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Bought second hand and cant get passed the activation lock. How do i get around it without having to contact the prev. owner?
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Bought second hand and cant get passed the activation lock. How do i get around it without having to contact the prev. owner?
If the iPad is disabled or Activation Locked, unless you can independently obtain assistance from the previous owner, the iPad is (and will remain) useless 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.
The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community
Here is what Apple suggests when purchasing used:
Check for Activation Lock before you buy a device from someone else
Before you buy an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, from someone other than Apple or an authorized Apple reseller, make sure that the device is erased and no longer linked to the previous owner’s account. Follow these steps to check if the device is ready to use:
You will know that a device is ready for you to use when you're asked to "Set up your iPhone," “Set up your iPad," or “Set up your iPod” the first time you turn it on.
If the iPad is disabled or Activation Locked, unless you can independently obtain assistance from the previous owner, the iPad is (and will remain) useless 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.
The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community
Here is what Apple suggests when purchasing used:
Check for Activation Lock before you buy a device from someone else
Before you buy an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, from someone other than Apple or an authorized Apple reseller, make sure that the device is erased and no longer linked to the previous owner’s account. Follow these steps to check if the device is ready to use:
You will know that a device is ready for you to use when you're asked to "Set up your iPhone," “Set up your iPad," or “Set up your iPod” the first time you turn it on.
Without the aid of the original owner/user of this iPad, you will never, EVER get this iPad to work for you.
No one here can help you and Apple will not help you, either.
This is a dead, useless device to you.
If you can, return this iPad and attempt to get your money back, if you can.
If no joy with a return and refund, please, recycle this device responsibly.
Next time, If you need an iPad, then, you need to purchase a new iPad from Apple or a discounted, refurbished iPad from Apple’s Refurbished & Clearance section of Apple’s Website or a new or refurbished iPad from an Apple authorised, third party retail or online reseller OR other trusted sources for new or used Apple products.
If you decide to go down the path of purchasing used, secondhand Apple devices, again, 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!
Sorry & Best of Luck to You!
You can't. It's an anti-theft measure.
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