Apple will no longer repair an iPhone reported as stolen or lost
If someone reports an iPhone as stolen or missing, Apple will no longer repair it. That’s according to a leaked internal memo that informs Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Services Providers of the new repair policy.
Repair technicians will see a message pop up in their internal MobileGenius or GSX systems telling them the device is stolen/missing. In that case, they’ll have to decline repairs.
The new memo obtained by MacRumors aims to reduce the number of stolen iPhones brought to Apple for repairs. In turn, this might dissuade sales of stolen iPhones.
Can a stolen iPhone be used?
You should protect your iPhone with a password (Touch ID/Face ID) because it’ll render the device useless if lost or stolen. Thieves won’t be able to resell it, as others can’t use the handset as long as there’s a lock on the screen. Activation Lock is a great protection that you’ll hopefully never have to use.
However, if they can somehow get into your phone and disable the protection, they could reset the handset and sell it to someone else.
There’s also another way to use a stolen iPhone. Thieves might steal handsets directly from Apple or its partners. Or from buyers before they’ve had a chance to activate them. In such a case, the devices are practically brand new, and one could easily activate and use them.
You can report a stolen device to authorities. In turn, these reports might end up in the GSMA Device Registry. That’s an extensive database accessible internationally that will contain records of all stolen iPhones.
New Apple repair policy
According to the report, the GSMA Device Registry database will inform Apple Stores and third-party repair shops part of Apple’s Authorized Service Providers chain whether the iPhone is eligible for repairs.
Apple and its partners are already unable to repair iPhones and other devices that have Find My iPhone turned on. If a customer can’t disable the functionality, Apple will not be able to fix the handset.
Also, Apple won’t just unlock an iPhone with Activation Lock turned on. There’s a support document…
