HT203828: If iCloud asks you for the password to your previous Apple ID

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Michael Sosa
Level 1 (15 points)

Q: How do I remove an old email / Apple ID from my iPhone 5 when I no longer have access to that email? I restored from an old backup and now I'm stuck.

I restored my iPhone 5 from an old backup which used an email / Apple ID from Comcast that I do not have access to any longer (Comcast removed it once I cancelled service). Now I am unable to delete that Apple ID or change it to my current one because it asks for a password that cannot be provided since the Apple ID doesn't exist! I tried to temporarily change my current Apple ID to the old one but Apple sends a verification code to the old email and of course I cannot access it.

 

I'm sure this is an effort to stop people using stolen phones from activating them but wow, it screws up legitimate users as well.

 

I know what the password was BTW, it won't take it because it is no longer an legitimate Apple ID. It actually blocks it after multiple tries and when I try to unblock it by entering the old ID it correctly tells me it isn't a legitimate Apple ID. If I enter my current ID I get an email asking me if I want to reset it, which would not solve this issue.

 

What an amazing way to screw up this iPhone.

iPhone 5, iOS 9.2, null

Posted on Dec 29, 2015 11:21 PM

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Michael Sosa

Q: How do I remove an old email / Apple ID from my iPhone 5 when I no longer have access to that email? I restored from an old backup ... more

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  • by Michael Sosa,

    Michael Sosa Michael Sosa Dec 30, 2015 12:17 PM in response to Michael Sosa
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 30, 2015 12:17 PM in response to Michael Sosa

    I can see this happening to anyone who restores from an old backup with an old Apple ID they can no longer access. Or someone whose Apple ID is an email they can no longer access (like work or a internet provider with cancelled service). If you forget your password are you then screwed?

     

    In my case I'm not sure if I'm unable to sign off iCloud because I've forgotten the password or because the email is not longer a valid Apple ID. I thought I knew what the old password was but it isn't taking it.

     

    Anyway I called Apple ID security and was offered a couple of suggestions which haven't worked. Apparently there are some more options, I need to call back later. All I want is to erase this phone so I can send it to be repurchased by Brightstar through Apple recycling program. Brightstar instructs you to erase the iPhone. Everything was going fine until I decided to try an old backup (after having erased it). Aargh!

  • by Michael Sosa,

    Michael Sosa Michael Sosa Dec 31, 2015 3:09 PM in response to Michael Sosa
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 31, 2015 3:09 PM in response to Michael Sosa

    So the solution was to do a forced restart of the iPhone by holding the power button + home button for around 30 seconds or so while connected to iTunes. That popped a dialog box on iTunes that allowed the phone to be erased and started as new. This problem may have been related to a network issue with iCloud on the iPhone. It was up to date with iOS 9.2 but since it was a 2013 backup perhaps the iCloud settings were off, because the phone would tell me I had to agree to the iCloud terms but was unable to contact the server.

  • by Davetheawesome,

    Davetheawesome Davetheawesome Dec 31, 2015 4:13 PM in response to Michael Sosa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 31, 2015 4:13 PM in response to Michael Sosa

    Go to settings then go to mail and then go to the account then scroll down all the way on the bottom will say delete account