How can I unlock my Apple ID without the phone number I used to sign in

How can I unlock my iPhone Apple ID without the phone number I used to sign in


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone XS

Posted on Mar 28, 2023 11:25 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 1, 2023 2:25 PM

Take the phone to the seller and have him remove the lock on the phone. The phone is useless otherwise.


Here is what the seller must do:


What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support




67 replies

Mar 28, 2023 11:32 AM in response to temitope279

Hello


The best step is to contact the original owner if possible to get them to remove device from there find my. How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support if unable to contact owner then the only other way is providing Proof of ownership documentation. Proof of ownership must include the product serial number, IMEI or MEID. you have it available https://al-support.apple.com/#/additional-support.


Hope this helps

Jan 24, 2024 7:01 AM in response to sadip16

sadip16 wrote:

Plz sair
iPhone 6 iPhone locked to owner plz unlock
My iPhone iMEI …


Pretty much all iPhones are locked to the owner, too.


Activation Lock is intended as a theft deterrent, and is intentionally difficult to bypass. We can’t help, and Apple won’t help without being provided with convincing proof of ownership.


An iPhone or iPad with Activation Lock is indistinguishable from a lost or stolen device, if not actually lost or stolen.


Return it for a refund if the seller is still around, or recycle it. If you acquired this used and the seller has disappeared and as is unfortunately all too common, then you got scammed, and now own an expensive and useless brick that’s eventually headed for recycling.


The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying a used iPad/iPhone - Apple Community


For recovering access to your own Apple ID, if you are the holder of the Apple ID associated with the Activation Lock:

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

Apple’s I Forgot Service

How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support

Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support

Mar 28, 2023 11:37 AM in response to temitope279

Hello ~ Are you the original owner? That is the activation lock. If the person/persons that you bought the iPhone from cannot or will not remove it …the iPhone is basically useless to you. If they cannot/will not remove it…return it and get your money back. We cannot help remove it nor can Apple. Take a look here:


Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support


Also:


The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying a Used iPad/iPhone


~Katana-San~



Dec 18, 2023 1:50 PM in response to sharelle225

sharelle225 wrote:

How to locked to own


Activation Lock is intended as a theft deterrent, and is intentionally difficult to bypass. We can’t help, and Apple won’t help without being provided with convincing proof of ownership.


An iPhone or iPad with Activation Lock is indistinguishable from a lost or stolen device, if not actually lost or stolen.


Return it for a refund if the seller is still around, or recycle it. If you acquired this used and the seller has disappeared and as is all too common, then you got scammed, and now own an expensive and useless brick that’s eventually headed for recycling.


The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community


For recovering access to your own Apple ID, if you are the holder of the Apple ID associated with the Activation Lock:

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

Apple’s I Forgot Service

How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support

Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support

Mar 28, 2024 7:42 AM in response to bottusrikanth

bottusrikanth wrote:


bottu192 wrote:

how I open my iPhone
iPhone locked to owner
plese help me?
my ipohne 6s locked please resoleve promble ,it will not be usable without that information.


Activation Lock is intended as a theft deterrent, and is intentionally difficult to bypass. We can’t help, and Apple won’t help without being provided with convincing proof of ownership.


An iPhone or iPad with Activation Lock is indistinguishable from a lost or stolen device, if not actually lost or stolen.


Return it for a refund if the seller is still around, or recycle it. If you acquired this used and the seller has disappeared and as is all too common, then you got scammed, and now own an expensive and useless brick that’s eventually headed for recycling.


The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community


For recovering access to your own Apple ID, if you are the holder of the Apple ID associated with the Activation Lock:

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

Apple’s I Forgot Service

How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support

Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support

Apr 8, 2024 6:14 PM in response to jerado208

jerado208 wrote:

How do I unlocked my iPhone 13 it locked to owner


Activation Lock is intended as a theft deterrent, and is intentionally difficult to bypass. We can’t help, and Apple won’t help without being provided with convincing proof of ownership.


An iPhone or iPad with Activation Lock is indistinguishable from a lost or stolen device, if not actually lost or stolen.


Return it for a refund if the seller is still around, or recycle it. If you acquired this used and the seller has disappeared and as is all too common, then you got scammed, and now own an expensive and useless brick that’s eventually headed for recycling.


The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community


For recovering access to your own Apple ID, if you are the holder of the Apple ID associated with the Activation Lock:

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

Apple’s I Forgot Service

How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support

Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support

Dec 1, 2023 2:35 PM in response to velizar91

velizar91 wrote:

Wow, thanks for the quick reply. Sorry, but what would that mean exactly? He’s willing to give me his icloud credentials too, if I had those, what would I need to do with them?


You will want to follow the previously-provided link:


What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support


Using that, the person holding the Apple ID can perform the unlock remotely, as is described in that article.

Oct 6, 2023 10:33 AM in response to destima

Did you read past the first post in this thread? I'll summarize for you. If you purchased a used iPhone, which is locked to owner, it is activation locked and the ONLY person who can unlock it is the owner the phone is locked to. If you don't know them or can't reach them, you own a totally, utterly useless iPhone you can NEVER use. Apple won't help you. We can't help you.


Either get the owner who locked the phone to remove activation lock, or return the phone for refund or recycle the phone responsibly.


Read this too --> The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

Nov 13, 2023 1:50 PM in response to mce_chriss

mce_chriss wrote:

what if the original owner is known(a family member), apple id email is known also but forgot the password and the current apple device being used by this original owner is signed in with a different apple id email but the same phone number with the 'locked to owner iphone' .. how can we resolve this?


For recovering access to your own Apple ID, if you are the holder of the Apple ID associated with the Activation Lock:

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

Apple’s I Forgot Service

How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support

Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support

Oct 29, 2023 7:25 AM in response to uzairzahid567

uzairzahid567 wrote:

IPhone locked to owner remove


Activation Lock is an anti-theft measure designed to make stolen or lost phones useless to thieves, and to anyone else who might come into possession of those phones.


We cannot remove it for you.


Apple will not remove it for you, except in very limited circumstances (e.g., you are the original owner and you have proof-of-purchase documentation that is satisfactory to Apple).


If you are the person to whom the phone is locked, see:


How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support


Dec 4, 2023 7:31 AM in response to Tosindamu

Tosindamu wrote:

How can I sign in in my iphone 7

My apple id was disabled


There are various causes of a disabled Apple ID.


One of the most common: If you see a message that says your account has been disabled in the App Store and iTunes Store, contact Apple Support for help. 


There is nothing you can do to clear a message that the Apple ID is disabled in the App Store and iTunes Store, other than directly contacting Apple using that blue-text link.


Some of the other causes:


If your Apple ID was disabled for another reason:

If your Apple ID is locked or disabled - Apple Support


If you are encountering some other lock, such as a forgotten device passcode, here are steps and info for some of those:

How to Unlock an iPad or iPhone? - Apple Community



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How can I unlock my Apple ID without the phone number I used to sign in

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