Can Verizon Wipe My iPhone Remotely?

People tend to be in a hurry a lot these days, so it’s no surprise that they often forget or lose things. Phones are solid proof, as lots of phones get forgotten somewhere or lost on a daily basis, usually ending up stolen by the person who finds them.

If your phone gets stolen, is there anything you can do? If you’re using Verizon’s services, you can wipe your iPhone remotely so that it’s protected from prying eyes. Keep reading to find out how.

Verizon’s Suggested Ways

1. The Old-fashioned Way

If you need to remotely wipe your iPhone, Verizon recommends the method that requires the “Find My iPhone” app. If you’re more of a computer user, you can go to https://icloud.com/find, or you can use the same app on another iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

On the Home screen (or in the “Extras” folder), tap “Find iPhone.”
Enter your Apple ID and password and tap “Sign In.”
Tap ”Allow” if prompted to let the app work on your phone. The app will then proceed to locate devices.
Choose your device.
Go to “Actions.”
Locate “Erase iPhone.”
You should read the warning message carefully and then tap “Erase iPhone” to confirm your decision.
Enter your Apple ID and password again and tap “Erase.” This will delete all settings and all info, keeping your data from falling into the wrong hands.

2. File a Claim

To help users deal with their phone being stolen or lost, Verizon has a subscription plan called Total Mobile Protection that allows them to get a phone replacement or a phone repair process going on. You can – and should – file a claim about a lost or stolen device. You can get a new, replacement device as early as the next day. If you’re already subscribed, you can contact the Asurion customer service at (888) 881-2622 and file an insurance claim.

Otherwise, contact Verizon Wireless as soon as possible at (800) 922-0204. Another way of dealing with this is by logging into My Verizon to report a lost or stolen device.

Unfortunately, contacting Verizon directly happens to be the only definite way to get help from them, as there’s no iOS app that deals with this issue; there’s only an Android version.

What Else Can You Do?

1. If “Find My iPhone” Is Enabled

If your “Find my iPhone” app happens to be enabled, there are things other than wiping your device remotely that you can do:

If you believe your phone is nearby, e.g. in your own house, you can use the app to play a sound and see if you are right.
Use “Lost Mode.” This feature lets you lock your phone remotely using a passcode, as well as display a custom message with your phone number on the phone’s Lock screen. Additionally, this lets you track your phone’s location, but note that you should not go and look for it yourself, especially if in an unsafe environment. Making payments on the device is also suspended.
You can use “Family Sharing” so a family member can help you locate your phone. All they need to do is sign in to iCloud with their own Apple ID.
If an iPhone is covered by “AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss,” you can file a claim for a lost or stolen device.

2. Is Your “Find My iPhone” App Disabled?

If you happen to have disabled “Find My iPhone,” or you haven’t even used it, there’s no way to locate or track your device. However, you can still do the following:

Change your Apple ID. Your iCloud, iMessage, etc. are all connected to your Apple ID, meaning that if you change it, nobody else can access it.
Change other passwords. This one is pretty self-explanatory, as you can change your email and social media passwords. It is best to do this before a potential thief does.
Report your device. We’ve already told you that you can file a claim about your device, but don’t forget that you can also report it to local law enforcement. Just have your device’s serial number with you, as you might need it for this occasion.

Staying Safe in the Future

All in all, you’re probably alright if you’ve left your “Find My iPhone” app on. Otherwise, there might be trouble, but Verizon might help you out by trying to turn your phone off or provide you with a replacement, which is more likely if you’re subscribed to Total Mobile Protection.

Whatever you do, just look to keep your phone with you at all times and back up data as often as you can. This way, you won’t lose data even if you have to do another phone wipe.

If you’ve ever had your phone lost or stolen, what did you do? What would you do if that happened again? Share your experiences with us in the comments below.