I bought an iPhone 5 off craigslist with restrictions.

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I bought an iPhone 5 off craigslist with restrictions.

The iPhone I bought has iOS 6.1.4 but it has a restrictions passcode lock on it. Since the iPhone is locked I can't erase All Content and Settings. The bad part is there is an Apple ID on it that can't be signed out of because of the restrictions. I'm scared if I put the iPhone 5 into DFU mode to restore the phone iTunes would put iOS 7 on it and lock the iPhone up using the previous owner's Apple ID.

Does anyone know if this would be the case if I used DFU mode to restore the iPhone 5? Would it brick the iPhone with the previous owner's Apple ID or wipe the iPhone clean since it's on iOS 6?

It sure looks like the days of buying iPhones off craigslist are coming to an end...

MacBook Pro

Posted on Oct 27, 2013 10:02 AM

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Answer 1

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FelipeV

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10,636 points

Oct 27, 2013 2:35 PM in response to bigboytime

If you do restore the phone with iOS 7 and you do not have the Apple ID and password that was used on iCloud and Find my iPhone was activated, you will not be able to activate the phone after the restore. As I see it you have 2 options:

Try to contact the seller and try to get the passcode locks and Apple ID passwords.

Return the phone to the seller for a refund.

And yes, IMO, buying used phones of of the internet is not a good idea.

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Answer 2

bigboytime Author

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Oct 27, 2013 4:40 PM in response to FelipeV

Thank you for the help!

I know it will lock me out if i'm already on iOS 7 but not sure if it will if I restore the iPhone from iOS 6.1.3. I think I may give a try and see what happens! 😝

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Answer 3

FelipeV

Level 6

10,636 points

Oct 27, 2013 4:42 PM in response to bigboytime

If you restore as new it WILL install iOS 7; there is no way around that. That will be one sure way to find out if Find my iPhone is active, if the phone asks for the Apple ID and password.

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Answer 4

Oct 27, 2013 7:15 PM in response to FelipeV

How about trying a restore on an older version of itunes and disconnect your internet connection on that pc?

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Answer 5

FelipeV

Level 6

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Oct 28, 2013 4:27 AM in response to westvandude

No. Because you need an internet connection in order to verify iOS with Apple.

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Answer 6

bigboytime Author

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Oct 28, 2013 9:53 AM in response to bigboytime

Well, I took the risk last night and restored the iPhone using DFU. The good news is that it worked! The person I bought the iPhone from had their iCloud setup in the iPhone and restoring it from iOS 6 to iOS 7 didn't enable the activation lock.

Thank goodness...

All I suggest is to be careful when buying iPhones off craigslist since activation lock now exists. I think if the iPhone had been on iOS 7 when i bought it, I would've been in some trouble. I would've had to hunt down the seller just to get their iCloud password.

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Answer 7

FelipeV

Level 6

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Oct 28, 2013 11:00 AM in response to bigboytime

Glad you finally solved your dilemma.

Take care.

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Answer 8

Apr 23, 2014 3:52 PM in response to bigboytime

I am in a much simlar situation. I bought an iphone 5 online for cash and it has a passcode and is in airplane mode. I don't know how to wipe the phone and get rid of the passcode, would putting it in DFU mode do the trick? I can't reach the seller and just want to be able to use the phone i paid money for.

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Answer 9

FelipeV

Level 6

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Apr 24, 2014 3:46 AM in response to drichardson90

Retun the phone for a refund.

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Answer 10

Apr 24, 2014 1:43 PM in response to FelipeV

Thanks captain obvious, if I could I would have already. When I said that I "am in a much similar situation," I meant that I too purchased the phone from an anonymous vendor online for cash and cannot get a hold of him.

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Answer 11

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Apr 24, 2014 2:11 PM in response to drichardson90

If it's asking for an Apple ID and password, as was said, there is no way to remove the Activation Lock without the assistance of the original owner. If that is indeed the case, then you have wasted your money and learned a valuable, albeit expensive, lesson about the risks of purchasing an costly item from someone you don't know when you have no buyer protection or other recourse.

Regards.

Message was edited by: varjak paw

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Answer 12

wegras

Level 6

15,305 points

Apr 24, 2014 2:12 PM in response to drichardson90

Try a different tack if you want help here ie try being polite

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Answer 13

bigboytime Author

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Apr 24, 2014 2:22 PM in response to drichardson90

You can retore an iPhone with DFU to get the lock screen password off but if they have an activation lock on you're still in trouble. Unless it was like my situation a few months ago and you DFU the iPhone while it's still on iOS6 or before.

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Answer 14

Apr 24, 2014 2:40 PM in response to bigboytime

Thanks bigboy, i appreciate the help.

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Answer 15

Apr 10, 2016 9:05 PM in response to bigboytime

what does DFU stands for i have the same problem with mine and really need help with it please

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