You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Access an Apple ID, I don't have the password.

My father passed away and now I have his phone unable to find his last will and testament or which was his lawyer. I contact Apple to help and they erased the phone and set an owner lock on it for if I have his Apple ID and password I can get access, I do have his Apple ID and his password when I try to restore his back up it asked for the passcode that he use when he had the phone I do not have his passcode and every time I try to use his Apple ID it says it’s going to clear their end to end encrypted data like messages contacts emails and that’s exactly what I do not want to happen because that’s the information I need to settle his affairs. Is there anybody who can help me figure out how to get past this pass code that is required to get in for access to his Apple ID.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 14 Pro Max, iOS 16

Posted on Jun 30, 2023 9:56 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 1, 2023 3:27 AM


Should your family member's device require password, and now has an

Activation Lock; to free up the device legally and remove that Lock, you

may need reason to believe there still may be useful information on it.

By reading again, more than once, I cannot tell where you are with that.


How to request access to a deceased family member's Apple account - Apple Support

//support.apple.com/en-us/HT208510


Depending on the path the device has been through, IF that was erased;

[by now] there's nothing to left to access. To acquire further access now

wouldn't get you any files from the device, IF it's already been erased by

an Apple tech. I doubt an official Apple presence did it without explaining.


So depending on what was done, and if done correctly to gain access

to the original user's account and its data, would require certain steps

followed. Otherwise someone may only unlock the Activation Lock; but

in the meantime, has then erased the content; it's not accessible now.


The above article link, tells of certain methods and if not able to follow

them in one way; by default another pathway only allows a subsequent

user to set the device up as new owner, with original data lost.


[Encrypted mail within Apple Mail, may or not, have been accessible

outside a Mail application; perhaps from the server, with password.]


https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ftsa&q=how+to+access+activation+lock

+on+deceased+apple+product&ia=web


So I believe you are now seeking an impossible path; unless you travel

back in time and have your relative provide written instruction to court;

Then after their passing, access may be gained to the intellectual data

intact. ~As it now is, that does not seem to be possible.


Instructions are clear, two ways; either you do it by one, or the other.


Maybe someone else can read the Apple article details and look for

some workaround; but I see that as missed opportunity; years ago.


3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 1, 2023 3:27 AM in response to Expect-theworst-hopeforthebest


Should your family member's device require password, and now has an

Activation Lock; to free up the device legally and remove that Lock, you

may need reason to believe there still may be useful information on it.

By reading again, more than once, I cannot tell where you are with that.


How to request access to a deceased family member's Apple account - Apple Support

//support.apple.com/en-us/HT208510


Depending on the path the device has been through, IF that was erased;

[by now] there's nothing to left to access. To acquire further access now

wouldn't get you any files from the device, IF it's already been erased by

an Apple tech. I doubt an official Apple presence did it without explaining.


So depending on what was done, and if done correctly to gain access

to the original user's account and its data, would require certain steps

followed. Otherwise someone may only unlock the Activation Lock; but

in the meantime, has then erased the content; it's not accessible now.


The above article link, tells of certain methods and if not able to follow

them in one way; by default another pathway only allows a subsequent

user to set the device up as new owner, with original data lost.


[Encrypted mail within Apple Mail, may or not, have been accessible

outside a Mail application; perhaps from the server, with password.]


https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ftsa&q=how+to+access+activation+lock

+on+deceased+apple+product&ia=web


So I believe you are now seeking an impossible path; unless you travel

back in time and have your relative provide written instruction to court;

Then after their passing, access may be gained to the intellectual data

intact. ~As it now is, that does not seem to be possible.


Instructions are clear, two ways; either you do it by one, or the other.


Maybe someone else can read the Apple article details and look for

some workaround; but I see that as missed opportunity; years ago.


Jul 1, 2023 8:25 AM in response to Expect-theworst-hopeforthebest

According to the document in an earlier link, Apple provides access to the data. However, that could just mean by other means such as logging into the data-only componentst on iCloud.com. The device itself has been erased and can be set up as a brand new device. If you are trying to do this with his account in that device you may be running into two factor authentication as set on his account. See if you are presented with options lower down on the display such as you don't know the passcode.

Jul 1, 2023 8:11 AM in response to K Shaffer

Thank you very much for your response as it is very helpful. My only confusion is I did contact Apple and inform them of what I was attempting to do with the representative stated that he would erase the phone not the Apple ID and put the owner lock on the phone to where I can only get access with the Apple ID and password, when he did this, I logged in with the Apple ID and password, because after the representative erased the phone, it no longer asked for the passcode to enter the phone, so I was able to get an access into the phone as if it was set up as a new phone that was locked by the owner who could only get access with Apple ID and password. Once I input the Apple ID and password it let me into the phone and then to unlock and get access to encrypted Indian data. It asked for the old passcode that was used on the phone, not the new one. So that is where I’m at if I am unable to gain access to his Apple ID because of his old passcode, I guess I was just hopeful that since I did have his ID and password to his account, there would be some type of a another route or pass that I could approach to overcome the pass code. Since I have the verifying recovery email I have access to the email access to his ID and resetting his password to his ID I can do all and I have full copies of his death certificate. I am listed as the only point of contact him but no I do not have a legal paper from him, signed by notary, stating that I am his beneficiary or gain control of his accounts after he dies it was never anything that official he just recently received an iPhone last year he didn’t even know about it Legacy contact.

Access an Apple ID, I don't have the password.

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.