Activation Lock on iPhone 11 – Forgot Apple ID

Hi, I reset my iPhone 11 and now it has Activation Lock. I forgot my Apple ID email and phone number. I still have the original box and serial number. Can you help me unlock it?


iPhone 11

Posted on Feb 7, 2026 8:58 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 7, 2026 9:11 AM

The box and serial number is meaningless as a means of getting help with Activation Lock from Apple. How does one forget their own email address? To remove Activation Lock, you need to enter the correct Apple Account email and the password used for that account.


Here are three links for you, but be advised, if you can't get back in the phone, the only way Apple will help remove the Activation Lock is if you are in possession of the original purchase receipt, which clearly shows the serial number of the phone on it. The box isn't proof of anything.


If you forgot your Apple Account primary email address or phone number - Apple Support


If you forgot your Apple Account password - Apple Support


How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support


Such important account credentials should ALWAYS be written down and stored somewhere safe for future recall to avoid the major hassle this is going to cause you.


On a final note, we sometimes see people with issues like this who failed to mention they bought a used iPhone from someone. If you're not the original owner of the phone, you're not going to get very far with this. Read this about buying used devices --> The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 7, 2026 9:11 AM in response to Omarjami10

The box and serial number is meaningless as a means of getting help with Activation Lock from Apple. How does one forget their own email address? To remove Activation Lock, you need to enter the correct Apple Account email and the password used for that account.


Here are three links for you, but be advised, if you can't get back in the phone, the only way Apple will help remove the Activation Lock is if you are in possession of the original purchase receipt, which clearly shows the serial number of the phone on it. The box isn't proof of anything.


If you forgot your Apple Account primary email address or phone number - Apple Support


If you forgot your Apple Account password - Apple Support


How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support


Such important account credentials should ALWAYS be written down and stored somewhere safe for future recall to avoid the major hassle this is going to cause you.


On a final note, we sometimes see people with issues like this who failed to mention they bought a used iPhone from someone. If you're not the original owner of the phone, you're not going to get very far with this. Read this about buying used devices --> The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

Feb 7, 2026 9:14 AM in response to Omarjami10

Sorry, but no, we cannot directly help you unlock the phone.


If you have the original sales receipt from an authorized Apple dealer that indicates that you are the original owner along with the serial number information, you can submit an Unlock Request to Apple.


https://al-support.apple.com/#/al/agreement


Unfortunately, if you cannot meet all of the requirements, there is really no reason to go any further with this. The phone is useless to you. Drop the phone off at the recycle center.





Activation Lock on iPhone 11 – Forgot Apple ID

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