Just bought an iPhone 5 in second hand and it seems that i need to have the Apple ID from the first owner to use it… Any advice?

When you go to Find My iPhone on iCloud.com or via the Find My iPhone app on your device, do you see the old phone listed? If you do, then click on the device, then click on the Erase option. Once it is erased, then you can remove it from your account, and the person who purchased it can use it:

Removing Previous Owner from Device

I would be curious to know how the person got your email. Did your housekeeper give it the them? If not, then you are probably dealing with a scam artist. And if your housekeeper sold the device to this person, then your housekeeper should give them back their money unless they want to use the parts....

Cheers,

GB

Thanks again for your typical response

Accurate? Pardon me.

do you think everybody knows about this lock

Yes I do. It is widely known and has been a key part of iOS device security for several years.

See >>> https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201365

I should be able to go into an Apple store with photo identification and a birth certificate or whatever you want to have this phone reset to factory Default it's pretty simple .

Your issue is caused by Find My Phone still being enabled when the device was erased. Without the password for the Apple ID that locked it, you have only one possible solution.

Apple won't turn it off without a proof of ownership. Identity documents do not qualify. The original sales documentation showing the IMEI or serial number and place of purchase will possibly get the device unlocked.

you're telling me there is nothing you can do,

But anyway it looks like you are not going to budge in your response

I am not Apple. I am a volunteer here who answers technical questions and offers answers.

I have no part in your issue whatsoever. There is nothing for me to budge from.

Customer service should win-out in this scenario. I guarantee this activation lock issue is negatively affecting more legitimate buyers than it is preventing theft.

I agree with the original complaint... You should be able to wipe a piece of hardware and start fresh. EVERY other piece of used equipment in the world works like that.

I don't care about some stupid theft deferent. This problem is a deterrent to buying Apple at all. Private, used sales are legitimate, and devices should be able to be wiped. This is BAD POLICY by Apple, and I will not be purchasing any more Apple products, I believe.

I was a good customer for a long time, but Apple's draconian policies and utter disregard for decency... I'm done.

All you people calling that guy a troll... You're idiots. He was absolutely right.

Apple is not here, and we are users just like you, so we have no vested interest in what you purchase. This is not rocket science. It is quite easy to prepare a device for a legitimate sale. And even if a legitimate seller makes a mistake and doesn't completely turn off the Activation Lock, there are very easy steps for doing it remotely.

So, there is nothing draconian about what is entailed in getting an Activation Lock removed from a legitimately sold device.

If you don't like the protection, then by all means, go elsewhere.

GB

Not true that it's most likely stolen. Some people are just irresponsible and don't want to deal with you once they have their money but it doesn't necessarily mean the phone is stolen-it's sad that your mind automatically went to stolen instead of a human being not caring or just being human.

If someone sells you something that you cannot use, and you have attempted to let them know that so that they can follow the very easy steps to make is usable, then it isn't a matter of not caring or just being human, it is a matter of being an ******* at best, and a perpetrator of fraud at worst.

You really think it is just being careless or "human" to sell somebody something that is essentially unusable, then to walk away and say "too bad" I'm busy? No - it is as Leann O. said - probably some lowlife selling a stolen device.

Most "humans" have a modicum of what is and what is not ethical....

GB

Received an email from a guy who purchased my old broken iPhone 5 from my housekeeper who pulled it out of my trash can. She asked if it was okay. I the phone was broken and no good at all.

It stopped working after I dropped it in June 2016. I took it to the Apple Store in Boston for repairs. It was found to be useless. I traded it in for an iPhone 5SE. They transferred absolutely everything to my new iPhone. Afterward, they said it was still good for parts. So, I took it with me.

I called Apple Support hoping to help the guy who bought my broken iPhone. The rep opened remote assist to look at Find My Phone. Only my new iPhone 5SE broadcast a signal at my location. No trace of the old iPhone 5.

The guy kept begging me for my Apple ID. I refused explaining how the Apple Support Tech already verified the status of my iCloud account.

I learned a lot today. I tried to be helpful.

Is it possible to contact the owner? By asking apple to provide his icloud id giving them the imei number of the phone or something so that you can contact that person. I had the idea that if you can transfer him money online to free his iphone? In my country there are lots of locked iphones for sale.

No. Apple will not provide any information about any customer. And why would someone pay more money to someone? If the person is aboveboard, then they will remove the lock if they can be contacted and informed that it is still on. If they are asking your for more money to unlock it, that is extortion, and highly illegal.

Also, it doesn't matter what country you are from, if someone is selling an Activation Locked device then unless they are the owner, all the money in the world isn't going to get that device unlocked.

Also, the person you are responding to posted 4 years ago. I don't think that they are still concerned about the phone in question.

GB

That's the operative word "most". However, and unfortunately, there are people in this world who are a-holes and once they've taken your money, do not care what happens after the transaction has been made. Also, there are other scenarios where this supposed theft deterrent might bite someone in the backside. Prime example, a relative could have left a loved one their iphone, or ipad after they died because they saw how much you admired it when they were alive. They forgot to take of the "find my phone" feature, because really when you are dying this would be the last thing on your mind. Now a loving gift has turned into a nightmare for the person on the receiving end all because their is no work around to this feature. What should a person do in that situation?

I know you posted this 3 years ago, but I read the majority of this conversation and I must say that you are a little rude. There are many other situations on how someone can come by a locked phone that has nothing to do with theft or idiocy on anyone's behalf. Prime example, a relative could have left a loved one their iphone, or ipad after they died because they saw how much you admired it when they were alive. They forgot to take of the "find my phone" feature, because really when you are dying this would be the last thing on your mind. Now a loving gift has turned into a nightmare for the person on the receiving end all because their is no work around to this feature. What should a person do in that situation?

reyerpixi wrote:

Not true that it's most likely stolen. Some people are just irresponsible and don't want to deal with you once they have their money but it doesn't necessarily mean the phone is stolen-it's sad that your mind automatically went to stolen instead of a human being not caring or just being human.

What does that matter, if the phone is locked and the owner is not going to unlock it how does that differ from it being stolen. You still cant use it and the owner has cheated you out of your money, either way a crime has been committed.

Totally Agree ,I have the same situation ,just wiped a iphone 5s still perfect in everyway and Apple wants me to bin it ,really ,talk about recycling and being Green ,very disappointed in this issue as if Apple was concerned about security ,that's just rubbish as if the phone is wiped it should be abled to be restored to factory default if Apple did the job correct leaving no traces of the previous owner ,you do not need to trace the phone as you have all the IMEI NUMBERS ON YOUR SYSTEM and can be traced at any time ,plus the person would not know the user name or password to get into someone's Icloud account.This does not happen on a Pc or with Android . So basically your saying you own the phone even after i paid for it ,I can bring the phone into an Apple store with full identification you tell me what to bring anything you want and i want it unlocked and Apple can reset the phone to factory default is that an issue and why don't you offer this service ,I have the answer but will wait for your reply .

cheers

You did not answer my solution,I am the owner and the phone is at my home ,it was my stepdaughter's old phone that belonged to me her father has his credentials on it and set it up for her many years ago,Icloud rubbish .she does not talk to him in any way and does not use Icloud, We just bought my stepdaughter an i phone 8 and therefore went and did a reset on the other phone so i could use it ,do you think everybody knows about this lock ,really.I have had the Iphone 5s for over 4 to 5 years .and you're telling me there is nothing you can do ,unfortunately Apple is going to fare in this matter ,I should be able to go into an Apple store with photo identification and a birth certificate or whatever you want to have this phone reset to factory Default it's pretty simple . But anyway it looks like you are not going to budge in your response ,so i will put another one of Apples phones in the garbage bin ,a great way of increasing sales . Like i said there are many scenarios that occur in life . Thanks again for your typical response .

Cheers

Well you may have bought a stolen phone unless the person that sold it to you can give you the password. The only thing you can do with it now is toss it in the garbage because you will never be able to use it without that password.