Activate a locked phone

If Apple unlocked Activation Lock on every locked phone for which a second-hand buyer had a pawn shop receipt, it would be worthless as an anti-theft deterrent.

According to you, Apple considered your request … and said “No.”. The option to file a request is not the blind “Hail Mary” pass or promise that you want it to be.

You could take up the presence of the Activation Lock with the seller (why did you provide me with a brick?), except that here, you say you knowingly purchased the phone in this state.

BigBen_75 wrote:

I know all that. As I said as the undisputed new owner (I provided the invoices) I should now have the phone unlocked by Apple. This is what the website promises.

Um... no. Unless you have the original sales receipt from when the phone was sold to the original purchaser by Apple or an authorized retailer, you do not have the required documentation to prove ownership.

Apple is not going to unlock it for you.

if the previous owner clears the phone on iCloud, will that work if the phone is off at the time or does it need to be on?

If the original owner removes the device from Find My under their iCloud account, the activation lock will be removed from the phone. (you may have to restore iOS using a computer to complete the process).

BigBen_75 wrote:

I am a pensioner, and could never spend big money to upgrade my 6S. Recently I bought a completely smashed iPhone 11 from an insurance company. I knew it was "locked" but the Apple website ensured me that if I could prove that I am the owner, they would remove the lock.

I was able to combine two broken iPhones into one working one, and proceeded to factory reset, but I get stuck at the Activation, so I applied to Apple with all the right paperwork and they rejected my request.

You bought a "completely smashed" phone. You knew that it was Activation Locked to someone else, and yet you didn't get the insurance company – or that someone else – to unlock the phone for you.

You may have something showing that you bought the phone second-hand, but you clearly don't have anything proving that you were the original purchaser of the phone, and proving that to Apple's satisfaction. Apple's site indicates that you can make a request – not that all requests will be approved.

If you do not remember the Apple ID Password then follow the steps given in this Apple Article -> If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

If you do not remember the Apple ID then follow the steps given in this Apple Article -> If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

If you are the original owner or the original owner has shared all information with you then to open Activation Lock:- If it is Activation locked, read here --> Turn off Activation Lock - Apple Support Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Learn how to remove a device from a previous owner's account.

If you are not the owner and do not have the Apple ID and Password then there is no way that you can get into this iPhone unless the original owner shares the Apple ID and password with you. If you are lucky you can get into this iPhone if they (owner) accidentally remove the device from their Apple ID.