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Can’t activate my old iPad

I’m trying to re activate my old iPad but it’s not accepting my valid Apple ID and password. I had changed my Apple ID email and it’s not allowing me to use the new email address to activate the device. It’s also not recognising my old user email address either.

iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi + Cellular

Posted on Feb 10, 2021 3:04 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 10, 2021 3:16 PM

When you state that you changed your AppleID email, are you suggesting that you updated your original AppleID account with your new email address - or, instead, have created an entirely new AppleID with a different primary address? The distinction here is crucial...


If you created a new AppleID account that uses your new primary email address as its username, the Activation Lock remains associated with the original [old] AppleID account. If so, you’ll need to concentrate your effort upon recovering access to the original AppleID account credentials.


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 any 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





1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 10, 2021 3:16 PM in response to maltalaw

When you state that you changed your AppleID email, are you suggesting that you updated your original AppleID account with your new email address - or, instead, have created an entirely new AppleID with a different primary address? The distinction here is crucial...


If you created a new AppleID account that uses your new primary email address as its username, the Activation Lock remains associated with the original [old] AppleID account. If so, you’ll need to concentrate your effort upon recovering access to the original AppleID account credentials.


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 any 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





Can’t activate my old iPad

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