How to Remove Activation Lock without Previous Owner

Buying a used iPhone or iPad can save us a ton of money, but if this used device doesn't have the Activation Lock disabled, you may find that it has been linked to an iCloud account and at that point you can no longer contact the original owner and the device is stuck in the Activation Lock screen.

Unlocking the Activation Lock without your initial Apple ID can be a difficult challenge and in this article we will share valuable solutions on how to remove Activation Lock without previous owner of the device and answer all your questions about the Activation Lock.

Part 1: What is Activation Lock

The Activation Lock feature, also known as "ID Lock", is a security feature that prevents others from stealing your iPhone, iPad and other devices if they are lost or stolen. When you reset or restore your iPhone without turning off Find My iPhone, the device will remain stuck on the activation lock screen and will not work properly without the correct login details of the original owner.

Part 2: How Does Activation Lock Work

When Find My iPhone is enabled on your device, Apple's remote server for device activation will associate your Apple ID information with your device and the activation lock will be automatically activated when Find My iPhone is set up and turned on. Once "Find My iPhone" is set up and turned on, the activation lock is automatically enabled. Thereafter, the associated Apple ID account and password must be entered if you want to turn off Find My iPhone, erase it, or factory reset it.

So when you buy a used iPhone or other iOS device such as an iPad, if the previous owner did not enter the associated Apple ID and password to turn off Find My iPhone, the device will not be completely unlocked and reset. Read on to find out how to solve the problem of removing activation lock without previous owner.

Part 3: How to Remove Activation Lock without Previous Owner

Way 1: Remove Activation Lock with iSunshare iBypass Genius

If you have purchased a used iOS device with activation lock security enabled, then using a professional iPhone passcode bypass tool is the most effective way. iSunshare iBypass Genius, a powerful, popular and trusted iOS unlocking software, is able to remove activation lock on iPhone/ iPad/iPod touch without the password and Apple ID. Follow the steps below to remove activation lock without the previous owner.

Before you start, download and install iSunshare iBypass Genius for free on your computer and run the software.

Step 1: Jailbreak your iPhone. As there is no direct jailbreak tool for windows on the market, please follow the software instructions to complete the jailbreak of your iPhone, this is the key step to ensure a smooth removal of the activation lock.

Step 2: Connect your iPhone to your computer using the USB cable. There are two function modules in the main screen of the software, you should click on the "Bypass ID" function to continue.

Step 3: Read the agreement carefully and then check the box "Read and agree to the agreement", then click "Start" and the software will start unlocking your iPhone immediately.

Step 4: It will take some time to bypass the activation lock on your iPhone, so keep your device connected to your computer during the process of removing the activation lock.

Soon, the software interface will pop up a "Bypassed successfully" message indicating that you have successfully removed the iCloud activation lock from your device.

Way 2: Using DNS to Bypass the Activation Lock

If your used iOS device is still running an older version of the iOS operating system (iOS 10 or below), then you can bypass the iPhone's activation lock by exploiting a vulnerability in the device's WiFi DNS. It is worth noting that this method has a low success rate and requires technical skills, but it is worth a try as it is free.

Step 1: Go to "Setting" > "WLAN" on your device, you will need to click on the "i" symbol next to the WiFi network.

Step 2: Click on "Configure DNS", select the "Manual" option in the configuration menu and add a service provider.

Here's a list of the IP Addresses of DNS Servers:

USA: 104.154.51.7

South America: 35.199.88.219

Europe: 104.155.28.90

Asia: 104.155.220.58

Australia and Oceania: 35.189.47.23

Other: 78.100.17.60

Step 3: After you have finished configuring your network, return to the WiFi settings page. Wait for your device to connect to the iCloud DNS bypass server in your area.  Then you will be able to use the device normally without getting stuck on the activation lock screen.

Part 4: How to Remove Activation Lock with Previous Owner

The previous owner refused a request to remove the screen activation lock on the grounds that he is not in your city? Stay friendly and send him this tutorial so he can remove the activation lock remotely with iCloud now.

Step 1: Sign in to iCloud.com with the previous owner's Apple ID and password.

Step 2: Once logged in, select "Find iPhone" > All Devices in the Features bar and select your locked iPhone >“ Erase iPhone”.

Step 3: Wait for the iPhone to be completely erased and ask the previous owner completely delete your iPhone account from his Apple ID.

Conclusion

For users without technical skills, removing the activation lock without the previous owner of the device can be a really challenging task, therefore, most people choose to use a professional iOS unlocking tool such as iSunshare iBypass Genius, which is worth you try.