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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 102656
If you forgot your Apple Account password - Apple Support
Here's how to reset your Apple Account password and regain access to your account.
Published   3 days ago
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 101567
Change your Apple Account password - Apple Support
November 10, 2025 - Follow these steps to change your Apple Account password.
Discussions

How to remove Activation Lock without the… - Apple Community
If you are not the owner and do ... shares the Apple ID and password with you. If you are lucky you can get into this iPhone if they (owner) accidentally remove the device from their Apple ID. ... Activation lock support.apple.com/en-gb/TS4515 Activation lock ***@gmail.com ... More on discussions.apple.com
🌐 discussions.apple.com
October 2, 2023
support.apple.com/kb/TS4515 - Apple Community
If a second-hand iOS device has been 'Activation locked' then only the previous owner can unlock it, either by providing you with the account ID and password, or by removing it from his list of devices (as he should have done before selling it) - please see http://support.apple.com/kb/ts4515 More on discussions.apple.com
🌐 discussions.apple.com
December 31, 2017
IOS 7 Activation Nightmare. Bought IPAD2 from estate sale, previous owner dead, No idea what previous owners apple ID is. Apple wont help.

As an Apple employee:

  1. We do not care about your Windows/Android threats. We here them EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It LITERALLY has no effect on us whatsoever. If you do switch to Android, make sure you log out of your Apple ID first on your device(s) before switching or you won't be able to receive texts for 45 days from iPhones.

  2. The activation lock has been a touted feature since Apple announced iOS 7. It is some what common knowledge that the original owner has to turn "Find My iPhone" feature off on the device before reselling it. This is a security feature and not a pain-in-the-ass-Apple-hates-you as you are trying to make it out to be. Apple is not out to get you.

  3. You will never get this issue fixed. You need the original Apple ID and password associated with the device. Again, it is a security feature and that is just the way it is. Tim Cook himself does not have the resources to unlock the device. Is it inconvenient for your situation? Definitely; but you fall under the 0.01% of people who are inconvenienced by this, compared to the other 99.99% who if their device gets stolen that their personal information does not get taken. If you haven't noticed, Apple has really taken security seriously (Touch ID etc.) As an employee, I have no access to your personal information or credit card information compared to other companies where they type in your name and they see EVERYTHING.

I am not trying to be a dick I am just saying the way it is. You are coming off very aggressive as if this is Apple's fault; it is nobody's fault, the product is working correctly and it is keeping someone out of the device that should not be trying to access it.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/applehelp
47
0
July 27, 2012
Forgot my password and I can’t reset it
You may have to move on to the next step, which is called account recovery. It can take as little as a few days, as much as a month. You can call Apple support if you’d like someone to guide you through the process. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/applehelp
6
4
January 4, 2024
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 108934
How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support
Follow the onscreen steps to enter the Apple Account and password you used to set up your device or your device passcode. If you don't remember your Apple Account, try to sign in with an email address or phone number that you regularly use for Apple services. Learn how to find your Apple Account or reset your Apple Account password.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 118574
How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple Account password - Apple Support
2 weeks ago - If you don’t know your password, you’ll get the option to start account recovery. Turn off all other devices that are currently signed in with your Apple Account until account recovery is complete. If your Apple Account is in use during your request, your account recovery will be cancelled automatically. If you started your account recovery in Settings, System Settings, or the Apple Support app, you can continue to use that specific device during the account recovery period.
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Apple
al-support.apple.com
Activation Lock - Support
We cannot provide a description for this page right now
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Apple
support.apple.com › en-in › 102633
If you’ve forgotten your Mac login password - Apple Support (IN)
6 days ago - A reset message, such as “Restart and show password reset options” or “Reset it using your Apple ID” or “Reset it using your recovery key”.
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JustAnswer
justanswer.com › mac-computers › 9ymh5-forgotten-password-activation-help-says.html
Forgotten Password Activation Help - Expert Q&A | JustAnswer
October 13, 2016 - Customer: I have forgotten my password. The activation help suggests contacting support.apple.com/kb/TS4515.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 102640
If your Apple Account is locked, not active, or disabled - Apple Support
2 weeks ago - Learn what to do if you can't sign in to your Apple Account or Apple services because your account is locked, not active, or disabled.
Find elsewhere
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255107529
How to remove Activation Lock without the… - Apple Community
October 2, 2023 - If you are not the owner and do not have the Apple ID and Password then there is no way that you can get into this iPhone unless the original owner shares the Apple ID and password with you. If you are lucky you can get into this iPhone if they (owner) accidentally remove the device from their Apple ID. ... Activation lock support.apple.com/en-gb/TS4515 Activation lock ***@gmail.com [Email Edited by Moderator] 525 1
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JustAnswer
justanswer.com › mac-computers › buqbx-support-apple-com-kb-ts4515-screen.html
Support for Apple Error TS4515 - Expert Solutions | JustAnswer
Have you attempted to reset the password? If you would like assistance with this remotely, please select the option for Secure Remote Assistance. However, remote assistance is not necessary to proceed with your question. Discover more answers · My friend won an Apple kb ts4515 at a Raffle in another · I have forgotten my password and activation help says to · Supportapple.com/kb/T54515 this is what coming back to me.
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Domain Glass
domain.glass › search
How To Turn Off Find My Iphone Without Apple Id Password
How to remove Activation Lock Learn ... support.apple.com/kb/TS4515?viewlocale=en_US support.apple.com/en-us/HT201441 Product activation7.6 Apple ID4 Lock screen3.2 Password3 Computer hardware1.9 Apple Inc.1.8 ICloud1.7 AppleCare1.6 Click (TV programme)1.4 Information appliance1.3 Peripheral1.3 User (computing)1.3 IPhone1.2 Lock and key1 Web browser0.9 World Wide Web0.8 Go (programming language)0.7 Reset (computing)0.7 ...
🌐
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 6440097
support.apple.com/kb/TS4515 - Apple Community
December 31, 2017 - If the ID being asked for is yours and you have forgotten the password you will have to reset and restore the phone. If the ID being asked for is not yours but a previous owner's, only they can unlock it.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 108348
If you forgot your Apple Watch passcode - Apple Support
October 3, 2025 - Tap General > Reset. Tap Erase Apple Watch Content and Settings, then tap it again at the bottom of the screen to confirm. You might need to enter your Apple Account password.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 102573
About Activation Lock on your Apple Watch - Apple Support
Enter your Apple Account email address or phone number and password. If you forgot your Apple Account password, you can reset it.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 108794
Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad - Apple Support
If you forget your password, learn how to reset the password for your Apple Account.
🌐
Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 118430
If you forgot your iPhone passcode or your iPhone is disabled - Apple Support
This troubleshooting article walks through steps for iPhones with different button types (Face ID, Home Button, etc.), including how to enter recovery mode, erase your iPhone, restore it from backup, and recover access to your Apple ID if necessary.
Published   2 weeks ago
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applehelp › ios 7 activation nightmare. bought ipad2 from estate sale, previous owner dead, no idea what previous owners apple id is. apple wont help.
r/applehelp on Reddit: IOS 7 Activation Nightmare. Bought IPAD2 from estate sale, previous owner dead, No idea what previous owners apple ID is. Apple wont help.
July 27, 2012 -

This is a letter I just sent to Tim. I am livid over this. I just bought a 200 dollar brick!

Tim,

I wanted to pass along my frustration with a recent IPad purchase that I made. I bought a used IPAD at an estate sale over the weekend for two hundred bucks, and this is the first IPad that I have ever owned. The IPad was upgraded to IOS 7 by the previous owner who is now deceased. It was in working condition and when I brought it home, I wiped the IPad to the original factory state. Upon restoral, I am now stuck on the activation screen wanting the previous owners information which I don’t have because they are dead. Unless you have some way of reading a dead persons brain, there is no way I can get this information. I contacted support without any help from them. This is a very frustrating situation. I could understand if the IPad was stolen, but this is far from the case. I am very frustrated and irritated that the lack of support over this situation and the lack of support over 2nd hand activations. YOU NEED TO FIX THIS! I am not the only one who has expressed this concern and you all have gotten this very wrong. Thank you for your help, I hope that you can get this fixed in a timely manner. I have always loved my apple products from my IMac to my iPhone, and look to expand into more apple products but after this experience I will take a serious look at Android and Windows applications.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

All the best,

My real name here.

Top answer
1 of 5
11

As an Apple employee:

  1. We do not care about your Windows/Android threats. We here them EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It LITERALLY has no effect on us whatsoever. If you do switch to Android, make sure you log out of your Apple ID first on your device(s) before switching or you won't be able to receive texts for 45 days from iPhones.

  2. The activation lock has been a touted feature since Apple announced iOS 7. It is some what common knowledge that the original owner has to turn "Find My iPhone" feature off on the device before reselling it. This is a security feature and not a pain-in-the-ass-Apple-hates-you as you are trying to make it out to be. Apple is not out to get you.

  3. You will never get this issue fixed. You need the original Apple ID and password associated with the device. Again, it is a security feature and that is just the way it is. Tim Cook himself does not have the resources to unlock the device. Is it inconvenient for your situation? Definitely; but you fall under the 0.01% of people who are inconvenienced by this, compared to the other 99.99% who if their device gets stolen that their personal information does not get taken. If you haven't noticed, Apple has really taken security seriously (Touch ID etc.) As an employee, I have no access to your personal information or credit card information compared to other companies where they type in your name and they see EVERYTHING.

I am not trying to be a dick I am just saying the way it is. You are coming off very aggressive as if this is Apple's fault; it is nobody's fault, the product is working correctly and it is keeping someone out of the device that should not be trying to access it.

2 of 5
5

Your issue is with the next of kin or who you bought it from. Not Apple.

The next of kin can send the documentation to Apple to prove the person is deceased and can request the account closed. At that point you might have a chance with support.

But as GillytheKidd mentions, this is a security feature not a product defect.

🌐
AppleInsider
appleinsider.com › articles › 21 › 08 › 09 › how-to-remove-icloud-activation-lock-without-password
How to remove iCloud Activation Lock without password | AppleInsider
August 10, 2021 - In the Apple Support app, Select Passwords & Security under Topics. Select Reset Apple ID password, tap Get Started, then select "A different Apple ID."
🌐
iToolab
itoolab.com › unlock › how-to-remove-icloud-activation-lock-without-password
[iOS 16.7] 7 Ways to Remove iCloud Activation Lock without Password
This guide will show you how you can remove iCloud Activation Lock without a password on iOS 16.6 The solutions we will share with you here are the most effective.