Hi, I have the iPad that my grandad used - he recently died - and we do not know what his Apple ID password is in order to reregister it with my own I’d. Any clues? Standard reset doesn’t work and it won’t let me add my own Apple ID as an alternative. Help....
iPad, iOS 10
Here are the Apple support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be turned off:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201365
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201441
As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, or unless you can secure the cooperation of the previous owner, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. Without documentary evidence that you are the original owner (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple won’t assist - and nobody here will be able to help you.
However, a close family member may have sufficient information to be able to recover the AppleID of your late Grandfather - and may then be able to switch-off the Activation Lock. The following guidance is written from the perspective of the owner (your Grandfather), but you’ll get the idea...
If you are the owner of the AppleID that previously activated the device - and you have forgotten your AppleID or associated password, these can be recovered here:
To recover your credentials, you’ll need access to one of the following:
Unless you AppleID account has not been fully/correctly configured, or has been seriously neglected, recovery of the AppleID and password should not be difficult.
More information about recovery of your AppleID:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201354
More information about recovery of your AppleID password:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201487
When you recover access to your credentials, you would be well advised to log-in to your AppleID account from a web browser - and verify/update any email addresses and trusted telephone numbers:
I hope this information and guidance proves to be helpful in recovering access to your inherited iPad.
Here are the Apple support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be turned off:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201365
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201441
As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, or unless you can secure the cooperation of the previous owner, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. Without documentary evidence that you are the original owner (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple won’t assist - and nobody here will be able to help you.
However, a close family member may have sufficient information to be able to recover the AppleID of your late Grandfather - and may then be able to switch-off the Activation Lock. The following guidance is written from the perspective of the owner (your Grandfather), but you’ll get the idea...
If you are the owner of the AppleID that previously activated the device - and you have forgotten your AppleID or associated password, these can be recovered here:
To recover your credentials, you’ll need access to one of the following:
Unless you AppleID account has not been fully/correctly configured, or has been seriously neglected, recovery of the AppleID and password should not be difficult.
More information about recovery of your AppleID:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201354
More information about recovery of your AppleID password:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201487
When you recover access to your credentials, you would be well advised to log-in to your AppleID account from a web browser - and verify/update any email addresses and trusted telephone numbers:
I hope this information and guidance proves to be helpful in recovering access to your inherited iPad.
activation is a theft protection so to by pass it you need apples help
This is a user helping other users with tech
questions forum, you are not addressing apple here just fellow users
you should read
How to request access to a deceased family member's Apple accounts - Apple Support
Thankyou - very helpful and now sorted. Cheers.
You’re very welcome. I’m delighted to have been able to assist.
Remove an Apple ID for deceased owner
