how to remove activation lock

How to remove Activation Lock? With the assistance of the person holding the Apple account associated with Activation Lock, or by presenting an original purchase receipt (for a device not marked as lost) from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller to Apple Support.

Activation Lock is intended as a theft deterrent, and is intentionally difficult to bypass. We can’t help. Absent sufficiently-convincing proof, Apple won’t help.

Here is what a seller can do to prepare an iPhone for ownership transfer, or to remotely unlock:

• What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

If you have proof of ownership:

• How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support

If the seller is unable or unwilling to remove the lock, request a refund.

If the seller has disappeared, and as is all too common, you bought a brick. It will never be useful. Recycle it.

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

Thank you for reaching out. 🤗

If you are not the original owner, then Activation Lock is a security feature to protect the owner from theft. In that case, only the original owner can unlock it. 🔓

↓ If you are the original owner: ↓

According to Apple:

Remove Activation Lock on the device

Follow the onscreen steps to enter the Apple Account and password you used to set up your device or your device passcode. If you don't remember your Apple Account, try to sign in with an email address or phone number that you regularly use for Apple services.

Learn how to find your Apple Account or reset your Apple Account password.

If your device is owned by a business or educational institution, please contact your IT department or manager. 

Remove Activation Lock on the web if a device is offline

For iPhone, you might be able to remove Activation Lock on the web even if your device isn't offline.

1. Go to www.iCloud.com/find.
2. Sign in to your Apple Account.
3. Select the device that you want to remove from iCloud.
4. Click Remove This Device.

Start a support request

If you need help removing Activation Lock and have proof of purchase documentation, you can start an Activation Lock support request.

Thanks again for reaching out. 👍🏼

Take care! 👋🏼😉

Smiliñ 😎 Brian

On what equipment?

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

If you want to buy a preowned iPhone

If you want to buy a preowned iPhone - Apple Support

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying a Used iPad/iPhone

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

This support article describes what to do before selling or giving away your Mac. --> What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Use the steps in this support article to remove your personal information from a device, even if you don't have it anymore. Or make sure that the Watch that you're about to buy from someone else is ready for you to use. --> What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Apple Watch, or buy one from someone else - Apple Support

This support article has information about Activation Lock on your Apple Watch and how to turn it off. --> About Activation Lock on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

- Apple can completely reset a device if a person can provide sufficient evidence of valid ownership. Do this online at: Activation Lock support request - https://al-support.apple.com/#/additional-support Apple says, "Proof of ownership documentation is required," but does not state what currently constitutes proof. Apple typically requires the original receipt issued by an Apple or an Apple authorized dealer, presumably since these are ones they can authenticate. Apple recommends you keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device. --> Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device - Apple Support

That link refuses to resolve...

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

http://support.apple.com/102773

Limnos wrote:

That link refuses to resolve...

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

http://support.apple.com/102773

The link resolves in your original reply, but oddly provides a gratuitous link in this just-quoted text — a link which doesn’t exist in the original text. But the gratuitous link is only in the editing box. Not in the posted reply.

Some weirdness for the hosts to look at…