How do I remove previous owner's Apple Account from secondhand iPhone?

Question

Level 1

4 points

How do I remove previous owner's Apple Account from secondhand iPhone?

My junior was buying this second hand iphone from a very good friend of his. However, the phone was linked to the previous owner's Apple ID. Truthfully he lost the contact number of previous owner. The last but not least, he was trying to factory reset and it turn out to lock out the phone. Is there anyway for him to disconnect his second hand phone from the previous owner apple"s ID. do you need the police report to confirm that the phone was bought legally from the owner so that you can factory reset it back to normal. Very appreciate in advance.

Best Regard

Pavitra

[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Jan 22, 2025 2:09 PM

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Answer 1

Kurtosis12

Level 9

69,034 points

Jan 22, 2025 2:28 PM in response to PavitraWiew

Activation lock is a security protocol that can't be bypassed. Only the person it is locked to can unlock it.

If you bought this from someone and it came locked, try to get your money back, you will never be able to use the phone.

Something isn't adding up here, why would there be a police report if it was supposedly bought on the up and up. In fact, why is there a police report at all?

Usually when the previous owner can't be contacted or the previous owner can't remember their passcode, these are good indicators that the phone is stolen. I think your son's very good friend just ripped you off.

If your phone is Activation Locked - How to remove Activation Lock -

How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying a used phone -

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

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Answer 2

Katana-San

Level 9

71,419 points

Jan 22, 2025 2:22 PM in response to PavitraWiew

Hello~ Even a police report will likely not satisfy Apple’s strict security requirements. This iPhone is probably never going to be unlocked as the Activation Lock is doing it’s intended job of protecting the previous owner’s information. Unless you can contact the owner who’s Apple Account to which this iPhone is locked to …you may as well recycle it responsibly. Click on below and review…

Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad - Apple Support

How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support

Also…

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

~Katana-San~

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Answer 3

Mac Jim ID

Level 7

32,009 points

Jan 22, 2025 2:25 PM in response to PavitraWiew

No Police Report will help with anything. The phone will remain a brick unless the original owner is able to remove the device from their account. There is nothing Apple can do, and they do not get involved in any third party sales. You will find that when there is no contact with the original owner and there is no way to get a refund, you just need to chalk it up as a valuable lesson learned and never do that again.

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