For the sake of privacy and the protection of another person’s data, the company continues to protect other’s information even after they’ve passed. Unfortunately, even with a death certificate, Apple isn’t very helpful here. Will Apple help me to factory reset someone else’s device if I provide a death certificate?Īssuming you’re going through the unfortunate loss of a friend or loved one, you may want to continue using their iPhone or iPad. But there will still be an activation lock to bypass, which you won’t be able to do until you know the original Apple ID or password. Yes, you can put an iPhone in DFU mode, connect to iTunes, select ‘Restore’ and the phone will be completely reset. If you choose to do this, do so with caution. All of that said, there are plenty of third-party services that offer a factory reset without an Apple ID or password. If you’re unable to reach the seller, you can reach out to Apple, but it isn’t likely you’ll get too much help without the seller’s permission. Assuming you bought the iOS device from an individual seller, and they neglected to sign out of their iCloud, your best bet is to get in touch with them and have them remove the activation lock by signing into iCloud and removing your device.
Even if you connect the device to iTunes the software will require this information. Can I erase an iPhone without the Apple ID or passcode?Īlthough you may be able to erase an iPhone without the passcode, no matter what you do, you’re going to need that Apple ID and password. If your Apple device is locked or stolen but the thief has powered, it down you can set an alert on to notify you if the device is turned on and connected to an internet connection. If you don’t have a passcode, it’s probably best to protect your private information from those who took it and just factory reset it. Did you have a passcode? If your phone is passcode locked, the data on the device may be secure enough for you to use Find My iPhone to track it. Should I factory reset my device if it was stolen?
Apple’s activation lock is essentially an anti-theft device, so it is very difficult to bypass without proper verification.
It is a lengthy process, and you may have to provide proof of purchase or wait several days for a new code after your phone number is updated. The support team is generally very helpful and will attempt to get you back into your iCloud account. If your phone number is no longer valid call Apple at 1-800-MyApple.
If Apple is trying to send a verification code to another Apple device and you don’t have one, select the option that indicates you didn’t get a code, then tap the option to send it to your phone number. I can’t get the verification code to sign back into my iCloud. iCloud, Google Photos, Google Drive, Dropbox, and your email account are all ways to get photos, documents, and contacts back.
You can try checking with cloud services you may have had on the phone for saved info. Once your phone is factory reset the information is completely gone. Here are the answers to some more of your questions about resetting an iPhone or iPad Can I recover the information that I’ve lost after a reset? Be sure to plug the phone in and perform the soft reset, using an iPad charging block works best. This also works if your phone randomly shuts off and won’t turn back on. This will force the restart of your phone closing out any unnecessary processes and fix a lot of your issues.
How to Reboot (Soft Reset) Your iPhone or iPad If you run into errors or your device won’t power on, Apple Support has an excellent article here to help you troubleshoot and correct the problem.
If you’re using a PC with iTunes to perform these steps you’ll need to click on the Summary tab to access the Restore iPhone option. Once done, select Restore iPhone and confirm that you want to proceed when the pop-up window appears.