Deleting Find my Iphone - Help needed!

Question

Level 1

8 points

Deleting Find my Iphone - Help needed!

Hi Guys!

I recently sold my iPhone 5s phone. I've never sold an iPhone before so unfortunately when I reset my phone before sale I did not turn off the "Find my iPhone" app!

Anyway, the guy who purchased it has received it and told me, the phone wouldn't let him do a set-up as Find my iPhone was still on there.

I called tech support and they guided me through the steps on how to remove the Find my IPhone app on that particular device. I removed the device from it and the device no longer shows up as I'd hoped.

However, when I messaged the buyer of the phone - he said that it STILL wouldn't let him do a set-up because this message kept coming up;

"This iPhone was lost and erased. Sign in with the Apple ID that was used to erase this iPhone"

and then has spaces for me to enter my Apple ID & password.

I'm tempted to give the guy my iCloud log-in but I don't want him being able to access my pictures/videos/apps etc!

He also assured me he turned the phone on & off & done a hard reset and still nothing changes!

PLEASE HELP!!!

iPhone 5s

Posted on May 11, 2016 12:38 PM

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Answer 1

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

May 11, 2016 12:48 PM in response to DanRedley

IF you live anywhere near this person, offer to meet him in person and help him out of this predicament. If you did exactly what Apple told you to do, there should be no need to do anything further and this may call the guy's bluff.

Under no circumstances should you share your log in credentials with him. Do NOT consider doing that at all.

Take a look at this.

Turn off Find My iPhone Activation Lock - Apple Support

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Answer 2

DanRedley Author

Level 1

8 points

May 11, 2016 12:52 PM in response to Demo

Thanks for the quick response, However, I followed each of these steps correctly!

Unfortunately, I do not live near this person - would Tech Support be able to do anything from their side?

When I log into my iCloud I can't see the device as I already removed it from the account/Find my iPhone app.

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Answer 3

DanRedley Author

Level 1

8 points

May 11, 2016 12:54 PM in response to DanRedley

Reading the link you provided. It seems I did NOT erase iPhone before removing it from the account!

So, now I assume because I didn't erase the iPhone via the Find my iPhone app it still see's it as lost/stolen. However, I can't go back to that now as I already removed it from account!

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Answer 4

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

May 11, 2016 1:11 PM in response to DanRedley

I Have to admit that I'm not sure what to do now. I have reached out to gail from maine who knows more about iCloud than I ever will. Hopefully she will see my batcall soon.

Just do NOT give that guy your credentials.

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Answer 5

elcpu

Level 7

31,586 points

May 11, 2016 2:13 PM in response to DanRedley

You could read through this guide, particularly the section under "If you no longer have your iOS device"

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

My own 2 cents worth....

Ask the guy to send the phone back to you, then you can disable Find my iPhone per above and mail it back to him.

IMO the phone cannot be enabled otherwise as it will appear "stolen" from his end. I may be wrong so let's see what Gail has to say....

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Answer 6

May 11, 2016 3:56 PM in response to DanRedley

OK, so the device needs to come back online, and when it does, you will see it listed under your Devices again. The purchaser needs to link it to their Wifi so it will show up. Based on your description of the problem, it is not on Wifi yet. When the phone is erased and then set up, one of the first things you do is activate the Wifi. Then you activate the phone.

Do you know if the buyer has the device connected to Wifi?

Cheers,

GB

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