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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

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167 replies

Jan 29, 2017 11:15 AM in response to Aldase

I bought a refurbed iphone 4s over 3 years ago from CARPHONE WAREHOUSE UK, my contract was for 2 years . I had never setup icloud activation as this was not in use at the time .


After 2 years I upgraded to a 6s and gave my child the old phone . They used it for just under a year , when they updated the IOS - and forgetting the icloud login used to download apps .


For whatever reason this update locked the phone and asked for a password - as we could not provide this I was asked to give proof of purchase . I contacted CARPHONE WAREHOUSE who did just this . When I sent it Apple they said that because the phone was refurbed I had to provide the original owners details (and that CARPHONE WAREHOUSE should not have sold me the phone as it was a 'replacement') .


CARPHONE WAREHOUSE refuse to give me the original owners details (correctly under the DPA) and said that Apple are incorrect . When I told Apple , they reply to the contrary .


I have two choices - throw the phone away or take both companies to the small claims court .


Has anyone tried the latter choice ? I appreciate it will cost me more than the phone is worth - but as a principle it will be worth it . I paid over £500 for the phone , which worked perfectly . I do not see why (after jumping through the various hoops) that I should not be able to use the phone I legally paid for .

Jul 10, 2017 11:06 AM in response to Hartburn2

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

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.

Oct 4, 2017 9:14 AM in response to elias158

You were reported to Apple. It's up to their legal department as to what to do.

And you were not "joking". You admitted to being associated with a criminal operation claiming to remove activation lock from iOS devices. Nowhere in anything you said did you imply that it was not so or that you were 'joking'.


If nothing else, maybe you'll learn to control what you say on-line. Once you say it, it's out there forever. There is no taking it back. That goes for EVERYTHING you ay and post on-line.


In this case, an admission to being involved in criminal activity. It's up to the authorities to determine whether you were 'joking' or not.

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 ******.

Oct 19, 2013 10:30 AM in response to Aldase

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:

  1. Sign in to their iCloud account at www.icloud.com/find.
  2. Choose the device from their Find My iPhone device list by clicking All Devices and selecting the correct device.
  3. 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:

  1. Sign in to their iCloud account at www.icloud.com/find.
  2. Select the device from their Find My iPhone device list by clicking All Devices at the top of the screen.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Jan 21, 2014 12:05 AM in response to Aldase

Aldase .....

Did any of the above article work for you? I have the same problem but different twist. I bought an iPhone 4S on eBay from a seller in No. Carolina and I live in SoCal. It was sold with both front and back broken glass but working and now I found out I can't use it because of the link to other owner that's not my seller? Seller hasn't responded to my emails and don't know how to contact original owner for release? Anyone have an idea ... so far 150 for phone and 80 for glass ...230 out of pocket! It's not a beautiful thing! Thank you in advance for all replys!


Hartburn

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

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