There are two likely scenarios that a person cannot access their iPhone due to an Apple ID that does not belong to the current user of the device.
- It is possible you have purchased a device (iPad, iPhone, iPod/iTouch) from a source other than Apple, that the previous owner’s Apple ID is still stored in the device. It is VERY unlikely that the device will work properly for you in the manner it is meant to as long as another person’s ID is in it. You will never be able to activate the device in your name or Apple ID as long as this issue persists.
- You have forgotten your own Apple ID or Password
In this article we will attempt to assist you with dealing with this particular issue.
What You Should Know Before You Buy a Secondhand Apple Device –
When Find My iPhone is enabled, this also enables the Activation Lock (see below). It is important when considering a used Apple device to make sure that you check to see if the Activation Lock has been enabled. This can be done from the website https://www.icloud.com/find Or icloud.com/activationlock
The IMEI number or serial number will have to be entered. To do this, go to:
- Settings > General > About (to find the IMEI or serial number for the phone)
- You should also be able to locate these numbers on the back of the device
There is no question there are people out there that have nefarious intentions and are trying to sell devices that do not properly belong to them and have in some cases been stolen. The scams are never ending these days.They could feed you any story, including trying to sell a device online.
In these situations, there have been cases that the seller has switched the device status at that the deal is made (prior to delivery), to off (the Activation Status is off), and you use the link provided above and confirm the phone is open and the Activation Lock is not in use. Then, for whatever reason the owner may change the status of Find My iPhone to back on just before turning over to the unwitting buyer.
In the best case scenario, you can meet the seller in person in a public place (if you don’t know them) and ask the seller to be sure to erase the settings in your presence. This can be done by following these instructions:
- Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings
You should also make sure the seller is present when you then set up the device with your information, just in case the iPhone or iPad ask for the previous owner’s Apple ID. That way, you can just have the previous owner troubleshoot any issues that might occur on the spot.
If the previous owner/seller just can’t be physically present, they can make this change remotely. Please see below.
What you should know about Activation Lock
After iOS 7 a feature called Activation Lock was installed in the iPhone to make it harder for a stolen iPhone to sold and used.
When you are setting up your device you might get a message that reads like this:
This iPhone in linked to an Apple ID. Enter the Apple ID and password that were used to set up this iPhone, (with login and password spaces).
If you have gotten this message you must contact the previous owner for assistance. Only the former owner has the information to change this and can assist you. Apple is very strict about this policy; there are no other ways to bypass this feature. Even if you reach out to Apple directly via phone or an Apple store, the personnel will politely explain this.
Even a complete Device Firm Update DFU restore will not resolve access with another Apple ID saved in the phone. The purpose for this security is to maintain the previous device owner’s Apple ID. The information is stored on Apple’s servers for access to the users other Apple devices.
All is not lost; the previous owner of the device can remove the lock from the device remotely. The previous owner can sign into their iCloud with their own Apple ID (on a device of their own). By using the “Find My iPhone” app on iCloud, the previous owner can locate the device no longer in their possession and use, and remove the phone/device.
- Find iPhone > Select the device > Remove from This Account
You Forgot Your Own Apple ID or Password, to Your Own Device
Sometimes there are situations that you might find it necessary to remove Find My iPhone/Activation Lock from your device and have forgotten your own Apple ID or password. If that is the case, follow these instructions:
- Try Re-setting your Apple ID
- If for some reason cannot re-set your Apple ID using the Apple website, definitely try their customer support number. You should be prepared to prove you are the owner of the device with receipt or purchase information
Just remember to make sure you have done your tech due diligence when making a secondhand Apple device purchase and don’t make any hasty decisions you may regret later.
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by any chance you may know any info or ways to get pass the activation lock? im stuck with a iphone 5s that have to be unlock by previous owner but i dont have any contact with. the only thing i try to do is Reset the iphone but it still need previous owner info to unlock.
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HI
I have a iPhone 7+ thats iCloud locked are you able to help me with this /
Plx can we discuss this via my email I have same issue.
Engo un iphone 11 bloqueado
Puedes ayuadarme tambien
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Yes I have an iPhone 7 I can’t use the phone kindly help
iphone 6s plus imei no 353283073311685
i have my iphone 5s needs to be jail break of ios 11 please help me
Hey i bought 2nd hand i pad and its lock by activation lock what to do
need help unlocking this iphone 6 i bought that is icloud lock please help me
Dear
plz send me ur email ID..
I have iphone 5 and i need to unlock
Hi there I have a iphone 6 space grey 64gb I dont know where is the owner I dont have any contact to him the phone is icloud loked nd Activation Lock I have reset it 3 times but no solution I get please do something its my moms phone nd I love her nd also her thing’s
I know you’re kind of buzy but plz rply me as soon as you sees
plz help me whenever i open the link icloud.com/activationlock, it says icloud cant find the page plz plz plz help me
Hi Bhuban,
I believe the new link regarding the activation lock is now https://www.icloud.com/find
Please I need an assistant from apple stoe. I bought iphone 7plus not long ago but by then it was switch off and i later realized that its on icloud. So unfortunately i don’t know the apple id likewise the password….so please am urging you to help me.
Please help me to unlock my iphone 6+ i dont know the apple id and password can you help me to unlock so i can use my phone imei number 354437062951518 i forget the apple id and password now i cant use it no option i need someones help to unlock hope you can help me i really appreciate it if you can help me thanks alot
Hello my iPhone iCloud locked please help me
Please help me to unlock my iphone 6 i dont know the apple id and password can you help me to unlock so i can use my phone imei numbe 35201307007979
yes i can unlock your iphone by imei number
Please help me bro😓
can you unlock my iPhone 6s plus this is my Imei number 35 333707 308413 8
serial number C39QTJU9GRX2
Hi, were you able to unlock your Iphone?
can you unlock this imei 359226064922493
Can you help me I have iPhone 8 that’s activation locked
ME TO PLEASE!!!
how can u remove the apple id that is not yours
Hello , I have a iPhone Xr that i bought from a guy and have no contact with he blocked me on all social media’s and changed his number and the phone is stuck on Activation Lock with his Icloud and i do not know it can you help me bypass it so i can use my cellphone please
(Willing To Pay)
how are you sir ..plz my iphone 6 icloud lock plz sir unlock my iphone 6
IMEI:355899062554429
help me to unlock the iPhone 6 because i don’t know the apple id and password
There is any way find apple id and password with iemi number.
Hey, am Hesbon I have an iPhone 7 which seems to be locked could u kindly help? The IMEI NO. 354455062512940
Picked up an Iphone 7, would like to get Apple
ID removed as i see no purpose in tracking the previous owner just so he/she can benefit from the own negligence. IMEI NO. 35 533008 276403 8. Thanks in advance.
I got broken iPhone 5C and replaced display, but previous owner is still in iCloud activated.
How to find the owner to tell it, that he/she can unlock the iPhone??
trying to bypass the FIND MY IPAD feature for a activation lock message… for a ipad mini 1… please help… tried everything!!!
Hello sir.pls help me to open my iPad cause I forgot apple id and password registered.it says their successfully updated now need to sign in to unlock but I forgot
I need help bought an iPad and its activation locked serial number is GCGVMDW6HP9X
hello brother plzz help me to unlock my i cloud of 5s of ios11 and its imei is 013971001460937
Got new iPad pro on the streets & can’t get past the activation lock, impossible to know it belonged to. I need help please! Serial number is;
GG7x5AMFJMVR
I have an iPhone XS that I bought from a seller and he didn’t log out of his iCloud, so I’m on activation lock. Is there anyway that you can help me remove his information since I have no way to contact the seller anymore. Please and thank you!
HI;
I pick up an iphone6s, could you help me unlock it? THANKS
🤔🤔???hack much..ya almost 100 this is my phone..
I can not verify my i phone 5s , please help me to verify it. IMEI NO; 013029008532230
My son got given an iPhone 6 but it is locked to icloud please help
IMEI: 359253063060562
can you help me unlock my device
IPhone X my imei is 354869092736487
hi can u plz unclock my iphone xr. i totally fogot my password and everything. The only thing I have is IMEI number which is 35 644610 429755 6
Please help me to unlock my iphone 6s i dont know the apple id and password can you help me to unlock so i can use my phone imei numbe 355415071102918
i need to unlock my iphone 6s the imei number is 359323061071075 please help!!!!
l flashed my l phone 6s but they told me to put the activation lock but l forgot my apple this is the imei number 35856307957 and the serial number is FFMS4AUIGRY8
i have an ipad and i want to unlock cos a guy sell it to me but he never told me that is locked….cant someone help me please….DLXQM2E8GHMK this is the serial number
hi I have a iPad 4 its activation locked and if any way to try to contact the owner for me the serial number is DMRJRZ9QF182. because I have no idea how to contact the previous owner so pls try to help me .
Please help me to unlock my iPhone 5 using my imei 013632004400532
Hi, I restored my iPhone 7. I don’t know the apple id and password. Please help me to unlock my iPhone. The imei is 355328088830704 and the serial number is F4GTQEWZHG7K.
hi can you please unclock my iphone 7. i totally fogot my password and everything. The only thing I have is IMEI number which is 35 532808 883070 4
My imie number to my 8 plus is 356118094173531 I found one of my old phones and I don’t remember my iCloud stuff can someone please help me unlock it serial number is DX3X5WMZJCM1 I don’t know what to do
What if someone dies, and his wife gives you their iPads, but she doesn’t know the information? I have the man’s name, and address, and her name. My wife has been helping her clean the house out, and she gave us the ipads, and one has activation lock on it, and his kids took his iPhone, but not the iPad, or se can’t find the iPhone.
I do not want to jailbreak the device if I do not have to. The label on the back of the ipad is faded so I don’t even know what version it is. I can’t get the information from the ipad due to to the activation lock. I may be able to get a copy of the death certificate, but i’d hate to ask the wife for it.
i bought a iphone 8plus second had but lock with an apple id and i can not contact the previous owner need help to unlock
my friend gave me her iphone 7 she does not remember her apple id, passcodes, activation lock info. am i in a hopeless situation ?