How do i reset an i phone i have brought  that has an i cloud account .. I do not know the  previous owner and have no way of contacting them

Can anyone help  I brought an i phone  4 for my grandson , for as suprise , however when i opened the phone i found it has an i cloud account blocking it . i do not know who this person is or  how or where to contact them  and therfore the phone is useless ,unless i can unlock remove the account  how can tyhis be done please .

You have encountered Activation Lock which cannot be bypassed without the proper credentials.
If you bought the device new take it back as it is not a new device. If you bought the device used from a store take it back to the store as you cannot use the device. If you bought the device from an individual you probably got scammed and have purchased a stolen device in which case your device is worthless and cannot be used. Not good news I am afraid.

Similar Messages

  • HT201441 I bought a second hand phone from CEX and I got home to find out it's locked to someone's Apple ID .. Obviously I do not know the previous owner. So I can't ask them to remove this device from their account because I don't know them. What is the

    I have a second hand iPhone 4S and it's locked to someone's Apple ID . I don't know the previous owner so I can't ask them to erase this device. So what is the sollution?

    You need to return the Device for a refund, as you will not be able to re-activate it.
    Activation Lock in iOS 7  >  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818

  • Hey I bought an iPhone off gumtree and everything was well. But then I tried to set it up and it asked for the apple if of the previous owner and so I asked him for it his Apple ID but refused to tell me so I can not use the phone. how do I fix this?

    Hey I bought an iPhone off gumtree and everything was well. But then I tried to set it up and it asked for the apple if of the previous owner and so I asked him for it his Apple ID but refused to tell me so I can not use the phone. how do I fix this?

    Contact them back and have them follow these instructions  Find My iPhone Activation Lock: Removing a device from a previous owner’s account - Apple Support

  • HT201441 I do not know the old owner please email His solution is possible the old phone to communicate with him

    I do not know the old owner please email His solution is possible the old phone to communicate with him

    Apple will never release personal information about you or anyone else to any consumer.  It is your responsibility to verify the device before purchasing it if you choose to go through a third party.  Recommendation: Buy Apple products from an authorized reseller.
    You are experiencing Activation Lock.  If the previous owner will not remove the device from their account there is nothing you can do unless the place you purchased it from will give you a refund.
    Activation Lock: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5818
    What if I purchase a device that is still linked to the previous owner's account?
    Contact the previous owner as soon as possible and ask them to erase the device and remove it from their account. For complete instructions, read how to remove a device from a previous owner's account.
    How do I check for Activation Lock before purchasing a used device?
    When purchasing an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from someone other than Apple or an authorized Apple reseller, it is up to you to ensure that the device has been erased and is no longer linked to the previous owner’s account.
    Follow each of these steps to make sure that you can use the device you purchase:
    Turn the device on and slide to unlock.If the passcode lock screen or the home screen appears, the device has not been erased. Ask the seller to completely erase the device by going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Do not take ownership of any used iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch until it has been erased.
    Begin the device setup process.After choosing a language, choosing a country, and connecting to a network, the device will begin activation. If you are asked for the previous owner’s Apple ID and password, the device is still linked to their account. Hand the device back to the seller and ask them to enter their password. If the previous owner is not present, they can remove the device from their account by signing in to icloud.com/find. Do not take ownership of any used iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch until it has been removed from the previous owner’s account.
    You will know that a device is ready for you to use when you are asked to “Set up your iPhone", “Set up your iPad", or “Set up your iPod” during the device setup process.

  • How do I used my iPhone if it is Lock with an Apple ID account of the previous user and i can't longer contact him?

    I bought an Apple Device namely iPhone 4s and this really bother and give me an intimate reason to contact Apple. How do I use the device, if it is Lock with an Apple ID account of the previous user, and everytime I open the phone the screen will show Activate iPhone with the Apple ID link on the Device. The worse thing is that, i couln't contact the seller any longer and the device is seems useless. I can't use it. Please give me some help how to fix this error and vulnerabilities.

    Sorry alvinguibz, but you have encountered an Activation Lock, and unless you can contact the previous owner and have them follow the steps below, you will not be able to use your device:
    Removing Previous Owner from Device
    There is no other way around this.
    Sorry,
    GB

  • I was given my ipad mini as a gift and i cant restore it  dont know the previous owners information? how do i fix it

    i was given my ipad mini as a gift and i cant restore it  dont know the previous owners information? how do i fix it? i have tried everything on this wesite , forumas and in i tunes. i have restored it wiped it an di cant get thru set up because of the previous persons email linked to it.

    If the iPad was running iOS 7,  iCloud: Find My iPhone Activation Lock in iOS 7
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818
    How can I unlock my iPad if I forgot the passcode?
    http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ipad/ipad-troubleshooting-repair-faq/ipad- how-to-unlock-open-forgot-code-passcode-password-login.html
    iOS: Device disabled after entering wrong passcode
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1212
    How can I unlock my iPad if I forgot the passcode?
    http://tinyurl.com/7ndy8tb
    How to Reset a Forgotten Password for an iOS Device
    http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-a-Forgotten-Password-for-an-iOS-Device
    Using iPhone/iPad Recovery Mode
    http://ipod.about.com/od/iphonetroubleshooting/a/Iphone-Recovery-Mode.htm
    Saw this solution on another post about an iPad in a school environment. Might work on your iPad so you won't lose everything.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ‘iPad is disabled’ fix without resetting using iTunes
    Today I met my match with an iPad that had a passcode entered too many times, resulting in it displaying the message ‘iPad is disabled – Connect to iTunes’. This was a student iPad and since they use Notability for most of their work there was a chance that her files were not all backed up to the cloud. I really wanted to just re-activate the iPad instead of totally resetting it back to our default image.
    I reached out to my PLN on Twitter and had some help from a few people through retweets and a couple of clarification tweets. I love that so many are willing to help out so quickly. Through this I also learned that I look like Lt. Riker from Star Trek (thanks @FillineMachine).
    Through some trial and error (and a little sheer luck), I was able to reactivate the iPad without loosing any data. Note, this will only work on the computer it last synced with. Here’s how:
    1. Configurator is useless in reactivating a locked iPad. You will only be able to completely reformat the iPad using Configurator. If that’s ok with you, go for it – otherwise don’t waste your time trying to figure it out.
    2. Open iTunes with the iPad disconnected.
    3. Connect the iPad to the computer and wait for it to show up in the devices section in iTunes.
    4. Click on the iPad name when it appears and you will be given the option to restore a backup or setup as a new iPad (since it is locked).
    5. Click ‘Setup as new iPad’ and then click restore.
    6. The iPad will start backing up before it does the full restore and sync. CANCEL THE BACKUP IMMEDIATELY. You do this by clicking the small x in the status window in iTunes.
    7. When the backup cancels, it immediately starts syncing – cancel this as well using the same small x in the iTunes status window.
    8. The first stage in the restore process unlocks the iPad, you are basically just cancelling out the restore process as soon as it reactivates the iPad.
    If done correctly, you will experience no data loss and the result will be a reactivated iPad. I have now tried this with about 5 iPads that were locked identically by students and each time it worked like a charm.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Try it and good luck. You have nothing more to lose if it doesn't work for you.
     Cheers, Tom

  • I have bought an iPad second hand, however the data on it is still there from the previous owner and requires a password to be reset but, because it is second hand, I do not know it, is there any way around this so I can reset it?

    Ipad needs resetting but because it's second hand the password from the previous owner is still on it and I do not know it, is there anyway around this so I can take all the data off? It's urgent because it is being used as a gift next week!

    The previous owner should have reset it back to factory defaults before selling it. What iOS version is the iPad on (Settings > General > About > Version), and has the previous owner left him/herself logged in in Settings > iCloud with Find My iPad enabled on that screen ? If it's on iOS 7 and Find My iPad is enabled then you should contact the previous owner and ask them to remove the iPad from their account, otherwise you or the recipient of the gift will have problems with activation lock : http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4515
    To reset the iPad back to factory defaults (if it's not linked to Find My iPad) you can use recovery mode : http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1808

  • How do i use and iphone with the ios7 if the phone is completely locked and i dont know the previous owner?

    how do i fix a phone that is completly locked bc of the ios7? i dont know the previous ower? and i dont know if the phone is stollen.

    You don't get it to work. You can not bypass the activation lock. Do you not know who you bought it from? Talk to them. If they can't give you the credentials to unlock it, get your money back. The phone is useless.

  • HT201441 i have an ipad and the original owner is not present and i have no way to contact them how can i reset the ipad back to factory settings?

    i have an ipad and the original owner is not present and i have no way to contact the owner how can i reset the ipad to factory settings?

    Tammy,
    Unfortunately your iPhone is just a paper weight. Return it to the pawn shop for a refund.
    iCloud: Find My iPhone Activation Lock in iOS 7 explains the "Buyer Beware" facts:
    When purchasing an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from someone other than Apple or an authorized Apple reseller, it is up to you to ensure that the device has been erased and is no longer linked to the previous owner’s account.
    Follow each of these steps to make sure that you can use the device you purchase:
    Turn the device on and slide to unlock.If the passcode lock screen or the home screen appears, the device has not been erased. Ask the seller to completely erase the device by going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Do not take ownership of any used iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch until it has been erased.
    Begin the device setup process.After choosing a language, choosing a country, and connecting to a network, the device will begin activation. If you are asked for the previous owner’s Apple ID and password, the device is still linked to their account. Hand the device back to the seller and ask them to enter their password. If the previous owner is not present, they can remove the device from their account by signing in toicloud.com/find. Do not take ownership of any used iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch until it has been removed from the previous owner’s account.
    You will know that a device is ready for you to use when you are asked to “Set up your iPhone", “Set up your iPad", or “Set up your iPod” during the device setup process.

  • HT201441 how can erase a device if i dont have any way of contacting the previous owner? the phone was bought broken off craigslist. I had it fixed now I cant access it due to the phone being locked to there icloud

    is there anyway i can remove my iphone from previous owners icloud/ itunes account. if i cant contact them? there has to be something that can be done . the phone is use less if i cant link it to my on account. Please help.

    If this phone you bought was already running iOS 7 and had the new activation lock enabled, you can't do anything.
    That's the whole point of the feature. If it could be bypassed it would be a pointless feature.
    If you can't get the previous owner to unlock it, you've wasted your money.

  • HT201441 If you've found an iPod that was locked using Find My Phone/Activation Lock, and cannot contact the previous owner, is there any way to activate it still?

    I came across a 5th gen iPod touch at a bus stop, and tried but cannot activate it, as it is under the Find My Phone/ Activation Lock.
    Since I do not know who the previous owner is, is it possible to get around this roadblock? Or is it just no good to try?

    There's no way to get around it.  Turn it into the police so they can find the rightful owner.  You won't be able to use it anyway.

  • How to remove icloud lock  where you don't know the previous owner is

    how do you unlink a I pad that you don't know who is the previous owner was from there account so you can set it up to your account and have it work for you?

    then there should be a time limit put there cause some people sells things to pawn shops for a little bit of cash and forget to go and reclaim the item so the pawn shop sells it as it is or they don't want it any more so they sell it for what they can get and screw up other people in doing it that way

  • How to Reauthorized apple ID in ipad1 without knowing the previous owner's password

    I have just bought an 2nd hand iPad. It always prompt me with the previous user apple ID whenever I use the itune or app store.  How can I get rid of this . Would anybody can help

    Sign out and sign in with your ID. You will not be able to update the apps bought by the previous owner, they are not yours.

  • I just bought a MacBook from a pawn shop. It is administered by the previous owner and I have no password to change the settings. How do I reset the password?

    I just purchased a MacBook from a pawn shop. The computers previous owner has all of their admin settings already in place. How do I, I guess re-register the computer to me when I do not have her password to do so? Any help is appreciated!

    You could try that one but there's no guarantee it will work.  Apple's system DVDs (it's a DVd not a CD) are often machine model specific nad there are many sub models of MBP.
    Here's older posts but maybe they still apply:
    Mac OS X 10.6 Help: If you forget your administrator password - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/11627.html
    Reset OS X Password Without an OS X CD - http://theappleblog.com/2008/06/22/reset-os-x-password-without-an-os-x-cd/
    rccharles post on editing password with single user mode - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2747898
    Regaining lost admin status on OS X - http://www.salingfamily.net/trav/osx/regain_admin.html
    Running OS X Setup Assistant (another topic) - http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9581230

  • HT201363 Please help me  I worked restore iPhone 4 and asked me to Claude account and password  I know the account, but I do not know the password    I tried to reset the password, I know the date of birth, but I do not know the alternative email and I do

    الرجاء مساعدتي
    عملت استعادة اي فون 4 وطلب مني أن حساب iCloud وكلمة المرور
    أنا أعرف الحساب، ولكن أنا لا أعرف كلمة المرور
      حاولت إعادة تعيين كلمة المرور، وأنا أعلم من تاريخ الولادة، ولكن أنا لا أعرف البريد الإلكتروني البديلة وأنا لا أعرف إجابات لمسائل الأمن
    إذا لم تحل المشكلة لن تكون مجدية المحمول مدى الحياة
    إسمح لي للغة سيئة
    من فضلك، أريد حلا
    شكرا

    The password for your iCloud account is the same as the password for your Apple ID. If you do not know your password, and you cannot answer your Security Questions, then you will have to contact iTunes Support to have them reset for you:
    ACCOUNT SECURITY CONTACT NUMBERS
    Best of luck,
    GB

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