Error 53 during iPad Air 2 restore after deleting Apple Acccount

I deleted my old apple id, and didnt use my ipad for a while, a year later i started it up again, (just never had much use for ipads) but now i want it in the car for navigation, spotify etc. (it has a sim).


I couldnt reset the ipad through the settings since i needed the password for an account that didnt exist.


So i tried through itunes but now when i restore i get error code 53, and the ipad gets stuck at 50%. I have tried everything, what do i do?


Thanks.



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPad Air 2

Posted on Feb 2, 2025 2:06 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 2, 2025 4:34 AM

Apple warns that you must remove an active Activation Lock (by disabling Find My iPad on the device) prior to actively deleting an AppleID from their servers. This document refers:

How to delete your Apple Account - Apple Support


While the Find My iPad service is enabled on the device, the device can only be re-activated using the AppleID credentials that were used to activate Find My.


If you have deleted the AppleID account (as you have indicated) you cannot disable Find My - and have therefore permanently disabled the device.


A deleted AppleID Account cannot be recovered after deletion; deletion is permanent. Apple Support will not be able to recover your AppleID - which, if Find My iPad was active on the device when the AppleID was deleted, is inextricably linked to the Activation Lock.

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 2, 2025 4:34 AM in response to gankoo

Apple warns that you must remove an active Activation Lock (by disabling Find My iPad on the device) prior to actively deleting an AppleID from their servers. This document refers:

How to delete your Apple Account - Apple Support


While the Find My iPad service is enabled on the device, the device can only be re-activated using the AppleID credentials that were used to activate Find My.


If you have deleted the AppleID account (as you have indicated) you cannot disable Find My - and have therefore permanently disabled the device.


A deleted AppleID Account cannot be recovered after deletion; deletion is permanent. Apple Support will not be able to recover your AppleID - which, if Find My iPad was active on the device when the AppleID was deleted, is inextricably linked to the Activation Lock.

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Error 53 during iPad Air 2 restore after deleting Apple Acccount

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