iPad locked with account that no longer exists.

The Activation Lock must be deactivated before the associated AppleID account is closed/deleted. Failure to remove the lock before account deactivation will result in a permanently locked iPad.

Here are the Apple support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be turned off:

Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Turn off Activation Lock – Apple Support

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.

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:

https://iforgot.apple.com

To recover your credentials, you’ll need access to one of the following:

• Your primary email address mailbox that corresponds with your AppleID
• Any of the secondary/recovery email addresses that should be configured for your AppleID account
• Any of the trusted telephone numbers (fixed line or Cellular/Mobile) that are associated with your AppleID

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:

If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

More information about recovery of your AppleID password:

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

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:

https://appleid.apple.com

My opening statement is correct. If an AppleID account is intentionally closed, it is not possible to retrospectively remove an Activation Lock.

Apple’s documentation and guidance makes clear that devices must be disassociated from an AppleID prior to permanent deactivation of an AppleID account.

Supply Apple with the documentation listed in the fourth paragraph of LotusPilot's post.

LotusPilot: The first paragraph of your post is incorrect. Apple's bypass method doesn't require access to that Apple ID.

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Apple's documentation elsewhere says "Otherwise, your device is locked and anyone that you give the device to can't use it normally and Apple technicians can't perform service repairs." when they have a way of bypassing the lock, so this is an internal policy restriction, not a technical one, and it would be possible for the lock to be removed after an Apple ID has been deleted.

There have been reports here of people getting it bypassed on units gotten from a police auction, and in rare cases, the Apple ID used to lock an unit becomes unable to unlock it.

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