Aldase Author

Level 2

246 points

How can I open my iPhone activation lock without owner's account

How can I open my new iPhone 4S activation lock without owner's account

iPhone 4S, iOS 7.0.2

Posted on Oct 16, 2013 4:14 AM

Top-ranking reply

sheila_m.

Community Specialist

Posted on Oct 19, 2013 10:30 AM

Hello Aldase,

Congratulations on your new iPhone! It sounds like your new iPhone has Activation Lock setup by the previous owner. I am sure you are eager to start using your new iPhone, but before you can, you will need to contact the previous owner to be able to use your new iPhone:

What if I purchase a device that is still linked to the previous owner's account?

Contact the previous owner as soon as possible and ask them to erase the device and remove it from their account. For complete instructions, read how to remove a device from a previous owner's account.

iCloud: Find My iPhone Activation Lock in iOS 7

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818

The previous owner can follow the steps below to remove the iPhone from their account:

If the device has already been erased

If the previous owner is not present
Contact them and ask them to follow these steps to remove the device from their account:

Sign in to their iCloud account at www.icloud.com/find.

Choose the device from their Find My iPhone device list by clicking All Devices and selecting the correct device.

Click "Remove from Account" to remove the device from the account.

After the device has been removed from the previous owner’s account, turn it off by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button located on the top right side of the device. Then restart your device and proceed with device setup as you would normally.

If the device has not been erased

If the previous owner is not present
Make sure the device is powered on and connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network. Then contact the previous owner and ask them to follow these steps:

Sign in to their iCloud account at www.icloud.com/find.

Select the device from their Find My iPhone device list by clicking All Devices at the top of the screen.

Erase the device by clicking the Erase button. This will erase all content and settings from the device. When prompted, do not enter a phone number or message. Click Next until the device is erased.

When the erase is complete, click "Remove from Account" to remove the device from the account.

After the device has been erased and removed from the account, you can proceed with the device setup process.

You can find the full article here:

Find My iPhone Activation Lock: Removing a device from a previous owner’s account

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4515

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

Best,

Sheila M.

View in context

167 replies

Jul 10, 2017 11:12 AM in response to Jjb0333

Jjb0333 wrote:

The 4s I was thinking bout getting said device was locked and emergency calls was all it would do I called apple and the had me do a phone reset and sent me a email saying they would call me back when the update was doNE and there was a number in it I thought it was the person from apple but it was the first person that owned the phone and she told me she didn't remember the guys name that she sold it to so apple has the information u need just have to talk to the right person

Password locked (what you're describing) and activation lock are two different things. If the phone is simply password locked, restoring it will remove the password (and the contents). If the phone is Activation Locked and you have no contact with the original owner, there is nothing you can do.

Forum tip: Using punctuation makes your post much more intelligible.

dfhjfyh

Level 1

4 points

Nov 9, 2017 5:41 PM in response to Aldase

I bought my iPhone FROM Apple themselves, am the first and only owner, had never had ANY problems with my Apple ID at ANY point for years now and then all of a SUDDEN, I'm locked out and the Apple ID I'm using is "wrong". Except when I go and check my Apple ID account on the site....works perfectly fine. Even shows the iPhone as being attached to the account that is supposedly wrong.... So, since everyone on here who is supposed to help people is saying "you have to have the original owners info" over and over and over and over again....What about me and the other people WHO ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS???? I've looked on 496873459687 forums and it's all the SAME ********, "gotta have the original info" "i do" "well go talk to Apple" "I did and they dont know whats wrong" "gotta have the original info"..... Reeeeeeally ****** helpful guys. This will probably be THE last time I even try to ******* deal with Apple and all the overcomplicated ******** you guys make your customers go through. Get ******.

Nov 10, 2017 6:09 AM in response to dfhjfyh

You are not addressing Apple here. We are your fellow users.

Please stop shouting and cursing at us. It's not appreciated.

You can contact Apple using the Contact Support link at the top right of every page.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Jan 29, 2017 11:27 AM in response to e2saver

You can try but as Apple were not involved in the sale I doubt that you will prevail. Carphone Warehouse sold you a used phone, sue them.

Jan 29, 2017 2:13 PM in response to e2saver

The only claim you have is against the seller. Apple was not a party to the sale. And sadly, based on my experience with Carphone Warehouse I am not surprised. And I don't even live in the UK.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Jan 29, 2017 2:32 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I occasionally do live in the UK, and I would never buy anything at all from Carphone Warehouse.

400k

Level 1

4 points

Mar 28, 2017 4:35 PM in response to TheDave413

I can't set up my iPhone because I don't know the previous owner iCloud account

Apr 12, 2017 2:01 AM in response to Aldase

iphone 5 32gb activation lock is on

activation lock off

imei no 013429003380785

no id & password

Apr 12, 2017 2:09 AM in response to Chaudharikirti007

If you had read the post immediately above yours you would know before posting that in the absence of the correct ID and password there is nothing whatever you can do to unlock the phone.

May 10, 2017 5:56 AM in response to bijoy mhamud

what if the owner is dead

May 10, 2017 5:57 AM in response to Aldase

nothing can be done

ZINDI

Level 1

8 points

May 10, 2017 1:01 PM in response to Aldase

you will never ever open your iphone 4s without the owner's account. in future never buy a second hand iphone.... Buy from apple shop to avoid frustrations.

Jun 25, 2017 9:28 PM in response to Aldase

Hey can you help me

Jun 26, 2017 7:19 AM in response to Luizvenancio

The only person who can help you is the one who enabled Activation Lock. If you can not find that person the phone will never be usable.

mrs.soto

Level 1

4 points

Aug 8, 2017 12:19 PM in response to Aldase

I have question

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How can I open my iPhone activation lock without owner's account