My daughter, aged 10, has been unable to get into her iPad since February. It is still linked to her AppleID, which she does not know the password to. She does not know the password to the email account to which Apple sends the password reset. What can she do to finally use her iPad again?
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 do have the original sales invoice, Apple Support may be prepared to assist. Otherwise, you’ll need to take the self-help route...
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:
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:
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 do have the original sales invoice, Apple Support may be prepared to assist. Otherwise, you’ll need to take the self-help route...
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:
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:
In your situation this may be useful:
Family Sharing and Apple ID for your child - https://support.apple.com/HT201084
- "Your email address is the rescue email address for your child’s account, and you can use it with the security questions you provided to reset a forgotten password. You can keep your your child's account more secure with two-factor authentication."
- "If you need to see the options you have for managing your child's account, you can sign in with their Apple ID and password at privacy.apple.com."
Otherwise you are in a tough spot. "Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch" is a security feature, in part to deter re-selling of stolen devices. To learn more click here --> http://support.apple.com/HT201365
Turn off Activation Lock. To read more click here --> 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 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] click here --> https://support.apple.com/HT201354
- "If you forgot your Apple ID password" click here --> 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. This is unofficial and there is apparently no set policy (I asked at an Apple Store). A store may simply refuse, particularly if they are not satisfied you have proven ownership by provenance.
You will need to deal with Apple; I would assume that since she is under age, you created the Apple ID for her? So you should have a record of the password?
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201084
You may need to gather the original purchase receipt (in your name?) and the iPad and take it to your nearest open store - but do check with Apple. We are all other users here, so we cannot give you a definitive answer.
Activation Lock
