Q: How to restore iPhone 4s without access to old AppleID

Hello, wonder if someone managed to work around the following issue.
I changed my AppleID as the email server closed down.
However, I did not switch off Find-My-iPhone on my 4S prior to creating the new AppleID.

Now, the iPhone wants me to login to the old AppleID that I cannot re-create, and does not allow restoring factory settings.
Failing to log in with the Old ID, I cannot switch off Find-My-iPhone and without switching off the Find-My-iPhone, I cannot Sign Out of the defunct Old AppleID.

Any suggestions how to work around this issue and log on to the new AppleID or is it a Catch-22?

iPhone 4S, iOS 9.2

Posted on Jan 21, 2016 6:28 AM

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by Alfred DeRose,

Alfred DeRose Jan 21, 2016 6:34 AM in response to v474
Level 5 (7,169 points)

Mac OS X

Jan 21, 2016 6:34 AM in response to v474

Change the email address associated with your Apple ID. Change your Apple ID - Apple Support

Sorry, I misunderstood. There is no way around Find My iPhone Activation Lock - Apple Support. Some have said you might be able to contact Apple support and ask for someone on the security team. If you can verify that you owned the phone, then they might be able to help.
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by v474,

v474 Jan 21, 2016 6:39 AM in response to Alfred DeRose
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Jan 21, 2016 6:39 AM in response to Alfred DeRose

Alfred, thank you for answering.
I cannot log into the old AppleID as it was erased when creating a new one and therefore cannot change the email connected to the old ID..

Thank you for elaborating, will try the local Apple Store.
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by v474,

v474 Jan 22, 2016 8:26 AM in response to Alfred DeRose
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Jan 22, 2016 8:26 AM in response to Alfred DeRose

Somehow the phone showed up in https://www.icloud.com/#find on MacBook despite being linked to the old AppleID.
After Erasing and setting up as a new phone using the new Apple ID; all seems to be working fine.
I am restoring the iTunes library. However, I think it is not recommended using the restore from backup facility as this copies back the old state, i.e. with the old AppleID.
https://www.icloud.com/#settings has an option to restore a.o. files and contact lists.

Thank you for reading and commenting.
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by Alfred DeRose,

by v474,

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