Apple stepped up their security features when they developed the iCloud Activation Lock. However, ever since its inception, albeit a welcome development, the iCloud Activation Lock has been a point of frustration for many iPhone users.
The iPhone users that typically struggle with the Activation Lock as a hurdle are those that purchase second-hand phones on which the previous owner had failed to remove their iCloud account, resulting in the device being iCloud-locked.
One website that claims they can assist in circumventing the iCloud Activation Lock is doulCi.
About doulCi
The thing that sets doulCi apart from the other tools offering a bypass solution to the iCloud Activation Lock is that it is completely free. Yes, you read correctly – it doesn’t cost a single cent and also doesn’t involve sneaky surveys or the fulfilment of tasks along the way.
This might not seem like such a big deal, so let us take into account the following:
- Buyers of second-hand iPhones generally opt for the used version because they cannot afford the expensive new devices. This often means that they also cannot afford to cough up the additional cash for an iCloud unlock service.
- A great number of the available iCloud unlock tools on the internet cost upwards of $30, which can seem a little steep for some people.
- Generally speaking, if an iCloud Activation Lock remover tool marketed itself as free to use, it was often a scam.
However, doulCi quickly proved it wasn’t a scam due to the fact that it wasn’t only free, but it actually did the job. Therefore, the solution quickly built itself a reputation.
How it works
The first thing you should know is that doulCi is only compatible with iOS 7.1.2 or below.
Exactly how doulCi works isn’t made clear. How come? Well, interestingly enough, its creator actually has a fairly understandable reason. If the process of the site was public knowledge, hackers could build their own versions of the site utilizing the same method but riddling it with malware and viruses.
In simple terms, they’d make online solutions that look to be effective and might even turn out to work, but which will also collect personal information or infect your computer or device with malware.
In order to use the iCloud unlock tool with doulCi, the only thing you needed to do was to visit the site and fill out a form with basic information regarding your iPhone, submit your contact details and wait a couple of days. It might have taken longer to remove the lock than paid tools did, but it was free and it worked.
Is doulCi still available?
Unfortunately, due to the methods employed by the creators of doulCi, it’s no longer possible to use it to bypass the iCloud Activation Lock.
The reason for this is that the experts who developed doulCi saw an opportunity when they noticed vulnerabilities in iCloud, and they took advantage of that. However, over time those vulnerabilities have been fixed and so doulCi isn’t available to anyone anymore.
In 2014, the doulCi iCloud lock remover tool was officially shut down and as per the information on the site, the only reason for it still being live is to discredit potential scammers and hackers.
Don’t fall for the scam
Once the doulCi website stopped offering a free unlock service, hackers and scammers alike have been using the name ‘doulCi’ with bad intentions. This includes the following:
- Creating fake iCloud lock remover tools that infects computers as soon as installation is complete
- Requesting payment from users to unlock iPhones without any intention of doing so
- Marketing illegal tools that are in violation of Apple’s TOCs which can cause trouble for users
- Misleading users and wasting everyone’s time by being spectacularly unhelpful
- Designing fake websites fraught with spam and ads that offer no proper solution
And that’s just a few examples, but you get the picture. These scammers are cashing in on the good reputation of the doulCi name at the expense of ill-informed users.
The only way to avoid getting scammed by these people is by visiting the official doulCi site. It is important to remember that the website only contains information now, and that the iCloud lock remover tool isn’t available on the site anymore.
Can I download the doulCi Activator?
The short answer is no. At the moment there isn’t a doulCi Activator download available and although scammers might like you to believe otherwise, there never was an official doulCi Activator download.
The experts behind doulCi never created any software that would bypass iCloud. So, if you discover anything called ‘doulCi Activator Free Download’ or similar, move along and don’t click on it as it’s a scam.
In the days when the service still worked and people could use it to unlock the iCloud Activation Lock, it was a completely online service. The user would have to submit a couple of details and the doulCi team would then unlock the device for free.
However, the creators have since left doulCi a mere distant memory, so we highly recommend taking a look at alternative unlocking tools.
Don’t Panic! There are alternative ways of unlocking iCloud
There is much speculation and uncertainty regarding the legitimacy of the doulCi Activator, its reliability and the possibility of falling victim to a scammer. So, in order to avoid any unnecessary risk, we highly recommend using an alternative iCloud unlock service.
NB: Regardless of which method you choose to use, you will still need to make sure of the iCloud status of your iOS device using an accurate IMEI checker. If your phone has been reported as lost or stolen, it won’t be possible to completely unlock the device.
DoctorUnlock
The first alternative that we’d recommend is called DoctorUnlock. It is a verified and well-known website that offers reliable services that have proved to be effective in removing iCloud Activation Locks. This makes it a good alternative to the doulCi service.
It is a fairly simple process. All you have to do is to visit DoctorUnlock, enter the model and IMEI number of your iPhone and pay a very reasonable fee. After a 1 – 3 day wait, the iCloud lock will be removed. Their pricing differs based on the model of the phone and it’s relatively affordable.
Benefits of using DoctorUnlock
- Compatible with any iPhone model and iOS version
- Reliable remover of iCloud Activation Locks
- More than 1000 good reviews
- Successful unlock within 1 – 3 days
DoctorUnlock is compatible with any iPhone model including the iPhone X and in addition to being able to remove the iCloud Activation Lock, they offer a couple of other services as well. The most useful additional service is the one that can remove carrier locks. This service is also compatible with any iPhone model and most network carriers.
The delivery time is longer than we would have liked as reviews state that it generally reaches the 3-day mark and occasionally can take a little longer than that. However, DoctorUnlock is definitely an alternative you should consider for removing an iCloud Activation Lock.
AppleiPhoneUnlock
Another option for an online tool that can remove the iCloud Activation Lock is AppleiPhoneUnlock. It is very similar to doulCi and is probably one of the best available tools for removing iCloud locks.
The process is simple. Simply visit the AppleiPhoneUnlock iCloud Unlock website and enter the model and IMEI number of your iPhone. Once you’ve made the payment, the team behind AppleiPhoneUnlock will start processing your order and within 3 days the iCloud lock will be removed from your device.
Benefits of using AppleiPhoneUnlock:
- Permanent unlock feature that means the device can never be iCloud locked again
- Fully remote service meaning that you don’t have to part with the device at all
- Compatible with any iPhone model as well as other Apple devices
One rather strange but generally very positive aspect of the AppleiPhoneUnlock service is that they offer a 25% discount if you record a short video of you thanking them for their service in fixing your iPhone problem and also detailing what the problem was. Once done, you’ll receive a 25% refund.
The Verdict
If you’ve made it to this point of the article, it should be very clear that using an iCloud unlock service is far superior to using doulCi. In the past, doulCi was fantastic because it was free and it worked. However, using it is no longer a possibility and that’s why we’ve recommended some alternatives.
We highly recommend either DoctorUnlock or AppleiPhoneUnlock as the preferred alternatives to doulCi.
The reason for this is because professionals who have an in-depth understanding of the iCloud lock and expertise in removing these locks are the ones who will take control and effectively lift the lock on your device. In essence, this merely means that you don’t have to do any of the dirty work. So, what are you waiting for?
