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Quora
quora.com › How-do-I-remove-an-activation-lock-without-an-Apple-ID-password
How to remove an activation lock without an Apple ID password - Quora
Answer: You ask the owner of the device, that activated the activation lock, to please remove it. If any Tom, Dick, and Henry, were able to just walk up and disable activation lock, then we’d be back with iPhones being stolen out of their ...
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 253246508
how i remove my apple id activation lock … - Apple Community
Remove activation ID lock How can ... owner (which must include the serial, IMEI or MEID number) you can request unlocking as detailed here: Activation Lock - Support....
Discussions

General Instructions of Successful iCloud Activation Lock Removal
I tested with my iphone 11 pro, as soon as I get answers, I'll come back here More on reddit.com
🌐 r/setupapp
1202
577
August 22, 2023
How to remove activation lock on iPad wit… - Apple Community
Activation Lock problem on my iPad ... 5 has an Activation Lock problem. I tried different ways on how to remove it. I don’t have the password of the Apple ID, this iPad 5 is from my relative’s husband who owned the iPad though he had passed away. My relative does not know what the password of the Apple ID is. We also tried bringing it to a third party repair shop. I need to unlock it ... More on discussions.apple.com
🌐 discussions.apple.com
Apple activation lock removal without knowing the previous owner
Short answer: you have a "parts" machine. You will need a new logic board to use it. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/applehelp
24
6
July 9, 2025
ios - How can I bypass Activation Lock? - Ask Different
To confirm, there is only a human solution to this problem, by getting the owner of the registered Apple ID to unlock it. ... You can't just bypass it. The very nature of Activation Lock is that it is impassible so that the device can still be tracked by the owner if it is lost/stolen. More on apple.stackexchange.com
🌐 apple.stackexchange.com
December 25, 2013
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Apple
al-support.apple.com
Activation Lock - Support
We cannot provide a description for this page right now
🌐
Quora
quora.com › How-do-you-bypass-the-activation-lock
How to bypass the activation lock - Quora
Answer: Q: How do you bypass the activation lock? A: It is impossible, that is the point of it, return the device to its legal owner (look at the emergency contacts at the bottom of the display to return it to it’s legal owner)
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Tenorshare
tenorshare.com › apple-id › apple-id-locked-how-to-bypass.html
Best 4 Ways for Apple ID Locked Bypass on iPhone/iPad
April 17, 2019 - And your device can’t be remotely blocked or tracked by the previous user. The easiest way to bypass Apple ID activation lock is by asking the previous owner to remove the device from the existing Apple ID/iCloud account on your iPhone.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 102640
If your Apple Account is locked, not active, or disabled - Apple Support
This might happen if you or someone else might have entered your password or other account information incorrectly too many times. To regain access, you need to reset your password. ... If you see a message that says your Apple Account is locked or not active, you might be able to request access ...
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 108934
How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support
March 20, 2025 - For iPhone, you might be able to remove Activation Lock on the web even if your device isn't offline.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/setupapp › general instructions of successful icloud activation lock removal
r/setupapp on Reddit: General Instructions of Successful iCloud Activation Lock Removal
August 22, 2023 -

So I've seen a number of posts demonstrating successful icloud activation lock removal with Apple's icloud request form.

On many of those posts I saw people who wondered how to achieve that, and the posts were not particularly direct in terms of the instruction given to accomplish a similar goal.

Inspired by those posts, I tried submitting the icloud unlock form based on feedback from others users of r/setupapp

The device that was icloud locked was an iPhone 6 16GB(2014). It became that way because I was stupid and didn't write down my passwords. I forgot and then wasted my resets and since I didn't use my real name or birthday, I couldn't fix it.

With the new form however, I requested it and succeeded in regaining access to that iPhone 6(skip to bottom if you want to read some tangential details).

Following here are the steps that I took to get the successful unlock.

  1. Obtain the IMEI number for the device. This can be done through a number of ways, it is present on the box and it can also be found through this: https://www.wootechy.com/unlock-iphone/how-to-get-imei-number-on-iphone-if-locked/

  2. Enter in the relevant information on Apple's icloud unlock request form: https://al-support.apple.com/#/additional-support

  3. Agree to Apple's terms, solve the capture, enter an email address(doesn't matter as is used for correspondence on the request progress and resolution), enter the IMEI and solve the CAPTCHA.

  4. Then you will have to put in an address for where you bought the device. I put in eBay's offices for the address.

  5. Apple wants to know what you have done to remove Activation Lock so far. I put that I looked online for solutions and this is what I found.

  6. Apple will also want proof of purchase/ownership. As far as I can tell, Apple will accept a site like "https://iunlocker.com/check_icloud.php"

  7. Enter in your IMEI and take a screenshot of the results. Upload that to the form where Apple asks for proof of purchase/ownership. Please note that I do not know whether serial number works or not. Based on what I have read and seen so far, only IMEI have worked in achieving unlocks.

  8. Click submit and wait. My iCloud activation lock removal came after about 30hours, at 12:06AM Pacific Standard Time so I was not awake when I got the email.

  9. Enjoy your new access to the phone.

The iPhone 6 was my dad's that he got from work, and it was meant to be my first phone. But of course I messed it up. At the time though I was so excited I didn't even notice or think about that fact though. A child's new phone is a very exciting matter indeed.

Find elsewhere
🌐
iRemove Software
iremove.tools
iCloud Bypass (Unlock) - iRemove Software
It provides a straightforward solution to Bypass Activation Lock Screen and unlock iCloud locked iPhone, iPad and Mac computers just in one click! ... The iRemove iPhone and iPad Unlock Tools are the best way to solve the most common issues iOS users may experience. If you have an iCloud-locked device, you must have Apple ID and password to unlock it.
🌐
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255512209
How to remove activation lock on iPad wit… - Apple Community
Activation Lock problem on my iPad ... 5 has an Activation Lock problem. I tried different ways on how to remove it. I don’t have the password of the Apple ID, this iPad 5 is from my relative’s husband who owned the iPad though he had passed away. My relative does not know what the password of the Apple ID is. We also tried bringing it to a third party repair shop. I need to unlock it ...
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As a budding tech, don’t waste your time trying to learn how to unlock an Activation (iCloud) Locked device…it can’t be done. Apple has really done their homework. Most, if not all, online sites are scams. The only way to unlock it is via GSX and if anyone truly has access to this, they are doing something illegal. It’s as simple as that. · If it was truly that easy, the market would be flooded with iCloud UNlocked devices and iPhone theft would be a rampant problem. · That said, iCloud locked devices do serve a useful purpose in life, at least for a tech. They are great devices to practice on, especially from a micro-soldering perspective as you can try things you might not normally on a fully functional device. They can also serve as a repository of truly original parts but you always have to consider if you are helping or hurting in keeping this cycle going.
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It is definitely possible to bypass iCloud Activation Lock but it isn’t possible to fully “unlock” it. In other words, if you reset or update the device, it will become locked again. Any iPhone 5s to X can be bypassed untethered on iOS 12.3 to 13.2.3 with the checkra1n jailbreak. You can also bypass any iPhone 5s to X on iOS 13.3+ with a paid bypass for $15 that I’ve tested on 2 iPhone X and it works but its Tethered so if the device dies or reboots, you’ll have to bypass it again. Sim cards/cellular/SMS/phone calls don’t work with any of these bypasses along with iMessage and many other small things. Also, please remember to not do this with stolen devices, try to get it back to the owner first. I once bought an Activation Locked iPhone X on eBay for parts and once I turned it on it had a phone number to call. I called that number and returned the phone. The owner rewarded me $200 for returning it. The moral of the story is to return it if its not yours. · Edit: It is possible to unlock an Activation Locked device with a GSX account as stated by someone in another answer, but most people who claim to have one are either scammers, or extremely overpriced to the point that its cheaper to buy a new device (or both).
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Wondershare
drfone.wondershare.com › solutions › remove-icloud-activation-lock-without-password.html
[OFFICIAL] Bypass iCloud Activation Lock: The Ultimate Guide!
Get the most out of your idevice from activation lock removal with Dr.Fone - iCloud Activation Unlocker. Delete activation lock, bypass the iCloud activation lock and enjoy the complete functionality of your device. Regain access to the device and fully experience the device's features · Set up your own iCloud account and Apple ...
Rating: 4.8 ​ - ​ 1.06K votes
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 108794
Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad - Apple Support
May 12, 2025 - Don't take ownership of any used iPhone or iPad if it's protected by Activation Lock. If you don't see that screen, follow these steps to check if the device is ready to use: Turn on and unlock the device.
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SimpleMDM
simplemdm.com › blog › how-to-turn-off-activation-lock
How to turn off Apple's Activation Lock
... Activation Lock support request if you have proof of purchase documentation. Proof of ownership must include the product serial number, IMEI, or MEID. (The device must be erased at the end of this process to complete the unlock.)
🌐
Wikihow
wikihow.com › computers and electronics › telephones › smartphones › iphone › how to remove apple activation lock without the old owner
How to Remove Apple Activation Lock without the Old Owner
April 10, 2025 - Bypass the iCloud activation lock even if the device's previous owner isn't around If you've bought an iPhone or iPad second-hand, you may have come across the activation lock during setup. Activation lock is a security measure put in...
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Ting Internet
help.ting.com › mobile-articles › removing-ios-activation-lock
Remove the activation lock from your iPhone
Disabling the activation lock is easy through your iPhone’s settings. Open Settings. Tap your name at the top of the screen. Select iCloud, then Find My iPhone. Toggle Find My iPhone off. Enter your iCloud password to confirm. Once you’ve turned off Find My iPhone, you can safely factory ...
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Avast
avast.com › c-bypass-apple-activation-lock
How to Bypass Apple Activation Lock (and Which Methods to Avoid)
4 weeks ago - Learn how to bypass iCloud activation lock. Discover effective methods to bypass Apple activation lock on iPad, iPhone & Mac.
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applehelp › apple activation lock removal without knowing the previous owner
r/applehelp on Reddit: Apple activation lock removal without knowing the previous owner
July 9, 2025 -

Hi, my name is Michael today. I was at a governmental auction and I bought a MacBook pro 2018, this device was lost by someone and because the person didn’t reclaim his device it was sold at this governmental auction. I have a receipt from the governmental auction and data erasure report issued by Blanco.

What would you recommend is the best way to remove the Apple activation lock from this device.

Because all the data was wiped off it. I need to install a new operation system. I installed Ventura 13 when I removed the activation lock. I want to put this MacBook on Linux because I need it for my computer science studies, my main notebook was like 2 kg because I also use it for gaming and electricity consumption is too high to take it for educational purposes

I am thankful for all helpful advice that I can get

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Official steps to turn off Find My iPhone Activation Lock are documented by Apple at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201441


In a nutshell, the various ways to remove iCloud Activation Lock include:

  1. Apple will remove the lock if they can verify the original purchaser is requesting the action.
  2. Self-service removal if you can authenticate as the iCloud account that placed the lock on that device.
  3. Business using DEP can often use their MDM to remove the lock as a self-service action without needing Apple to be involved.

For consumers, you will likely need to make an appointment at an Apple Store and provide the Genius on-hand proof of purchase (to show you're the authorized owner) along with proof of identity and they will reset Activation Lock, giving you access to the device.

For businesses, it depends if you are enrolled in DEP - Apple's Device Enrollment Program or just want to provide copies of the original purchase listing serial numbers to verify ownership.

If you bought the device second hand, stole it, found it or came to possess the device by some means other than buying it from Apple directly, then you will probably need the original owner to show proof of purchase, etc. They will then transfer the device to your account or simply disable Activation Lock.

The only self-service way to remove the lock if you can't type your password into the device itself is to authenticate at https://icloud.com and remove the activation lock when the device is not connected to the internet.

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You cannot do anything technically to get past it. Your only method is to get back to the seller. If they have disappeared, then perhaps you might want to entertain the possibility that you have been sold a stolen iPhone.

In this instance, then rather than have a very expensive paperweight, you might want to report it to the Police. There is a slim chance that it has been reported as stolen, and they may be able to reunite it with it's true owner, in which case there is also a chance that they may reward you in some way to make up for your loss, or (perfect scenario) they will have already replaced it on insurance, and will simply unlock it for you and let you keep it.

To confirm, there is only a human solution to this problem, by getting the owner of the registered Apple ID to unlock it.

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ManageEngine
manageengine.com › mobile-device-management › how-to › mdm-turn-off-activation-lock.html
How to bypass Activation Lock on MacBook, iPhone, iPad?
iCloud activation lock is Apple's security feature that restricts unauthorized entry to Apple devices. Learn how to activate/bypass the activation lock on iPad, iPhone, and Mac with ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus.