I bought an iPhone 7 Plus years ago, but now it's locked to the original owner. My daughter used it for a while, and when I tried to use it again, it was still locked. I contacted Apple Support with the invoice and payment receipt, but they didn't accept them as proof of purchase. I don't have any other documentation to unlock the device. What should I do?
[Edited by Moderator]
If I understand correctly, you purchased a used iPhone from someone, so you're not the original owner. Apple will never unlock an iPhone for anyone who isn't the original owner, who isn't in possession of the original purchase receipt, which clearly shows the iPhone serial number on it from original purchase. Since that's not you, you have a useless brick you can never use.
Since the phone is useless to you, what you should do is recycle it responsibly at any electronics store who will recycle devices. Apple and BestBuy will recycle it for you.
Read this --> The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community
If I understand correctly, you purchased a used iPhone from someone, so you're not the original owner. Apple will never unlock an iPhone for anyone who isn't the original owner, who isn't in possession of the original purchase receipt, which clearly shows the iPhone serial number on it from original purchase. Since that's not you, you have a useless brick you can never use.
Since the phone is useless to you, what you should do is recycle it responsibly at any electronics store who will recycle devices. Apple and BestBuy will recycle it for you.
Read this --> The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community
Unless you can contact the original owner and get them to release the phone, there's nothing to be done. Recycle the phone responsibly.
If you do not have an original purchase receipt from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller, this iPhone is indistinguishable from a lost or stolen iPhone. If it’s not actually lost or stolen. Apple is not going to unlock it, and the original seller is probably long gone — or you probably would’t be asking around here.
So… it is what it is.
This happens often enough that there are some warnings:
An iPhone 7 is limited to iOS 16, and is not supported on iOS 17, the current iOS 18, nor the upcoming iOS 26. It’s fading out of app usability too, and particularly fading if it hasn’t had its battery replaced.
MohamedElkhatim wrote:
Perhaps you are right; I didn't buy directly from Apple or an authorized reseller. It was a local trader who usually brings them from Dubai (UAE) and sells them in Sudan. It really is a trap!
If you are provided with the original purchase receipt from Apple or an Apple reseller, as well as whatever was the vendor’s own purchase receipt, these purchases can work.
But devices that get resold without that original receipt, or don’t get reset before the sale is completed, or sold with carrier lock and flex lock or blacklisting, yeah, second-hand purchases are risky.
If anything, purchases from many sellers have gotten more risky.
And iPhone 7 is old enough to be vulnerable to various shenanigans.
There’s a whole industry around fraud; fake gift cards and re-sealing boxes and hacked iOS installs.
I purchased this iPhone 7 Plus new in 2017 and was the first to unbox it. I used it for four years before passing it on to my daughter. When she upgraded to a newer model, I planned to keep it as a backup since it has a stronger chassis. However, I discovered that it was locked to its original owner. I struggled to find the original receipt and invoice, but I eventually located copies. Unfortunately, Apple did not accept these documents as proof of ownership. I want to reiterate that I was the first person to buy this iPhone 7 Plus brand new.
It's ironic that I am the original owner.
Perhaps you are right; I didn't buy directly from Apple or an authorized reseller. It was a local trader who usually brings them from Dubai (UAE) and sells them in Sudan. It really is a trap!
How can I unlock my iPhone 7 Plus that's locked to the original owner?
