If you cannot get the previous owner to remove it from Icloud are you basically out of luck of ever using device?
My guess is now that it was probably stolen and resold to me... any idea how to get it back to owner etc or unlocked.... or lost cause all around.
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.
By contrast, 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:
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.
By contrast, 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:
Your Activation locked iPad is useless and dead without the help from its original owner.
Sorry, but this iPad is dead to you!
Please recycle it responsibly.
If you must/insist on purchasing used devices from unknown, untrusted sources, you must ask A WHOLE LOT more questions of the iOS device seller, ask for more photo/images, ask if the iPad has user/iCloud activation lock and ask for photos/images/short video proof, ANY REAL, UNQUESTIONABLE, UNMISTAKEABLE, CONFIRMED VISUAL PROOF, that such an iPad has been reset to factory settings and shown proof of the iOS device's start up screen showing the animated, moving, multi-language “Hello, Welcome to iPad” screen.
If the iOS device seller is unwilling to do all of this to show you that the iPad, in question, is ready to use with no barriers to new user activation and use, pass on the iOS device and look at other iOS device sellers, elsewhere, who will be more accommodating to answering questions and providing visual image or video proof of a proper factory reset iPad.
Sorry & Best of Luck to You!
Removal of Find My Ipad...unable to get previous owner to respond....
