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My iPad 2 has gone into activation lock. I am the original owner and bought the iPad in 2011. I use my current Apple ID and password but they don't seem to work?
iPad 2, iOS 9
If you own a very old iPad model, like almost 9 to 11-year old 2011 iPad 2, 2012 iPad 3, 4 or 1st gen iPad Mini, it may no longer ever be possible to re-activate OR re-verify these very old iPads, now in 2022.
Sorry.
Sometime in mid 2021, Apple made changes to its activation servers that now check device activation validation through the Safari Web browser, now.
If you had been using that over 5-year old Safari Web browser to accesss the Internet, I suspect that this was the reason your old, 10-1/2-year old, 2011 iPad 2 went into user activation mode.
That old Safari Web browser is over 5-years old, now, and is NOT safe and secure to use to accesss the Internet, any longer.
I, also, suspect with this new device activation method, that old Safari Web browser may no longer be able to negotiate getting by Apple's new activation authentication server processes/protocols and allowing that old iPad to be re-activated.
I, also, suspect that Apple didi this to silently and permanently end use of these over 9-10-year old iPad models on their networks, pretty much completely ending the use of these very old iOS devices.
Apple's own procedures, my own procedures, as well as those from others, may no longer be effective to re-activate these very old iPad models.
Also, any attempts at a major reset of these old iPad models will render them nearly uselesss devixes. Especially so with no recent data AND actual app backups!
Sorrt.
You need to realise that the iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen iPad Mini are all very old and obsolete, now.
Sorry.
Apple ended support for all 9-11-year old iOS devices nearly 5 years, ago, in 2016.
Third party app developers abandoned and stopped supporting these 8-10-year old iOS devices nearly 3 years, ago, in 2018.
There are, virtually, NO MORE third party apps available from the iOS App Store, any longer!
Third party compatible apps for such old devices are few and far between, now, in 2022.
This includes apps for both iOS 9 AND iOS 10 devices and, throughout 2022, ALL iOS 12 ONLY devices!
AND, NO WAY to, initially, install any older, compatible, third party apps into this old iPad, any longer!
NO MORE SUPPORT! NO MORE APPS!
All 2011-2012 iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen iPad Mini models are fully and completely unsupported AND obsolete!
Sorry, but this is the reality for ALL 9-11-year old AND OLDER iOS devices now. Especially now, in 2022.
In addition, the internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads are, also, running on borrowed time.
Not worth the costs to replace these old internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads, any longer, either.
You really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.
There are PLENTY of less expensive, newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.
If you need OR ONLY able to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older iPads from 2014 and later.
All of these older model iPads below, CAN, currently, run the latest releases of iPadOS 15.
2014, 9,7 inch screen iPad Air 2 models ( NO Pencil support )
2015, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 4 models ( NO Pencil support )
2015-2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2016, 9.7 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2017,10.5 inch screen iPad iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models ( NO Pencil support )
2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2019, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 5th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has ANY expandable storage.
I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these very old iOS devices.
Please recycle these old devices properly and responsibly.
Sorry & Best of Luck to You!
If you own a very old iPad model, like almost 9 to 11-year old 2011 iPad 2, 2012 iPad 3, 4 or 1st gen iPad Mini, it may no longer ever be possible to re-activate OR re-verify these very old iPads, now in 2022.
Sorry.
Sometime in mid 2021, Apple made changes to its activation servers that now check device activation validation through the Safari Web browser, now.
If you had been using that over 5-year old Safari Web browser to accesss the Internet, I suspect that this was the reason your old, 10-1/2-year old, 2011 iPad 2 went into user activation mode.
That old Safari Web browser is over 5-years old, now, and is NOT safe and secure to use to accesss the Internet, any longer.
I, also, suspect with this new device activation method, that old Safari Web browser may no longer be able to negotiate getting by Apple's new activation authentication server processes/protocols and allowing that old iPad to be re-activated.
I, also, suspect that Apple didi this to silently and permanently end use of these over 9-10-year old iPad models on their networks, pretty much completely ending the use of these very old iOS devices.
Apple's own procedures, my own procedures, as well as those from others, may no longer be effective to re-activate these very old iPad models.
Also, any attempts at a major reset of these old iPad models will render them nearly uselesss devixes. Especially so with no recent data AND actual app backups!
Sorrt.
You need to realise that the iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen iPad Mini are all very old and obsolete, now.
Sorry.
Apple ended support for all 9-11-year old iOS devices nearly 5 years, ago, in 2016.
Third party app developers abandoned and stopped supporting these 8-10-year old iOS devices nearly 3 years, ago, in 2018.
There are, virtually, NO MORE third party apps available from the iOS App Store, any longer!
Third party compatible apps for such old devices are few and far between, now, in 2022.
This includes apps for both iOS 9 AND iOS 10 devices and, throughout 2022, ALL iOS 12 ONLY devices!
AND, NO WAY to, initially, install any older, compatible, third party apps into this old iPad, any longer!
NO MORE SUPPORT! NO MORE APPS!
All 2011-2012 iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen iPad Mini models are fully and completely unsupported AND obsolete!
Sorry, but this is the reality for ALL 9-11-year old AND OLDER iOS devices now. Especially now, in 2022.
In addition, the internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads are, also, running on borrowed time.
Not worth the costs to replace these old internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads, any longer, either.
You really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.
There are PLENTY of less expensive, newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.
If you need OR ONLY able to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older iPads from 2014 and later.
All of these older model iPads below, CAN, currently, run the latest releases of iPadOS 15.
2014, 9,7 inch screen iPad Air 2 models ( NO Pencil support )
2015, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 4 models ( NO Pencil support )
2015-2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2016, 9.7 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2017,10.5 inch screen iPad iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models ( NO Pencil support )
2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2019, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 5th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has ANY expandable storage.
I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these very old iOS devices.
Please recycle these old devices properly and responsibly.
Sorry & Best of Luck to You!
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, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. With documentary evidence that you are the original owner (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple may be prepared to assist - otherwise they and nobody here will be able to help you.
If you have the necessary documentation, Apple have recently introduced a new portal though which you may be able to request release of an Activation Lock:
How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support & start an Activation Lock support request.
However, recovery of the AppleID credentials should be possible…
If you have forgotten your AppleID or associated password, these can be recovered here:
To recover your credentials, you’ll need access to any 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:
If you decide to go down the path of purchasing used, secondhand Apple devices, here is how to avoid purchasing an Apple iOS/iPadOS device with user activation lock, in the future.
If you purchase any iPad, or any Apple iOS device, for that matter, used/second hand, online, or even in-person, make sure this iPad does NOT have user activation lock and has been properly reset for sale.
A properly reset for sale iPad should initially power up to an animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen.
DO NOT take the iPad seller's word that this iPad is user activation lock free!
We have seen plenty of used iOS device purchasers get scammed.
User Activation Lock can never be bypasss, circumvented or worked around IF there is no correct previous/original user information to be able to do so.
Apple doesn't get involved with ANY user activation locked, used/second-hand sold devices, either.
So, buyer beware!
If purchasing a used device in-person, power the iPad ON
If the iPad DOES NOT display the initial animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, then pass on purchasing this iPad.
If the iPad powers up to any other screen, then forget purchasing this iPad.
You cannot trust that the seller actually has the correct needed info to properly reset the iPad back to factory settings right then and there before the actual purchase and exchange of money for the iPad, in question.
Pass on the device!
If you are purchasing this used iPad online ask the seller to provide multiple images, either online or be sent to you via email, showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen of the interested in purchasing iPad model.
Even better, ask for a short video be sent to you showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, in action and in its entirety, posted to the online ad or emailed to you.
If the online iPad seller refuses any of these requests, pass on the iPad. DO NOT buy!
Good Luck to You!
My iPad 2 has gone into activation lock. I am the original owner and bought the iPad in 2011. I use my current Apple ID and password but they dont seem to work?
