How can I be sure that all my data was deleted from my stolen iPhone?

I got my iPhone stolen a few hours ago, marked it as lost, and requested to delete all of the information(=erase iPhone?). For a while, it looked offline so my request was suspended, but it looked like iPhone completed the delete since I have an option for canceling the erasing action. Moreover, it has a little trash can mark besides iPhone on the Find My iPhone app. Does this mean the action is completed and I could confirm all of my information is deleted? Sorry for my language mistakes. I am very aware of the possibility my phone was already abused before my request. Please, someone explain more to me what I need to do under this situtation?


[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: Make sure if my information in stolen iphone is already deleated

Posted on Oct 15, 2025 3:00 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 15, 2025 3:13 PM

Here is what to do: If your iPhone or iPad was stolen - Apple Support


Your data is protected by your passcode and by biometrics, and by Stolen Device Protection if that was enabled.


The erasure cannot be cancelled once completed, so apparently the command has not yet reached the iPhone.


The iPhone may well stay offline permanently, too.


You may get a call from “Apple” or “police” reporting the iPhone found, and requesting you prove your identity by providing your Apple Account credentials. Don’t. That’s the thieves.

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 15, 2025 3:13 PM in response to emergency_pleasehelp

Here is what to do: If your iPhone or iPad was stolen - Apple Support


Your data is protected by your passcode and by biometrics, and by Stolen Device Protection if that was enabled.


The erasure cannot be cancelled once completed, so apparently the command has not yet reached the iPhone.


The iPhone may well stay offline permanently, too.


You may get a call from “Apple” or “police” reporting the iPhone found, and requesting you prove your identity by providing your Apple Account credentials. Don’t. That’s the thieves.

Oct 15, 2025 3:55 PM in response to emergency_pleasehelp

emergency_pleasehelp wrote:

The only command I can send right now is Cancel the erase or Unlock this device written in red color. Is there anything else i could do possibly?


You could ask your phone company (carrier) to blacklist the phone. If they do, no carrier who honors the list will ever provide cellular voice, message, or data service to that phone ever again.


Not that the criminals are going to be getting into the phone to use any of those things if it was passcode-locked with a passcode that the criminals do not know and cannot easily guess (i.e., not something like "123456").


Blacklisting may interfere with the phone's ability to learn of "Mark as Lost" and remote "Erase" requests - so you may want to put it off for a few days to give the phone a chance to learn the "Erase" request. (Even if the phone never learns of the request, there's only 1 in 100,000 chance that the criminals could guess the correct six-digit passcode before the phone locks them out, and goes into a mode where you have to wipe it (and also satisfy the Activation Lock) to get back in.)

Oct 15, 2025 3:40 PM in response to emergency_pleasehelp

Do not remove your phone from the list of devices associated with your Apple Account, unless you want to give the criminals a present.


Removing your phone from your list of devices will clear Activation Lock, allowing the criminals to reset your phone and "make your phone their own", to have a working phone to use for themselves or to sell to others. (If you make the mistake of removing the phone, it may still be visible in Find My for up to 30 days, but you will not have any way to cancel the action.)

Oct 15, 2025 3:32 PM in response to MrHoffman

Thank you so much for your quick reply. If the erase is pending after iphone become online, should i be really concerned about my personal information? I marked it as lost but I didn't see any sign with my phone other than having a little 🗑️ emoji next to my phone. The only command I can send right now is Cancel the erase or Unlock this device written in red color. Is there anything else i could do possibly?

How can I be sure that all my data was deleted from my stolen iPhone?

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