I bought an iPhone at a flea market and it's activation locked

Hello community, we bought an iPhone 12 upon visiting Sweden at a flea market (15/11/23) only to come back home and realize that it is locked via activation lock.and the only info about icloud owner was : "f.....@icloud.com"


Please help me find the owner so we can communicate the way forward 💖💖 I promise I did not steal your phone I bought it as preowned.


[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Dec 18, 2023 4:56 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 18, 2023 6:23 AM

Take it back to the person from whom you received it. Get them to do the things in this support article or ask for a refund --> What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support There is no way to discover the owner of a device unless they left a message to display on the device when it is turned on, or the person who gave you teh device knows them.


Unless you have the account information that set the lock, the original receipt from Apple, or can demonstrate legal inheritance from a deceased owner, you cannot remove the lock and should recycle the device. Read this article about how to remove Activation Lock --> How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support


For information about how to request access to a deceased family member's Apple account data, and possibly their equipment, read this support article --> How to request access to a deceased family member's Apple account - Apple Support


From the very bottom of Apple Trade In - Apple :

"Does Apple offer recycling?

Yes. Apple Trade In lets you recycle any Apple device (including devices from Apple-owned brands) at any Apple Store and on Apple for free. That includes your batteries and old electronic products as well as free, on-demand packaging recycling for our commercial, education, and institutional customers. When we receive your device, it will be thoroughly inspected to determine if components can be recycled or reused. Whether recycled or reused, all activities relating to the processing of your device will be managed in an environmentally responsible way."


1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 18, 2023 6:23 AM in response to B_frea

Take it back to the person from whom you received it. Get them to do the things in this support article or ask for a refund --> What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support There is no way to discover the owner of a device unless they left a message to display on the device when it is turned on, or the person who gave you teh device knows them.


Unless you have the account information that set the lock, the original receipt from Apple, or can demonstrate legal inheritance from a deceased owner, you cannot remove the lock and should recycle the device. Read this article about how to remove Activation Lock --> How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support


For information about how to request access to a deceased family member's Apple account data, and possibly their equipment, read this support article --> How to request access to a deceased family member's Apple account - Apple Support


From the very bottom of Apple Trade In - Apple :

"Does Apple offer recycling?

Yes. Apple Trade In lets you recycle any Apple device (including devices from Apple-owned brands) at any Apple Store and on Apple for free. That includes your batteries and old electronic products as well as free, on-demand packaging recycling for our commercial, education, and institutional customers. When we receive your device, it will be thoroughly inspected to determine if components can be recycled or reused. Whether recycled or reused, all activities relating to the processing of your device will be managed in an environmentally responsible way."


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I bought an iPhone at a flea market and it's activation locked

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