About a week ago, my iPhone 15 was stolen and traded at an EcoATM kiosk. I managed to put it in lost mode using my friend's phone through FindMy. While I wait for EcoATM to locate and return my device (which might take up to 30 days), I bought a replacement iPhone SE Gen 3, which is unlocked. To activate the eSIM on this new phone, I need the Mint Mobile app, but to download it, I have to sign into my Apple ID. The problem is I can't access my Apple ID without 2FA, and my only device linked to it is the stolen iPhone, which puts me in a tough spot. What's the easiest solution to get past this? Should I order a physical SIM from Mint, or create a temporary Apple ID to get the Mint app and activate my eSIM? Also, how can I prevent this from happening again in the future?
3 Answers
You can log in to iCloud.com/find, which doesn't require 2FA. From there, lock your lost phone again. This should trigger a text message for the 2FA code.
Creating a new Apple Account temporarily could let you download the Mint Mobile app. Once you get your eSIM set up, you can sign out of that account and sign back into your original one. If you want to restore from a backup, just erase all content and settings and choose "Keep eSIM & Erase Data" when prompted.
How would I create an Apple Account without having access to my phone number? I think I might need to get a physical SIM from Mint.
You might want to check Mint's website; they usually have chat support. They could help you find a solution for activating your service in this situation.
But my main issue is still getting my SIM activated. I thought my phone was already locked since it's in lost mode.