How to bypass Activation Lock on iPhone 12 with an unknown email account?

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Level 1

4 points

How to bypass Activation Lock on iPhone 12 with an unknown email account?

Hi everyone I got my son an IPhone 12 from a secondhand shop for his 12th birthday, which I’m impressed he’s taken of his phone for almost 2 years now lol But after I tried being a technician, the phone updated and suddenly went into activation lock. The email account shown to unlock is not his or mine. Would anyone have any advice or suggestions on how to bypass this or the next correct steps I should take? TIA☺️🙏🏾

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Activation lock help

iPhone 12

Posted on Sep 23, 2026 7:13 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Allan Jones

Level 10

84,576 points

Sep 23, 2026 7:20 AM in response to keni274

... I got my son an IPhone 12 from a secondhand shop...

There lies the root of the problem. Someone sold you a phone that had not properly been prepared for resale. Even Apple cannot activate it without the original owner. Your son will need a new phone bought from a legitimate reseller or carrier.

One of our highly respected contributors wrote this:

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

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Answer 2

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

753,453 points

Sep 23, 2026 7:20 AM in response to keni274

Ask the store you bought it from to remove the lock. It's an anti-theft measure.

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