HT201441: Turn off Find My iPhone Activation Lock

Learn about Turn off Find My iPhone Activation Lock
Chris Winkler1

Q: iPad won't unlock after erase and reinstall

My old ipad had a bunch of apps from an old apple ID. So i erase it, and now it won't unlock for me. I go to appleid.com and its there as a device.

The activate iPad shows the ipad is linked to my apple id email.

 

but it won't let me unlock it. it says Incorrect Apple ID and my email can not be used to unlock it.

 

Does anyone have any idea what i can do? I do see in appleid.com that i can remove it from my apple id but i am afraid it will make it even worse.

 

Suggestions????

Posted on May 13, 2016 3:36 PM

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Q: iPad won't unlock after erase and reinstall

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  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine May 13, 2016 3:39 PM in response to Chris Winkler1
    Level 7 (26,354 points)
    iCloud
    May 13, 2016 3:39 PM in response to Chris Winkler1

    You would need to go to iCloud.com and open Find My iPhone to see if the particular device you are referring to is listed.

     

    Do you recognize the partial email address that is showing on the Activation screen?

     

    Did you purchase the device 2nd hand?

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB

  • by Chris Winkler1,

    Chris Winkler1 Chris Winkler1 May 13, 2016 3:46 PM in response to gail from maine
    Level 2 (182 points)
    Applications
    May 13, 2016 3:46 PM in response to gail from maine

    I removed it from appleid.apple.com.

    Its not showing up in iCloud.

    that is the correct email, yet it says that email cannot be used to unlock it

    i am the owner

    this is ridiculous

    how do i hard erase or ????

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine May 13, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Chris Winkler1
    Level 7 (26,354 points)
    iCloud
    May 13, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Chris Winkler1

    It doesn't really matter if it is showing on your Apple ID at the appleid.apple.com website. The devices you are seeing there are devices that are associated with your Apple ID for the purposes of downloading past purchases from iTunes, using Apple Music, or using iTunes Match.

     

    What is showing under the Find My iPhone at iCloud.com is the list of devices that have the Activation Lock enabled via Find My iPhone. If it is not showing up under Find My iPhone at iCloud.com, then it is not locked to your iCloud account.

     

    Again, are you the original owner, or did you purchase it from someone else?

     

    You cannot erase it with the Activation Lock engaged. If you are the original owner, you can take the original purchase receipt to Apple and they can unlock it for you. But they will only do that with a valid original purchase receipt.

     

    Best of luck,

     

    GB

  • by Chris Winkler1,

    Chris Winkler1 Chris Winkler1 May 13, 2016 3:58 PM in response to gail from maine
    Level 2 (182 points)
    Applications
    May 13, 2016 3:58 PM in response to gail from maine

    I am the original owner. I am using my apple id which works fine everywhere else. The question is why is it saying to enter my apple id, yet it says it can't be used with this device?

    Can anyone else help me?

    2016-05-13_17-55-18.jpg

  • by Chris Winkler1,

    Chris Winkler1 Chris Winkler1 May 13, 2016 4:00 PM in response to gail from maine
    Level 2 (182 points)
    Applications
    May 13, 2016 4:00 PM in response to gail from maine

    actually I won the iPad in a drawing several years ago. I did not buy it so there is no receipt.

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine May 13, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Chris Winkler1
    Level 7 (26,354 points)
    iCloud
    May 13, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Chris Winkler1

    Well, unfortunately, unless you can produce proof of original purchase, you are stuck. Since your device is not showing up under Find My iPhone on your iCloud account, can you think of any other email address that you may have used to set up the Activation Lock? If not, then you won't be able to get around the Activation Lock.

     

    Sorry,

     

    GB

  • by Chris Winkler1,

    Chris Winkler1 Chris Winkler1 May 13, 2016 4:56 PM in response to gail from maine
    Level 2 (182 points)
    Applications
    May 13, 2016 4:56 PM in response to gail from maine

    Actually after talking to support and trying to remember security questions from 40 years ago like my first concert, which BTW was Rush, we figured it was with an old apple ID i had not used in years. After getting the email forwarded, reset password, logged into ipad with old log in, and it worked. What is crazy is that it was asking for the apple ID i was using for the last few years... Time to send it to my wifes mother in Viet Nam, its a slow dog. That's why i was erasing it, tired of it hanging all the time while on the the web.

     

    In a way I am glad its so hard for someone to get in if it was stolen, and even the FBI could not get in, though some Israel did get in the 4 digit code, so I upgraded to the 6 digit passcode, so unless they cut off my finger, or force me to touch the reader, my stuff is secure. Thanks Apple.