or erase a device remotely. When it is on, Activation Lock is enabled.
How do I turn off Find My?
Settings → your name → Find My → Find My iPhone → off. It asks for the Apple Account password.
Does erasing the phone remove Find My?
No. If you erase without signing out of iCloud, Activation Lock stays and asks for the owner's account after erase.