How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support (2024)

FAQs

Is it possible to remove Apple Activation Lock? ›

Remove Activation Lock on the web if a device is offline

Go to www.iCloud.com/find. Sign in with your Apple ID, email address or phone number, then enter your password. Select the device that you want to remove from iCloud. Click Remove This Device.

In most cases, a factory reset does not remove the activation lock from the device. For example, if a phone is factory reset with the Google account logged in, the phone will still ask for those credentials once switched back on.

Use Activation Lock bypass code

You can use the Activation Lock bypass code in place of a password to unlock a device and erase it. In the Profile Manager sidebar, click Devices. Select a device, click the About tab, then click the Security triangle, and locate the activation lock bypass code.

As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, you'll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock.

There is NO COST you can pay to get Activation Lock removed.

You cannot bypass activation lock by simply jailbreaking it.

However, there are something different about iPhone 7 and similar devices like iPhone 6, 6s, or iPhone 8, even older device like iPhone 4s or iPhone 5. As a classic iPhone model released in 2016, iPhone 7 has a large user base even in the year of 2021.

A: Removing the previous owner's Apple ID without a password is easy. All you have to do is go to your device settings, select the 'General' option, and look for the option 'Reset'. Then select 'Erase All Content and Settings'. This will remove the old account and allow you to start fresh with a new account.

If you don't remember your Apple ID, try to sign in with an email address or phone number that you use regularly with Apple Services. If that doesn't work, we can help you find your Apple ID. If you forget your password, learn how to reset your Apple ID password.

Can I call Apple for tech support? ›

(800) 275–2273

Apple / Customer service

Use a security key to unlock your Apple ID

You can use your security key to unlock it. Tap Unlock Account, then follow the onscreen instructions to unlock your Apple ID. If you think your account might have been locked because someone else knows your password, tap Change Password and enter a new one.

An iPhone locked using Activation Lock will request valid user credentials and won't function until those credentials are entered. Activation Lock cannot be bypassed easily, and the iPhone cannot be used until unlocked, even if all the data is wiped and the device reset using Device Firmware Update mode (DFU).

In order to allow another person access to the iPhone, you would need to remove your Apple ID activation lock. If the activation lock is not removed properly from the iPhone, it renders the phone useless to anyone other than yourself.

Go to Settings > [ your name], scroll down, tap Sign Out, enter your Apple ID password, then tap Turn Off. Erase all content and settings that contain personal information. If you previously turned on Find My for your iPhone, Activation Lock is removed when you erase iPhone, making it ready for a new owner.

Most of the time, we are able to remove the lock without any loss of data. To get started, please make an appointment with your local Best Buy's Geek Squad and we'll go over what you can expect. We'll likely check in the phone and start our work there too.

If you don't know the Apple ID and password, then removing the previous owner's Apple ID from iPhone/iPad could be a little challenging, but you can use the Apple ID removal tool - LockWiper. It can remove Apple ID from iPad/iPhone without password, so you will be able to use your own Apple ID without any issues.