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

Reply
Question marked as ⚠️ Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 6, 2023 10:33 AM

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

67 replies
Sort By: 
Question marked as ⚠️ Top-ranking reply

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

Reply

Apr 21, 2023 5:11 PM in response to biswojit16

If you are the owner, then you can use your Apple ID and Password to remove the Activation Lock on the phone. If you are not the person who set up the phone originally, then you need to find the person that did.


How to remove Activation Lock - Apple SupportAppleOfficial Apple Support › en-us




Reply

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

Reply

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

Reply

Sep 19, 2023 10:35 AM in response to linda674

Get the owner who locked it to unlock it. If you don't know them or can't reach them, you cannot use the phone. Apple won't help you unless you have the original purchase which clearly shows the iPhone Serial Number on it.


Read the posts above yours.

Reply

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~



Reply

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

Reply

Jan 11, 2024 9:18 AM in response to samran145

ONLY the owner the phone is locked to can remove if from their account. If you don't know them or can't reach them, there is NO help anyone can offer you.


If you bought a used iPhone, you've most assuredly wasted your money on a device you can NEVER use.


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

Reply

Jan 13, 2024 2:15 PM in response to SyedMashhood

SyedMashhood wrote:

My phone is disable from me i want to open my phone i give u all information of my phone like apple id apple id password old passcode but plz unlock my phone

Do NOT post your Apple ID or Password on a public forum visited by millions of people from around the world. We cannot unlock your phone. But you can by following the directions in this link, which requires erasing the phone using your computer with Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) --> If you forgot your iPhone passcode - Apple Support


Reply

Sep 10, 2023 10:35 AM in response to Dravedsharma

Dravedsharma wrote:

How to unlock my phone iPhone 11 locked your owner how to unlock


Activation Lock is intended as a theft deterrent, and is intentionally difficult to bypass. We can’t help, and Apple won’t.


This iPhone 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 as is all too common, 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




Reply

Oct 25, 2023 5:02 AM in response to NabilAhmed1w

NabilAhmed1w wrote:

The iphone I bought it requires owners icloud and I have no access to contact to the owner what should I do
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/1a331b0a-86dc-4c9c-b9ac-6f098f7285d3

Either get your money back or recycle the phone. It is utterly, totally, completely useless to you.


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

Reply

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


Reply

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

Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

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

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.