Disabled/ activation lock

See Turn off Activation Lock https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201441. All possibilities related to iPhones, iPads, and iPods are covered here except the case of inheritance.

If you are the original owner:  If you have iOS 11 or later and your account is protected with two-factor authentication, use get help with a forgotten passcode or disabled device  to recover your passcode.  Otherwise, use forgot your Apple ID or your Apple ID password to recover the needed credential(s). If you can’t recover the needed credential(s), contact Apple Support and present your original purchase receipt for your device from an authorized Apple seller with the device’s serial number on it. You’ll need a photo ID too. If you can do neither, then the device is useless to you.

If you acquired your device second hand, you usually will need to obtain the needed password from the prior owner or have the prior owner sign out of iCloud; erase the device; and remove it from their device list. If unsuccessful, in the rare case your device came activation locked from an authorized Apple seller, then contact Apple Support and present your original purchase receipt for your device with the device’s serial number on it. You’ll need a photo ID too. If you can do none of the above, then the device is useless to you.

In either case, you can use the suggested support options below if you have the needed receipt. Alternatively, if an Apple Store is open in your area, then you can go there to deal with your problem. In this case, you can make a genius-bar appointment (https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/) if you want.

Get a call from Apple support to help solve your problem using this

link https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=kbase&PGF=PGF63005&category_id=SC0245&symptom_id=23362  Be patient. Sometimes Apple phone support is not available.

Apple ID Support https://support.apple.com/apple-id

Apple Support Twitter  https://twitter.com/AppleSupport  There may be an hour or so wait.

Apple ID account security for country-specific and region-specific help https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204169

Get Support: We’re here to help https://getsupport.apple.com/. Go through the options to find the best support option.

By logging in with the correct Apple ID & password that was used to lock it.

If it's a second hand device, ask the previous owner to help.