My Ex Turned My Phone Off

Understanding why your ex can turn off your phone

Your ex can turn off your phone plan if they’re the account owner, or remove you from a shared family plan. If the account is in their name, they can cancel your phone contract by calling your cell provider. If you use their Google or Apple account, they can even deactivate it, making it impossible for you to access a lot of your files and personal information.

After a breakup, a family cell plan account is a liability. Your partner can easily cancel it, and suddenly your phone no longer makes or receives calls, or you can’t access your data.

Your former partner might turn off your phone for a few reasons. They may just need to cancel the contract to save some cash. Alternatively, they may be angry about the separation and want to retaliate or demonstrate their power over you. Perhaps they want to prevent you from contacting them or a new partner.

Ways your ex could have turned off your phone

When you say “my ex turned my phone off,” you might mean one of two things, depending on your circumstances. Your ex could contact your cell provider to cancel your service, or log in to a shared family plan, Apple ID, or Google account and deactivate it.

• Was your former partner the account holder for your phone contract? If so, they can easily cancel your SIM card and suspend your service.
• Did you share a phone with your partner, or use the same Apple ID or Google account? If so, they might be able to change your password, install spyware, access your data, or simply delete the Google or Apple account, locking you out of features like iCloud, Apple Pay, files and photos, and even apps like the App Store or Google Play.

1. Control over phone account or contract

If your ex is the primary account holder, they can simply contact your cell provider and cancel the account or deactivate your SIM cards. If they pay the bill, this is easy to do.

Your ex could ask your cell provider to:

• Deactivate your SIM card, which would stop all cell service to your phone. If your ex requests a new SIM card, they may be able to intercept your incoming calls and texts.
• Blacklist your IMEI number, which prevents your phone from being used on a mobile network, even if you get a new SIM card. To do this, your ex might need to report your phone as lost or stolen.
• Cancel your phone contract, which will deactivate your SIM card and cell number.

If your former partner is the bill payer, they could also simply stop paying the bill. If they do this, your cell provider might suspend your service. Their credit rating might take a hit if they do this, however, meaning they’ll struggle to obtain credit cards or loans.

2. Shared phones, plans, or devices

Do you share a phone, an Apple ID, or a Google account with your ex? If so, they could change the device’s password to lock you out, or delete the Apple or Google account. Even if you don't have a shared account, if they know your password and haven’t enabled multi-factor authentication, they can access your account.

Your ex might be able to see what you’re doing through a shared account, too. If you share an Apple ID, they may be able to see messages, track your location, and see files and photos. A Google account may also allow them to view photos and files, and a family plan through your cell phone provider may enable them to see your call and text logs.

Worried that your former partner is monitoring you? Find out how to tell if your spouse is spying on your phone.

If you used to share a phone, your ex could have installed spyware to check up on you. Worried that they’re spying on you? Clario Anti Spy’s Device system check can help. Your iPhone’s security settings should stop most monitoring software—unless it’s jailbroken. The Device system check looks for jailbreaks, as well as available iOS updates, which can keep your phone secure.

Recently, a customer reached out to the Clario experts, worried that there was monitoring software on her phone. We talked her through running a Device system check to look for potential threats, and advised her to change her passwords as a precaution. The scan didn’t find any vulnerabilities, and she was satisfied that her phone was safe.

How to check for security vulnerabilities on your iPhone:

1. Download Clario Anti Spy and subscribe.
2. Under Device system check, tap Scan.
3. It will show you if your phone has been jailbroken or has any active vulnerabilities associated with an outdated OS.

What can you do if your ex turned off your phone

If my ex turned my phone off, I’d want a solution quickly. So, what should you do? If they have access to your Apple or Google account, change your passwords and, if possible, set up a new account. If your ex has cancelled your phone service, set up a new phone contract.

What to do if your ex has access to your Apple or Google account:

• Change any compromised passwords.
• Check bank transactions for suspicious activity, your ex may have access to your Apple Pay or card details.
• Set up a new Apple or Google account, with details that your ex doesn’t know.
• If you suspect someone has access to your account but are unsure who, learn how to check who may have hacked your phone.

What to do if your ex has canceled your cell service:

• Get a new personal phone number.
• Share your new number with friends and family.
• Update your contacts list with important information, such as your child’s school, workplace, and medical providers.

If you suspect that your partner is spying on you, consider contacting law enforcement. Not sure how to tell if they’re monitoring you? Find out more about the signs of a stalker ex.

Legal options if your ex controls or disables your phone

If your ex turned your phone off, they may not have broken any laws. If they’re the account holder, it’s usually legal for them to cancel your contract, even if you give them money to pay the bill.

However, if you can prove that your ex turned your phone off to harm you, this could be illegal, even if they’re the account holder. For example, if they deliberately disable your phone so that you can’t contact your children, interfering with existing custody agreements, this could be custodial interference—a crime in many US states.

How can you prove that your ex disabled your phone to harm you? Ask yourself these questions:

• Did your ex tell you why they were doing it?
• Did your ex tell a family member or friend why they were doing it?
• Do they have a habit of trying to harm you in this way?

Has your former partner accessed your online accounts without your consent? This is illegal in the US, under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Is your ex is harassing you, stalking you, or trying to control your devices? These actions could also be illegal. Find out how to tell if someone is accessing your iPhone remotely.

If you feel unsafe because of your ex’s actions, or you believe that they’ve broken the law, call the police or consult a lawyer. They can explain legal solutions in your area, such as restraining orders.

Understanding relationship context behind the phone being turned off

There might be a reason that your ex turned your phone off. Were there controlling patterns or unhealthy behaviors in your relationship? Perhaps your ex enjoyed having power over you, and deactivating your phone continues that power. If you have a new boyfriend or girlfriend, your ex might have canceled your phone plan to stop you from contacting them.

Conclusion

Perhaps your ex turned your phone off to be controlling, to prevent you from contacting them, or simply because they can no longer afford to pay the bill. If they’re the account owner, they can do this easily. Alternatively, if you share a Google or Apple account, they could remove access to features on your phone by deactivating the account.

If someone has turned your phone off, change any compromised passwords. You may need to sign up for a new personal phone contract or get a new Apple or Google account.

If your ex makes you feel unsafe, or you’re worried that they’re spying on you, consider calling the police or consulting a lawyer. Check your phone for vulnerabilities as well, to ensure that you’re not being monitored. Clario Anti Spy’s Device system check can alert you to jailbreaks or missed updates, which could leave your phone vulnerable to security breaches.