Ipad Disabled - sorted with itunes full retore - NOW Activation lock won't clear

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Ipad Disabled - sorted with itunes full retore - NOW Activation lock won't clear

Dug out an old Ipad that hasn't been used for a while (daughter not ready), she had clearly tried far too many passwords and it was Disabled - this I sorted by logging onto itunes and doing a full restore - Great!

I thought I was done, but NO! NOW there is an Activation lock on the device that won't clear - it is indicating it is connect to the very itunes address I just used to fix the disabled issue. But it wont accept these same itunes login credentials to clear the Activation lock - arghhh!!

Googling suggests that at some point one of us has used Find My Phone and attached the device to it - but it is still indicating my email address as the login to itunes which works just fine - so why wont the Activation Lock clear with that login? If it was someone else's itunes that had linked through find my phone surely it would be suggesting their email address - but its not. I am baffled. Surely it doesnt want the very original password used to set up itunes from 2014??? Its probably changed dozens of times since then. Apple has got way too complex for its own good, its becoming unusable.

Help! Thank you :)

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Aug 30, 2022 8:23 AM

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Answer 1

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LotusPilot

Community+ 2025

Level 10

301,724 points

Aug 30, 2022 8:49 AM in response to ActivationLockFrustration2

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:

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/

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Answer 2

AKRBTN

Level 6

8,863 points

Aug 30, 2022 8:51 AM in response to ActivationLockFrustration2

“Surely it doesnt want the very original password used to set up itunes from 2014???”

Yep, it probably does. That’s how it’s always worked.

If you’ve got the original sales receipt showing you to be the original owner then Apple may be able to unlock it for you.

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Answer 3

Aug 30, 2022 10:17 AM in response to LotusPilot

Thank you for the response - I’ve already looked at those pages. What is confusing is My Apple ID is working fine and enabled me to Restore the device. To remove the activation lock it shows me a partial email address/Apple ID - that is MY Apple ID. But when I use it to remove activation lock on device it doesn’t work. But simultaneously works perfectly to log into iTunes on my laptop. I just don’t get it!

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Ipad Disabled - sorted with itunes full retore - NOW Activation lock won't clear

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