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michaelmld
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Not possible to activate. please help

I have had this phone (iphone 4s) from my son. We are unable to activate the phone. My son signed in to his icloud to delete the device but, this phone was not there. We have tried to activate the phone in Apple using all the email Addresses possible. We just keep getting the massage " this email Address can not be used to activate" Can anyone give me some idea how one is able to activate the phone. We have spent hours on this. I thank everyone in advance.

iPhone 4S

Posted on Jan 3, 2015 9:04 AM

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michaelmld

Q: Not possible to activate. please help

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Jan 3, 2015 9:07 AM in response to michaelmld
    Level 10 (314,264 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 3, 2015 9:07 AM in response to michaelmld

    If you or he is the device's original owner, take the device and its original purchase receipt to a physical Apple Store.

    If not, but you're able to contact the person who set the lock, send them this link and tell them to follow its instructions.

    If neither of the above applies, you can't activate the device but may be able to get it refunded. Apple won't remove the lock for anyone other than the original owner(assuming they're alive.)

     

    (119419)

  • by michaelmld,

    michaelmld michaelmld Jan 3, 2015 9:39 AM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 3, 2015 9:39 AM in response to Niel

    Many thanks for your time. I will try your advice. No problems with the original owner as that is my son. So fingers crossed. I will let you know how we got on. Again many thanks.

  • by Briansyddall,

    Briansyddall Briansyddall Jan 3, 2015 10:12 AM in response to michaelmld
    Level 6 (9,255 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 3, 2015 10:12 AM in response to michaelmld

    Hi Your Son needs to do this. Go to Settings Turn Off find my iPhone. Then Restore iPhone back to Factory Settings. Then you can set up has a new iPhone with your details. Cheers Brian

  • by TJBUSMC1973,

    TJBUSMC1973 TJBUSMC1973 Jan 3, 2015 10:50 AM in response to Briansyddall
    Level 5 (7,636 points)
    Jan 3, 2015 10:50 AM in response to Briansyddall

    The message the OP reports strongly suggests that the device is in Setup Assistant.  If so, then you cannot go to Settings at that point.  Nothing is logged into the device itself.  This is Activation Lock, and the credentials for the Activation Lock for a particular device are not simply stored on the device.  The device's IMEI is registered on the Apple servers to be connected to a specific Apple ID.  When the device contacts the activation server and the server reports back that the device is in Activation Lock, it prompts the user with the first letter of the email address, and then the domain name or a partial domain name.  It's not something that can be changed on a device directly if it is in the Setup Assistant.

  • by Briansyddall,

    Briansyddall Briansyddall Jan 3, 2015 10:46 AM in response to TJBUSMC1973
    Level 6 (9,255 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 3, 2015 10:46 AM in response to TJBUSMC1973

    Hi Thanks for that info. Cheers Brian

  • by michaelmld,

    michaelmld michaelmld Jan 3, 2015 10:54 AM in response to TJBUSMC1973
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 3, 2015 10:54 AM in response to TJBUSMC1973

    Does this mean that the phone is scrap value?

    Thanks