UnlockHere’s IA-based unlock method stands now as the ultimate alternative for all people who bought a second-hand iPhone without noticing it was locked to its previous owner’s iCloud account, so if you have an iPhone locked to owner, you’ve come to the right place. Learn in this quick guide a little more about this issue and how to unlock your device with our innovative activation lock removal tool!
iPhone Locked to Owner Issue: What is the iCloud Activation Lock for?
The iCloud Activation Lock is a security measure in most iOS devices like iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, among others. It is meant to prevent iPhone theft and strengthen iOS devices’ security and privacy protection, which is possible thanks to the lock screen that this feature activates and that can only be removed if you enter the Apple ID and password of the iCloud account linked to the device.
How does the iCloud Activation Lock work?
Well, it gets turned on automatically as soon as the Find My feature is enabled as it links the iPhone to its owner’s Apple ID so that it is possible to track it and iCloud lock it. So, if you try to factory reset the iPhone, turn it back on after a while, deactivate the Find My iPhone app, or something similar, the lock gets triggered and locks you out of the device.
When this happens, it displays an Activation Lock screen that requires the owner’s iCloud account credentials โ Apple ID and password โ to be unlocked. If you enter the previous owner’s Apple ID and passcode, the device gets unlocked automatically, but if not, the iPhone remains permanently locked.
Fixing an iCloud-Locked iPhone without its Previous Owner via Apple Support
Well, fixing a device with the message “iPhone locked to owner” without Apple ID and password with Apple directly is possible but very complicated (not because of the unlock process itself but because of the terms of usage they have).
How to fix the “iPhone Locked to Owner” Screen with Apple?
To unlock your device, you can contact Apple’s customer support directly through their official website. Apple provides an activation lock support page where you can submit your request. You will need to agree to the terms of service and provide your email address along with the IMEI/MEID/serial number of your locked device.
Drawbacks of removing the “Find My iPhone” Activation Lock Directly with Apple
- You must be the original owner of the device for them to accept the unlock request.
- You have to do a lot of paperwork proving you are the iPhone’s original owner.
- If the unlock request is approved, the wait time is approximately 1 month.
- The iPhone cannot be in the lost mode and all the data on it will be erased.
Fixing iPhone Locked to Owner: UnlockHere vs. a Jailbreak
When dealing with an iPhone locked to its previous owner’s iCloud account (maybe because you found it somewhere or because you bought a second-hand device), contacting Apple support and asking them to fix the locked iPhone is not an option. That’s why the two options on the table in this situation are either jailbreaking the Apple device or using an unlock service like UnlockHere, but why is UnlockHere better? Let’s see!
Jailbreaking your iPhone will Void its Warranty
Jailbreaking involves removing software restrictions imposed by Apple to gain access to the device’s root file system and bypass the activation lock on it, and for obvious reasons, it goes against Apple’s terms of service.
This means that if your jailbroken iPhone encounters hardware issues or needs repairs, the Apple support team won’t provide any help. On the other hand, UnlockHere’s method doesn’t require you to install unauthorized apps or make software modifications, you won’t lose your iPhone’s warranty.
The iPhone will Become Vulnerable to Cyberattacks
When you jailbreak your device, you’re basically removing some security protections put in place by Apple, which can open up your iPhone to potential security risks (such as malicious apps) and will make it easier for malware to infiltrate your device.
Why is this the Best Way to Remove the iCloud Lock without the iPhone’s Previous Owner?
Removing the activation lock with UnlockNow is so much safer than jailbreaking your iPhone as our unlock service doesn’t go against Appleโs TOS and doesn’t impact the iPhone’s security layers or its automatic backups. However, that’s not the only advantage, the unlock process with Nifty, our AI-powered phone unlocking assistant, doesn’t require you to contact the seller or previous owner of the locked device!
Do I need the Apple ID or Password of the iCloud Account Locking the iPhone?
No, you don’t need the Apple ID or password to unlock your iPhone! With UnlockHere, it is possible to remove iCloud activation locks without any passwords or paperwork at all. All you need to get rid of this Apple ID iCloud lock with us is your name, an email address for you to receive the confirmation, the type of iOS device in which you need to remove the lock, and its IMEI number or serial number.
How Long does it take to unlock iPhone and other iOS Devices locked to the Owner?
Removing the iPhone activation lock with UnlockHere.com only takes a couple of minutes! Of course, it all depends on how stable is your internet connection as the whole process is completely remote, but anyway, it shouldn’t take us more than 15 minutes to get rid of the iCloud activation lock on your device.
Remove iPhone Locked to Owner with UnlockHere’s Activation Lock Removal System!
It is incredibly easy to fix an iPhone locked to the owner via UnlockHere.com! As we mentioned, this can be done without your iPhone’s Apple ID or passcode and without the owner or seller of the device, so yes, you can unlock your second-hand iOS device without so much trouble. Let’s see a very quick step-by-step for you to better understand our unlock process!
Place the Request to Remove the Lock from your iPhone
Visit UnlockHere.com and select the activation lock removal tab, you’ll be taken to a page with a very short formulary that you’ll need to fill out with some basic pieces of information. Make sure you enter an email address to which you have access because Nifty (our AI-powered phone unlocking assistant) will send you a confirmation email there for you to continue the unlock process.
Confirm the Unlock via your Email
As soon as you receive the confirmation email from Nifty, click on the button that says “Confirm iCloud Unlock” (this is for our platform to confirm your email). You’ll be taken back to our website to continue the process, so please watch the tutorial video there and follow all the instructions Nifty gives you.
Finish Setting up your iPhone and enter your New Apple ID!
Once you’ve unlocked your iCloud activation, just give Nifty a few minutes to finish everything up โ this usually doesn’t take more than 5 minutes โ. You will know when the process is complete because a message will appear on your screen indicating that your iPhone has been successfully unlocked, and you will receive a confirmation email with the same notification.
You will be informed in case you need to restart the iPhone or something similar, but at this point, you’ll pretty much be able to continue setting up the device as normal. Enjoy your unlocked device and enter your new iCloud account on the device if needed!
