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iPad, Activation lock

I was given an iPad for my son to use for school but there is an activation lock on it and the person that it was before has no clue of the email or password, can I bypass this in any way

Posted on Jan 4, 2021 7:25 PM

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Posted on Jan 4, 2021 7:29 PM

In essence, no. Read the below but your best bet is to help the owner recover their Apple ID and/or password, or get the original owner to ask Apple for assistance. How to do both is included below.


Find My iPhone Activation Lock - This is a security feature, in part to deter re-selling of stolen devices. --> http://support.apple.com/HT201365


Turn off Activation Lock --> https://support.apple.com/HT201441 - An activation lock can only be removed using the log-in information for the account that applied the lock.


If this is a device for which you are not the original owner, get the owner of the account to remove the lock or return the device for a refund. The device is otherwise useless to you. If the owner has not provided contact information as a message showing in the login screen there is no way to contact the owner unless the person who gave you the device knows them.


If you are the original owner and have forgotten the log-in information, try to recover it:

- If you forgot your Apple ID [this is likely an email address you are using or used in the past] --> https://support.apple.com/HT201354

- If you forgot your Apple ID password --> https://support.apple.com/HT201487


Otherwise:

Apple may possibly remove a lock if a person can provide sufficient evidence of valid ownership. The device is normally taken to an Apple Store with identification and the original sales receipt. I.e., the receipt when the item was sold to the first owner, and preferably by that person. There is apparently no set policy (I asked at an Apple Store) and a store may simply refuse, particularly if they are not satisfied you have proven ownership by provenance.


1 reply
Question marked as Best reply

Jan 4, 2021 7:29 PM in response to Kyla1997

In essence, no. Read the below but your best bet is to help the owner recover their Apple ID and/or password, or get the original owner to ask Apple for assistance. How to do both is included below.


Find My iPhone Activation Lock - This is a security feature, in part to deter re-selling of stolen devices. --> http://support.apple.com/HT201365


Turn off Activation Lock --> https://support.apple.com/HT201441 - An activation lock can only be removed using the log-in information for the account that applied the lock.


If this is a device for which you are not the original owner, get the owner of the account to remove the lock or return the device for a refund. The device is otherwise useless to you. If the owner has not provided contact information as a message showing in the login screen there is no way to contact the owner unless the person who gave you the device knows them.


If you are the original owner and have forgotten the log-in information, try to recover it:

- If you forgot your Apple ID [this is likely an email address you are using or used in the past] --> https://support.apple.com/HT201354

- If you forgot your Apple ID password --> https://support.apple.com/HT201487


Otherwise:

Apple may possibly remove a lock if a person can provide sufficient evidence of valid ownership. The device is normally taken to an Apple Store with identification and the original sales receipt. I.e., the receipt when the item was sold to the first owner, and preferably by that person. There is apparently no set policy (I asked at an Apple Store) and a store may simply refuse, particularly if they are not satisfied you have proven ownership by provenance.


iPad, Activation lock

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