How can I remove an Activation Lock without the original receipt?

I bought two iPhone 13s in an electronics store in Qamishli, Syria. At first there was no problem with the phones and Apple accounts. The phones were closed for about two and a half months. Then the problem of apple account and activation lock appeared. I could not find the original Apple invoice. The receipt provided by my seller is not accepted for all kinds of reasons. what should I do?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 15.4

Posted on Apr 15, 2025 6:48 AM

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Posted on Apr 15, 2025 6:52 AM

Return them for refund. They are totally, utterly, completely useless to you. Apple won't help you as you are not the original buyer and you don't have the documentation required for them to unlock them. We can't help you unlock them. You simply cannot unlock them. Return them.


Read this too --> The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 15, 2025 6:52 AM in response to Alifais

Return them for refund. They are totally, utterly, completely useless to you. Apple won't help you as you are not the original buyer and you don't have the documentation required for them to unlock them. We can't help you unlock them. You simply cannot unlock them. Return them.


Read this too --> The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying … - Apple Community

Apr 15, 2025 7:20 AM in response to Alifais

Alifais wrote:

Dude, I read your article. thank you for the information. but these are not stolen or second-hand devices.

Perhaps not, but that really isn't relevant at this point. The proof of purchase you provided was not deemed acceptable by Apple.


That would indicate that at best, you bought gray market devices from an unauthorized seller.

There is nothing anyone here or at Apple can do for you.



Apr 15, 2025 7:22 AM in response to Alifais

There are 2 ways to remove the lock:

  • Use the Apple Account/Password to remove the Activation Lock. This is the one used to set it up and should be one that you know.
  • If the Apple Account on the device is unknown to you, then the original purchase receipt from Apple or Authorized Apple seller will be required. It is likely that the store you purchased them from is neither of these,


It really is that simple with those 2 options. Other than that, you are left with devices that will remain useless, which is why it was suggested to recycle them so they do not go into a landfill.

Apr 15, 2025 7:47 AM in response to Alifais

Alifais wrote:

But you have a high score. you must have helped many people to get these points. these are not dead devices. they are open devices. a purchase account can be created with a different account. only basic Apple services cannot be used. I have Apple account information. I have a few purchase receipts. Aren't these criteria?

You have been told the criteria: either you know the login credentials or you provide the original purchase receipt from Apple or an Authorized Apple Reseller. If you don't have those, Apple won't unlock them.


It doesn't matter if the store you bought them from is reputable or not. It doesn't matter if they were stolen or not. None of that matters.

Apr 15, 2025 7:57 AM in response to Alifais

Alifais wrote:

In fact, it can't even be called an activation lock. because the devices are on, it're working. The application can be downloaded. but the main account doesn't work. Still, the device is not fully active. Since there is a problem caused by the apple account, it should have been solved in this way under normal conditions. but the problem suddenly turned into a problem with the activation of the device.

You can argue terminology all you want. It won't change anything.


You CANNOT remove the activation lock from the phones.

Apr 15, 2025 7:15 AM in response to KiltedTim

Dude, I read your article. thank you for the information. but these are not stolen or second-hand devices. I want you to know for sure. can an Apple account be installed on a stolen or second-hand device? Or can you see that the device is activated when it is first turned on? Why should an activated, Apple account installed device work normally for a while? The only problem is that the device remains off for up to two and a half months. It is also that additional recovery layers are not created, such as two-factor authentication for accounts. I think so. I am the one who bought the devices. I know that the devices were done a normal setup and the devices initially had no problems.

Apr 15, 2025 7:29 AM in response to Mac Jim ID

Thank you for your help. I think this is a little more complicated problem. in fact, I have all the account information with me. when I want to log in, it is said that the account is inactive or locked. what can be done through the account is blocked. it may or may not be the subject of the invoice. I think it is up to the evaluation of the team that examines the receipts. the receipts were received from a legal store. Of course, this is not an authorized store, but there is no authorized store in this country anyway. You can get Apple products from dozens of stores. There is no problem in any of them. The only one devices caused problems in this way.


Apr 15, 2025 7:49 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

In fact, it can't even be called an activation lock. because the devices are on, it're working. The application can be downloaded. but the main account doesn't work. Still, the device is not fully active. Since there is a problem caused by the apple account, it should have been solved in this way under normal conditions. but the problem suddenly turned into a problem with the activation of the device.

Apr 15, 2025 8:04 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

I have all the account information. At least I think I meet this criterion. but this has not yet been presented to me as an option. The account problem suddenly turned into an activation problem. Do you think this is normal? Do you think it's that easy to provide these invoices in countries where Apple authorized resellers are not available? If so, no one would be an Apple product here.


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How can I remove an Activation Lock without the original receipt?

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