Can't Activate with my Apple ID

You have run into Activation Lock. You need the person who originally activated

the iPad using iOS 7 to release it. That may not be the person you purchased it from.

When you restored the iPad, it relocked to the AppleId used to activate it - you need

that information. If you cannot get help from the seller, return the iPad for a refund as

it is useless without the AppleID and passcode used for activation.

There is no workaround for Activation Lock.

iCloud: Find My iPhone Activation Lock in iOS 7

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

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

As stated repeatedly in this thread:

It's called an "activation lock." It's an anti-theft mechanism. It makes the iPad/iPod/iPhone worthless to a thief. Having said that, there are issues faced by legitimate owners. In those instances, Apple will remove the lock if AND ONLY IF the owner provides a government photo ID and incontrovertible proof (i.e., proof that will hold up in court) that he/she is the owner. This proof must be trackable back to the original owner.

If an Apple Store is convenient, make an appointment with the resident "Genius." Otherwise, you must ship the device to Apple. To make arrangements, call 800-275-2273 in the U.S.A. and I think Canada.

stephimoe wrote:

Hello.... I have this same email n*****@gmail.com linked to my iPad ,,,and can't activate it. Did you ever find out what this email was completely and the password by chance? THANKS for any reply

It's not the same email address, it just happens to start with the same letter. The previous owner has Activation Locked the iPad and only he can unlock it. If you can't contact him to do this then you will not be able to use the device. There is no other way round this: Apple cannot unlock it for you and neither can anyone else.

mhawaung wrote:

Thanks, Tom

yap, i have a used iPad but (Not Stolen). Have any way to activate without the previous ID/password. i find out many bypass icloud activation tutorial in youtube. Is that real or a fake? please help me.. 🙂

thanks 🙂 Mhawaung

No. Activation lock can not be bypassed. You MUST have the previous ID and password. If you're unable to obtain a refund or assistance from the previous owner, you own a very flat brick.

WaldenCanada wrote:

Hello, Texas Mac Man

You seem to be very helpful on here, so I thought I would send a note. I too am having trouble activating my ipad. The thing is, the mini randomly had the "ipad is disabled" message yesterday even though my kids and wife swear that they didn't try to log in (with the wrong password). So I took steps to restore it - which was fine even though I don't have my usual sync computer here (I'm on vacation at a cottage and only have my wife's laptop). So I went through all the restore steps and saw that the ipad is restored, but on activation it says I can't use my own email to activate. The blanked-out email that it says is "currently linked to Apple ID" is my email address. When I try to sign in with that, it says I can't.

What's up? This is my ipad - not second hand or stolen - and I can see it's linked to my email. How do I proceed?

Thanks for any help you can offer. I'm using the ipad to work here at the cottage and maybe the universe is telling me to just walk on the beach :-)

STuart

It's called an "activation lock." It's an anti-theft mechanism. It makes the iPad/iPod/iPhone worthless to a thief. Having said that, there are issues faced by legitimate owners. In those instances, Apple will remove the lock if AND ONLY IF the owner provides a government photo ID and incontrovertible proof (i.e., proof that will hold up in court) that he/she is the owner.

If an Apple Store is convenient, make an appointment with the resident "Genius." Otherwise, you must ship the device to Apple. To make arrangements, call 800-275-2273 in the U.S.A. and I think Canada.

Hi The best thing to do is make an Appointment at Apple Store Or contract Apple Support. Cheers Brian

With iOS 7 there’s no workaround.

They should have done this.

What to do before selling or giving away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5661

If the iPad was running iOS 7, iCloud: Find My iPhone Activation Lock in iOS 7

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

iCloud: Activation Lock

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13695

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

http://support.apple.com/kb/ts4515

Buying or Selling a Used iPhone or iPad Running iOS 7? Read This First!

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/buying-or-selling-a-used-iphone-running-ios-7-read- this-first/

 Cheers, Tom 😉

No. It means you need to contact Apple and speak to someone in account security to resolve your problem.

Find your AppleId: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5625?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

https://iforgot.apple.com/appleid

how to reset password:

https://iforgot.apple.com/password/verify/appleid

Get the person to whom the iPad is Activation Locked to compete

the steps in the link below;

Prepare your device to sell or give away

Or you can take proof of purchase from Apple or Apple authorized

reseller showing the iPad serial number by the company and letter

of authorization showing you are a representative of the company to

Apple where they may assist you.

This is an iPad user to user forum, so you are not addressing Apple.

It appears you have a used (or stolen) iPad that was set up by the previous user. Without the previous ID/password, you will not be able to activate.

 Cheers, Tom 😉

Hello, Texas Mac Man

You seem to be very helpful on here, so I thought I would send a note. I too am having trouble activating my ipad. The thing is, the mini randomly had the "ipad is disabled" message yesterday even though my kids and wife swear that they didn't try to log in (with the wrong password). So I took steps to restore it - which was fine even though I don't have my usual sync computer here (I'm on vacation at a cottage and only have my wife's laptop). So I went through all the restore steps and saw that the ipad is restored, but on activation it says I can't use my own email to activate. The blanked-out email that it says is "currently linked to Apple ID" is my email address. When I try to sign in with that, it says I can't.

What's up? This is my ipad - not second hand or stolen - and I can see it's linked to my email. How do I proceed?

Thanks for any help you can offer. I'm using the ipad to work here at the cottage and maybe the universe is telling me to just walk on the beach :-)

STuart

Hi Tom,

On icloud my ipad is there:

When I click on above iPad it looks like:

The same above serial number is mentioned on my ipad mini and on it's box.

When I try to activate my iPad it returns the error :

Please can you help me to solve this.

It all started when my facetime got stuck and I tried to activate it.

Regards

Rahim

Many times you get errors on a device that you swear that the Apple ID and password is yours and it won't work?, I've had the same situation before, My fix most of the time is called re-booting very simple as 1)turn the device off completely

2)leave it off for about 30 seconds

3) turn it back on and you may feel the zzzzz from the buzzer

4) try it again and if it is yours, It should work, if it does not, then you gotta contact Apple for a password

reset in which they will ask for your info that you set up when you first bought the device...

5) Good Luck!!!!!!!

Hey guys, I have a serious issue here.

I have an iPad Air which I cant reactivate after I've done a factory reset. This is my own iPad, bought brand new, not a second hand one.

It says 'This iPad is currently linked to an Apple ID (p*****@hotmail.com). Sign in with the Apple ID that was used to set up this iPad.'

I have my correct Apple ID and password but when I tried activating it, it says 'Incorrect Apple ID, ******* cannot be used to unlock this iPad'. When I try logging into www.icloud.com/#find, I cant find my iPad there at all even in the offline devices.

Please help!!