How to unlock a locked iCloud account on iPad Air?

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How to unlock a locked iCloud account on iPad Air?

A relative has given me their old iPad Air to try to resurrect. After a long time connected to a charger it is, very slowly, charging. The issue I have is is that they have forgotten their old iCloud account password and it is now locked. This is because they gave me several to try which, of course locked it as I had more variations than attempts! Their phone number is the same so I sent a password change to their phone from the iPad, which they were unable to action because, for the same reason, their email they used at the time no longer exists as the provider doesn’t either. I have also asked them to check their devices on their iCloud account and mark it as sold to remove it, but it doesn’t appear on there for them to do so. If I used the Request access to your account, would this work? They have also offered to try their current password to see if that would work: would it? I wouldn’t like to make them log in again on all their other devices if they had to change their password. I am reluctant to take it in for recycling, with it associated to an account, if there is a chance someone else could unlock it and access their data. I realise the irony of that last sentence there, but I don’t know how to prove my intentions are honest. :-/

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Unlock a moribund iCloud account.

Posted on Aug 11, 2025 12:31 PM

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Answer 1

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Limnos

Community+ 2026

Level 10

446,097 points

Aug 11, 2025 3:12 PM in response to themoorester

On the off chance they still have the original receipt for purchase from Apple, Apple can completely reset a device if a person can provide sufficient evidence of valid ownership. Check the requirements and steps at: Activation Lock support request - https://al-support.apple.com/#/additional-support Apple says, "Proof of ownership documentation is required," but does not detail what currently constitutes proof other than it “must include the product serial number, IMEI or MEID.” Apple may typically require the original receipt* issued by Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller. If Apple resets the device this will give you access to the device but won't restore access to the account used to lock it. There is nothing that can be done to expedite an Activation Lock request.

*Apple recommends you "Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device" --> Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device - Apple Support

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Answer 2

ed2345

Level 9

63,834 points

Aug 11, 2025 3:00 PM in response to themoorester

They have also offered to try their current password to see if that would work: would it?

We of course have no way to know. But do the following: once the iPad is charged up, give it back to them and let them unlock it, using the following procedure if necessary: How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple Account password - Apple Support

Then they can decide if they want to wipe it, or give it to you with their stuff on it. The latter would be unusual.

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Answer 3

themoorester Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 13, 2025 12:35 PM in response to Limnos

Thank you both for your quick response to my issue. To answer both your suggestions:

ed2345 - By the time I sent in my original request, I was 90-odd miles away from them and hadn’t completely charged up the device, so popping back to hand it back isn’t an option. By the end of the week they will be back in Europe, where they now live. I do have the account e-mail and phone number.

Limnos - I only received the device, which isn’t locked, nothing else, hence why, ed2345, I had t wait until I got home to charge it using my old iPhone 4S 30-pin charger: it was brought where they live in Europe and, knowing them, the receipt will be long gone!

I have tried to re-set the password under iforgot.apple.com, but it returned the account as “no longer supported.” I suspect I will have to follow the Apple ‘Recover Your Apple Account’ method which, according to another relative, took five days after they had their iPhone stolen in the Far East. Given the former, I’m not too hopeful for the latter. As I said above, because it isn’t on their current list of devices under their new account details, they can’t do anything in that respect. FYI, it is an iPad Air 2nd Gen, which doesn’t appear on the drop-down list of devices I can add as a tag to this thread.

Thank you both.

To others reading this thread, I’m expecting similar answers to the above so consider this thread closed, but thanks for looking.

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How to unlock a locked iCloud account on iPad Air?

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