Lost iCloud email address and password.. Help!

That is because you are signed onto iCloud/Find My iPhone with a different Apple ID - not a modification of the one you are currently using. You will need to to to: FORGOT APPLE ID to retrieve your old ID and password in order to turn off Find My iPhone and delete the old iCloud account from your device.

Best of luck,

GB

There are numerous links throughout this post that answers your question. If you forgot your Apple/iCloud ID password, then go to Manage your Apple ID, click on Reset Password, and answer the Security Questions to reset your password: Apple - My Apple ID

If you don't know the answer to your Security Questions, contact Apple Support to have them reset:

ACCOUNT SECURITY CONTACT NUMBERS

Your Apple ID password is the same as your iCloud password. Have no idea why your were told they were different, unless you set up an iCloud account under a different Apple ID. But iCloud is tied to an Apple ID....

GB

I just found this support article regarding some issues that people with older devices may be running into. This article contains some workarounds that may help your situation:

If you can't activate your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch after installing iOS 9.3 - Apple Support

Best of luck,

GB

The Rescue email address is not the same address as the Apple/iCloud ID address. However, if you can't remember the rescue email address either, then you can contact Apple Support for help:

ACCOUNT SECURITY SUPPORT

Cheers,

GB

There is a contact link.

Apple ID Support

Apple ID Support (2)

I have a similar problem however my iCloud account and apple account are different one I'd is iCloud I'd the other I'd is my bigpond email. No matter how many tries at the iCloud password it does not give me a chance to reset it.

My iphone updated but factory reset, so it needs to be activated. But the email it needs is my icloud email and it is not the same as my Apple ID I use for downloading apps because I know that email and password and it does not work. I am going to an apple store tomorrow to figure it out.

OK, you need to follow these instructions:

1. Go to Manage your Apple ID and sign on with your current Apple ID and password. Then EDIT the Apple ID and change it back to the old Apple ID (this is temporary - Do NOT verify it, Do NOT change the password): Apple - My Apple ID

2. Go to Settings>iCloud, scroll to the bottom and click Delete Account. Use your current Apple ID password when asked. Follow the prompts to complete the deletion of the iCloud account

3. Go back to Manage your Apple ID, and EDIT the Apple ID back to the New ID (you may need to verify it)

4. Go back to Settings>iCloud and sign on with your new Apple ID

You should be all set.

Cheers,

GB

After 2 hours of trawling, I found your advice and it worked enabling me to close an old iCloud account without the password for my old discontinued emmail address. If followed properly it is easy to use and quick. Many thanks Gary (and his iphone 4)

When you are trying to change your Apple ID back to the old email address (which is what you have to do to turn off Find My iPhone if that email address was used on the current Apple account in the past), you should not attempt to verify it. If that is where you are running into the error "You cannot set up an Apple ID using this email address", then go back into Manage your Apple ID (Apple - My Apple ID), EDIT the email address on the Apple ID back to the old email address, but do NOT verify it and do NOT change the password. Then go to your device and use your current Apple ID password to sign out. Then go back to Manage your Apple ID and change your Apple ID back to your current email address.

However, if you set up a new Apple/iTunes account with your new email address, then the old email address is attached to another Apple account, and you are going to have to sign into that account (using Manage your Apple ID) using your old email address and the password associated with that account. Since you wouldn't know the password, you will need to click on the Reset Password option in Manage your Apple ID, and then answer the Security Questions to reset your password after which you will be able to sign out of Find My iPhone using that password. If you don't remember the answers to your Security Questions, you can contact Apple Support to reset them (ACCOUNT SECURITY CONTACT NUMBERS).

Cheers,

GB

Hi kibiroget,

When you see the iCloud email address that is being displayed and asking for a password, do you recognize it at all? Is your device a 2nd hand device that you are restoring for the first time?

Cheers,

GB

You cousin needs to visit the links which have been posted here several times: FORGOT APPLE ID

Once he retrieves his Apple ID, he can go to Apple - My Apple ID to reset the password.

If he doesn't remember the answers to his Security Questions, he can contact Apple Support to have them reset:

ACCOUNT SECURITY CONTACT NUMBERS

Cheers,

GB

Sorry, but there is no way around the Activation Lock. Only the person who signed into iCloud and activated the Lock by turning on Find My iPhone (or someone who knows their Apple ID and password) can remove it:

Turn off Find My iPhone Activation Lock - Apple Support

If you cannot contact someone who has this information and you cannot get a refund, then you are stuck with a very expensive paperweight. If your friend's mother got the device as a gift, then wouldn't she be the person you want to contact? (presuming it was a gift of a new device, and not one that the "foreign lady" had locked with an Activation Lock).

Best of luck,

GB

Sorry, but you have no options in this situation except to have the previous owner (or someone who knows the Apple ID and password) to unlock the device. There is no way around the Activation Lock, and the only exception that Apple will make is if someone has the original receipt from the Apple Store or AASP that the device was originally purchased from (original owner).

If you are able to take it back to the store where you purchased it, then you might be able to get a refund from them. Otherwise, I'm afraid that you have a very expensive paperweight.

Very sorry 😟

GB