I bought an iphone 7 about 6 months ago from online. It has an activation lock on it but not reported stolen. Can this be cleared somehow?

It cannot be checked. Apple won't help you. We cannot help you. The iPhone is utterly useless unless you can reach the previous owner who the phone is locked to.

Read this link: The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

Only if you're able to reach the person who set the lock.

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Nope. Activation Lock cannot be bypassed. You would need to get in touch with the previous owner somehow.