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I work at a wreaking yard and we got a car in that had this iPhone 10 in it and I would like to change the Apple ID to mine and not the original owners Id

How do I reset my iPhone 10 that I found in a car at work? I work at a wreaking yard and need to change the email that the phone was set up on

iPhone XR

Posted on Jun 7, 2021 3:12 PM

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Posted on Jun 7, 2021 3:18 PM

"Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch" is a security feature with an added aspect of possibly deterring re-selling of stolen devices. To learn more click here --> http://support.apple.com/HT201365


For an individual to remove an activation lock this absolutely requires the information for the account that applied the lock. Click on this link to learn 'How to remove Activation Lock' --> https://support.apple.com/HT201441


If you do not know the required information and you are not the original owner, get the owner of the account to remove the lock or return the device for a refund or recycle it. The device is otherwise useless to you. If the owner is unknown and has not provided contact information as a message showing in the login screen, there is no way to contact the owner unless you know who owned the car.


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Jun 7, 2021 3:18 PM in response to mikelstuart1968

"Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch" is a security feature with an added aspect of possibly deterring re-selling of stolen devices. To learn more click here --> http://support.apple.com/HT201365


For an individual to remove an activation lock this absolutely requires the information for the account that applied the lock. Click on this link to learn 'How to remove Activation Lock' --> https://support.apple.com/HT201441


If you do not know the required information and you are not the original owner, get the owner of the account to remove the lock or return the device for a refund or recycle it. The device is otherwise useless to you. If the owner is unknown and has not provided contact information as a message showing in the login screen, there is no way to contact the owner unless you know who owned the car.


Jun 7, 2021 4:21 PM in response to mikelstuart1968

The whole point of what you’re experiencing is that you cannot change the AppleID. The only person who can sign the current AppleID out is the one who set it up and thus knows the AppleID password. Apple has deliberately designed this system so that a lost or stolen device cannot be used by whomever finds or steals it. It is tied to the owners AppleID and cannot be used by anyone else.


I understand you just found it in a wreak, but the system is doing exactly what it’s designed to do, which is prevent anyone from using that device without the active aid of the previous owner.

I work at a wreaking yard and we got a car in that had this iPhone 10 in it and I would like to change the Apple ID to mine and not the original owners Id

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