Help stuck at activation lock

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Level 1

4 points

Help stuck at activation lock

I need help. I have an iPhone 7 plus that was passed down from my aunt from her parents and it was from a refurbished store that has shut down. unfortunately I guessed the passcode wrong too many times after not using that phone for a year and it got locked out. I went through the steps to restore it and I guess find my iPhone is on because I cant get in since I forgot the iCloud email and don't have it. I think that the email might be deactivated but I have contacted apple multiple times only to get the response of getting proof of purchase which I'm not able to do since the store has shut down and don't know the original owner. Apple said my only choice is to use the proof of purchase to be able to get back in but since I'm not able to my phone is basically useless. Please help thanks!

Earlier iPhone models

Posted on Mar 7, 2026 4:01 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Axel Foley

Level 10

151,374 points

Mar 7, 2026 4:58 PM in response to Nicolas-R

Activation Lock cannot be bypassed by Apple, or by third‑party shops, or by restore, or by any tool online. If Find My was ON and you don’t have the correct Apple ID / Password or a valid proof of purchase showing the device’s serial/IMEI, then that iPhone is permanently locked and cannot be activated again. Since the refurb store is gone and you have no documentation from the original owner, Apple will not remove the lock and the device is effectively unusable.

Apple enforces this strictly for security and anti‑theft reasons — if they made exceptions, stolen devices would be easy to reactivate.

Axel F.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

273,408 points

Mar 7, 2026 4:06 PM in response to Nicolas-R

Nicolas-R wrote:

Apple said my only choice is to use the proof of purchase to be able to get back in but since I'm not able to my phone is basically useless.

That is correct. Apple offers free recycling.

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