iOS · iPhone & iPad
Remove Activation Lock From an iPhone You Own
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Enter the Apple Account used to set up the iPhone, remove it from Find My, or submit proof of purchase to Apple. There is no supported bypass.
Confirm the device is legitimately yours
Activation Lock is an anti-theft feature, not a screen lock that can be bypassed. If the iPhone was purchased used, contact the previous owner; if it belongs to a company or school, contact that organization's device administrator.
Use the linked Apple Account
On the Activation Lock screen, enter the Apple Account email or phone number and password used when Find My was enabled. If you forgot the password, use Apple's account-recovery process rather than an unlocking service.
Remove the lock on an accessible iPhone
If you can open Settings on the device, tap the owner's name, choose Find My > Find My iPhone, turn it off with the account password, then sign out or erase the device as appropriate.
Ask the previous owner to remove it remotely
The previous owner can sign in to Find Devices on iCloud.com, select the offline or erased iPhone, and choose Remove This Device. They should not give you their password; the removal occurs from their own account.
Prepare proof of purchase for Apple
If you are the documented owner but cannot use the linked account, gather the original purchase receipt showing the device and authorized reseller information. A serial number, IMEI, or box alone may not establish ownership.
Submit an Activation Lock support request
Use Apple's official support route and provide the requested ownership documentation. Apple decides eligibility and may erase data as part of the process. Devices in Lost Mode or managed by an organization require resolution by the owner or administrator.
Avoid bypass tools and paid unlock claims
Do not install software, disclose credentials, or pay a site promising a universal bypass. Those methods are unsupported and may be fraudulent. If ownership cannot be established, Activation Lock should remain enabled.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If the linked account is unknown, stop and contact the previous owner, organization, or Apple with valid proof of purchase. Do not erase repeatedly or use bypass software; neither action establishes ownership, and an erase does not remove Activation Lock.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: iPhone & iPad.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.