I traded my old Samsung for a friend's iPhone 7. The phone is still signed in to an older Apple ID, but my friend no longer knows the password. When I tried recovering the account through Apple's official recovery page, I was told the email address was locked and couldn't be used. The phone works normally for calls and basic functions, but I can't use the App Store or install apps because the previous account is still attached. There is no screen passcode, and the phone doesn't appear to be activation-locked. Is there a legitimate way to sign out of the old Apple ID, erase the phone, and set it up with my own account? If not, is it worth selling for parts?
3 Answers
If Find My iPhone and Activation Lock are enabled, only the previous owner can remove the device from that Apple ID. There isn't a legitimate bypass. Your friend needs to recover the account or remove the iPhone from their Apple account using Apple's official tools. If they can do that, you can erase the phone and sign in with your own Apple ID.
Even after fixing the account issue, an iPhone 7 is limited to iOS 15. Some current apps may no longer support it, so you shouldn't expect every messaging or social app to install. It can still be useful for calls, music, basic browsing, or older compatible apps, but its software support is very limited.
Before selling it or using it for parts, have the original owner check the device in their Apple account and remove it properly. A phone that is still Activation Locked has very little resale value, while a fully unlocked iPhone 7 may still be worth something depending on its condition and battery health.
If the phone is already signed out of Find My and it only has an old App Store account saved, a full erase may let you start fresh. Make sure there is no Activation Lock screen before resetting it.