When you activate your iPhone or iPad, Apple uses the device’s unique identifier and ties it with your Apple ID. This ensures that someone who steals the phone is not able to reactivate and use it. But, if you buy a used iPhone with the right intentions and then find that it’s still locked, you may want to iPhone bypass Activation Lock on your device. Then only you can make the device entirely yours. Let me tell you more about it and how to remove the Activation Lock.
- How to Avoid Activation Lock When Buying a Used iPhone
If you do not find a good refurbished deal, there is no harm buying a second hand iPhone or iPad. But make sure to check for Activation Lock and the iPhone status before buying from someone else. Check for Activation Lock Before Buying the iPhone From Someone Else. Roundabout 50% of iOS devices are legally sold with Activation Lock on. How to backup and restore iPhone without iTunes using 3utools Restore Your iOS Device in a More Simple Way. 3uTools makes it so easy to manage apps, photos, music, ringtones, videos and other multimedia files. Fully view iOS device’ s different statuses, including activation, jailbreak, battery and iCloud lock statuses, as well as detailed.
What is Activation Lock?
Activation Lock is an anti-theft security system that is automatically enabled when Find My iPhone is turned on (during the first owner’s setup process). It safeguards the device and the information on it.
Once the iCloud Activation Lock is in action, someone else can not activate it using a different Apple ID. Additionally, the device can not be deleted from that iCloud account. Plus Find My service can not be disabled. All these actions can only be performed if the Apple ID and password initially (or last) used to set up the device are entered.
How to Remove Activation Lock on iPhone and iPad
Two ways to remove the Activation Lock:-
1. When You Are an Existing Owner and If You Erased Your Device
A. Use Your Apple ID and Password.
If it is your device, you do not have to worry. In case you enter recovery mode and restore the device without signing out of iCloud, you will see the Activation Lock screen. Enter your Apple ID and password, and you are good to go.
In case you do not remember your Apple ID email address, visit the official Apple iForgot page. If you forgot the password, you could reset it from here as well.
B. Contact Apple Support and Verify Ownership.
If you have a valid proof of purchase, you can contact Apple Support and ask them to remove the Activation Lock. You can reach them via the Apple Support app, Twitter, Live Chat, or customer care number.
Even if there is an Apple Store near you, visit them with proof of purchase. They may remove the Activation Lock on your iPhone or iPad. Usually, you won’t be charged for this, even if you do not have Apple Care or the device is out of warranty.
As you read, it is relatively straightforward if you are the first or existing owner. But when you see the Activation Lock on a just-bought second-hand iPhone, here is how to bypass it.
2. When You Are the Second Owner – By Contacting the Previous Owner
The chances to remove Activation Lock on a used iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac that you bought or were given depends solely on the previous owner. If they do not cooperate, you are practically left with a paperweight with an Apple logo! On many occasions, device owners may accidentally sell or gift you the iPhone with their Apple ID, and Activation Lock still enabled. In such cases, you need to contact them and follow the steps below.
A. If You Can Meet the Previous Owner in Person.
Ask them to enter their Apple ID and password on the Activation Lock screen. Next, let them set up the device with their Apple ID. Once the iPhone is set up, they need to do all the following processes:
- Unpair Apple Watch, if any.
- Turn off Find My iPhone: To do this, Open the Settings app → tap on Apple ID banner from the top → Find My.
- Find My iPhone → turn off the toggle for Find My iPhone.
- Sign out of iCloud and the iTunes & App Store: To do this, open the Settings app → tap on Apple ID banner from top → scroll to the bottom and tap on Sign Out. Choose not to keep any data and tap on Sign Out again.
- Erase All Content and Settings: To do this, open the Settings app → tap on General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings → enter your iPhone password → Confirm.
After the erase process completes, the device is just like new and without any Activation Lock. Now, you can set up the phone and use your Apple ID or create a new one. Problem solved. Enjoy!
B. If You Can Not Meet the Previous Owner, Ask Him for Remote Help.
If the owner lives in a far-off place and it is not possible to follow the above steps, you can try to ask him to share his Apple ID and password. This is not a great solution as people must not do this. But, if a relative or someone close has sold or gifted you the device, then you may give a shot to ask their Apple ID credentials.
In case the above solution does not work, ask the previous owner to follow the steps below:
- Erase and Remove from Account remotely: To do this, the previous owner can use the web or use his other Apple device. Here are both the ways
- Using the web: Ask the previous owner to visit iCloud.com/find on a computer and log in to his account. Next, click on All Devices and select the device he sold to you. It would be listed under All Devices. Next, click on Erase iPhone. After the erase completes, click on Remove from Account (if visible).
- Using other Apple Devices: Ask the previous owner to open the Find My app on his other iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Login with his Apple ID if asked. Next, click on Devices and select the iPhone he gave to you. Choose Erase This Device. Once the process completes, choose to Remove from Account.
Necessary: While the previous owner takes the above actions, make sure mobile data or Wi-Fi is connected to the iPhone that is with you. Then only, the device can be erased.
Once the process completes, the iPhone is free of Activation Lock. Now, restart the iPhone and set it up using your existing Apple ID or create a new one.
As you might have figured out, the above steps work if the previous owner is kind, cooperative, and without ill motives. There are plenty of scamsters, especially online, who sell you the device and then later ask you for additional payment to remove the Activation Lock. So make sure you are cautious before buying.
How to Avoid Activation Lock When Buying a Used iPhone
First of all, it is good to buy refurbished Apple products from Apple (or some reputed sellers like MacSales.) Refurbished devices from Apple have the same one year warranty. If you do not find a good refurbished deal, there is no harm buying a second hand iPhone or iPad. But make sure to check for Activation Lock and the iPhone status before buying from someone else.
Check for Activation Lock Before Buying the iPhone From Someone Else
Roundabout 50% of iOS devices are legally sold with Activation Lock on. In some cases, the seller doesn’t remove the iCloud lock intentionally to ask for more money later. And in other cases, it happens accidentally. To avoid being trapped, you should check whether the device is locked or not before buying it.
Before buying an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple Watch from an authorized Apple reseller, you must ensure that it is erased and isn’t linked to the previous owner’s account. Besides, it would be best if you asked the seller whether or not they’ve removed Activation Lock.
Turn on the device. If the passcode lock screen or the Home screen appears, that means it hasn’t been erased. Then, ask the seller to completely erase the device from the Settings app → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings. If you’re requested for the previous owner’s Apple ID and password, that means that the device is still associated with their account.
In case the previous owner isn’t present, you can ask them to remove the device from their account by signing in to iCloud.com (explained above). When you are prompted to “Set up your iPhone/iPad,” the first time you turn it on, it means Activation Lock is disabled on it.
Check the Status of iPhone or iPad Before Buying
Another important thing you need to keep in mind before buying an iPhone from an unknown seller is to ensure that the device is not stolen. Earlier, Apple allowed viewing the status of any iOS device using the Activation Lock tool. But now it has removed the option in the wake of some reports that Chinese hackers took undue advantage of it. However, you can still check the status of any device.
Head over to the Stolen Phone Checker site and enter the IMEI of the device you want to purchase. The tool will compare the IMEI against several source databases and deliver a quick result. The IMEI number is printed on the back of older iPhones. If you are using a recent model (or even old ones), you can find it inside the SIM tray.
If you are still reading this post, I think you know the pain when someone finds his/her iPhone with iCloud lock enabled. Hence, it’d be better if you unlock the iCloud lock before selling it.
Remove Activation Lock When You Are Selling Your iOS Device
- Unpair your Apple Watch
- Turn off Find My iPhone
- Sign Out of iTunes and App Store
- Erase Everything
- Remove from your list of trusted devices
Before selling your device, you must precisely follow everything we explained above. It ensures a comfortable experience for the next owner. It also ensures that your private data is no longer on that device.
Should I Pay And Remove Activation Lock From Third-Party Websites?
No! You will see many reviews, customer feedback and get incited to pay the fee and have the Activation Lock removed in a day or two. But this can lead to severe consequences. Your device may stop getting updates and even fail to go past Activation Lock again after a reset/erase. Overall, it is not at all recommended to follow this route. Even if the website looks genuine and has words like official, trusted, oldest, guaranteed, etc.
That’s all!
Wrapping Up.
This is how you can bypass Activation Lock. This article was focused on the iPhone and iPad. However, the same works for Mac and Apple Watch as well. I hope this guide helped you.
Next, You May Like to Read:
I have been an Apple user for over seven years now. At iGeeksBlog, I love creating how-tos and troubleshooting guides that help people do more with their iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, and Apple Watch. In my free time, I like to watch stand up comedy videos, tech documentaries, news debates, and political speeches.
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- Updated on 2020-10-20 to iCloud
For iOS devices, Apple has introduced the iCloud Lock or Activation Lock in order to protect the safety and privacy of the device. With iCloud Lock enabled, you prevent someone else from accessing your iPhone or iPad if it’s ever stolen or lost. In all, this lock assists you in keeping your device secure, even if it is not in the right hands. It gets enabled when you turn on Find My [Device] on your iDevice. After then, your Apple ID passcode is needed before anyone can wipe our device, access your device or reactivate. So, when the iCloud bypass is needed
While the iCloud Lock feature offers peace of mind, it can be a hassle if you legitimately find yourself with an iCloud locked device. Once locked, the device’s functionality is limited every-time you try to turn on the device, you’ll be asked for a username and passcode to activate the phone. That’s the case generally happens when you bought a second-hand device.
When it comes to bypassing the iCloud activation lock, 3uTools iCloud bypass method comes into the view. This article is going to cover all you need to know about bypassing iCloud lock using 3uTools.
Part 1: FAQs About 3uTools iCloud Bypass
1. What is 3uTools Activation Lock Bypass Tool?
3uTools is entirely free all-in-one software to flash and jailbreak your iOS device. But, there are the times as mentioned above you need to bypass iCloud activation lock and 3uTools, fortunately, can help you do the job. It’s worth mentioning here that 3uTools entails many handy features like managing iOS apps, photos, videos, and other multimedia files, performing jailbreaks, and flashing firmware, so no matter what your needs are, a download of 3uTools might be beneficial for you.
2. Can 3uTools Remove Activation Lock?
Well, it is not possible to directly perform iCloud unlock using 3uTools. However, you can use this software to jailbreak the device in order to disable the iCloud activation lock.
Part 2: How to Bypass iCloud iPhone Activation Lock With 3uTools?
In order to perform unlock iCloud with 3uTools, you need a PC, a lightning cable, and an internet connection. After then, simply follow the below steps.
- Step 1. Download and install 3uTools on your computer. You can go to https://www.3u.com/ to download this tool to your Windows PC.
Step 2: Boot your iPhone into the recovery mode. You can refer to this article to get detailed instructions on how to put iPhone to recovery mode on different models. After entering the recovery mode, connect your iPhone to the computer with the help of a lightning cable.
- Step 3: Open 3uTools software. Once the software detects your connected device, select the “Flash and JB” tab, and then select the “Easy Flash” tab. Here, you will see a list of restore firmware files particular to your iPhone.
- Step 4: Choose the latest stable version (that doesn’t include “beta’ in the name) and then select “Download”.
- Step 5: Upon the successful download, hit on the “Flash” button at the bottom.
Step 6: Let the process completes. In a while, your device will be erased and you’ll be able to get into the iCloud locked device.
That’s how to bypass the iCloud iPhone activation lock with 3uTools.
Part 3 Pros And Cons Of Using 3uTools to Unlock iCloud Activation
Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of using 3uTools to bypass iCloud activation lock on iPhone-
Advantages:
- It is completely free to use.
- Simple interface.
- Handy tool to manage your iOS device.
- Flash & jailbreak your device.
- No spyware.
Disadvantages:
- It doesn’t directly remove or bypass the iCloud lock as it is. Instead, it just disable the activation lock.
- Doesn’t work for all iPhone models and iOS 13.
Part 4: Best 3uTools Alternative to Bypass Activation Lock Without Password
Bypass Iphone Activation 2.0
If you find 3uTools unlock iCloud activation method is not workable for you, then you can go with its best alternative and which is UltFone Activation Unlocker. This software makes the job of bypassing the iCloud activation lock quite easier and quicker.
How To Bypass Iphone Activation Lock With 3utools Free
Let’s have a quick look at its key features-
How To Bypass Iphone Activation Lock With 3utools Bypass
- Remove the iCloud activation lock when you don’t remember your Apple ID or password.
- Bypass the iCloud activation lock without access to the previous owner.
- Let you sign in using a new Apple ID account on your device. (Not from Settings, yet you can sign in a new Apple ID through App Store to download apps via Wi-Fi.)
- Your iPhone/iPad won’t be locked or tracked by the previous owner.
- It works for the latest iOS 14.
Below is the simple guide to help you learn how to use UltFone Activation Unlocker to remove iCloud activation lock. Before start, please download and install this program to a PC or Mac computer, and connect the iOS device that you’d like to do iCloud activation lock removal to computer with a USB cable.
Step 1 Run the software on your system, and click on the “Start” button.
Step 2 Connect your iOS device to the computer with the help of a digital cable. Once the software detects your device, it will start downloading the jailbreak tool.
Step 2 After the jailbreak tool is downloaded, hit on the 'Start Remove' button. In a while, the software will remove the activation lock and let you get into your iCloud locked device.
The Bottom Line
In this post, we introduce what 3uTools iCloud unlock is and how to bypass iCloud activation with 3utools. As you can now see that there is a better alternative to the 3uTools activation lock bypass method. With the assistance of UltFone Activation Unlocker, you’ll be able to directly bypass or remove the iCloud lock with so ease and in no time. Moreover, this software works on almost all iPhone or iPad models.