Practical and immediate
How do I get into their phone if it's locked?
Short answer
You cannot legally force a phone manufacturer to unlock a device. Apple and Google require a court order for family access. If you need it for account recovery, contact the carrier about the SIM and focus on recovering accounts by other means…
What this usually means
You cannot legally force a phone manufacturer to unlock a device. Apple and Google require a court order for family access. If you need it for account recovery, contact the carrier about the SIM and focus on recovering accounts by other means (email, backup codes).
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.