I sold an iPad Air 4, but the buyer returned it because it would not stay powered on. He tried to erase it, but the process apparently did not finish, so his data and Apple Account are still visible on the device. He says he has removed the iPad from his account remotely, yet it still asks for his Apple Account password and Find My says permission is required before it can be erased.
The iPad only stays on for about 35–40 seconds at a time, although I was eventually able to connect it to Wi‑Fi. The previous owner is cooperating, and we may arrange a video call so he can enter his password if needed. I refunded him, but I need the iPad fully released from his account before sending it to Apple for repair.
Is there a dependable way to check whether Activation Lock has actually been removed from Apple's servers? If I erase or restore the iPad using a computer, will the setup screen clearly confirm whether it is still locked?
4 Answers
The most reliable test is to connect the iPad to a computer and put it into recovery mode, then restore it. This completes the erase even if the iPad cannot stay powered on long enough to do it normally. Afterward, begin setup while connected to Wi‑Fi. If Activation Lock is still enabled, setup will display an Activation Lock screen asking for the previous owner’s Apple Account. If it reaches the normal language, region, Wi‑Fi, and account setup steps without asking for that account, the lock has been cleared.
You do not need to identify the exact iPadOS version to perform the basic check. Use a Mac or PC with the appropriate device-management software, enter recovery mode, and choose Restore rather than Update. Keep the iPad connected because the restore will erase all remaining data. If the device reboots into setup and requests the former owner’s credentials, it is still Activation Locked; otherwise it has been released.
The previous owner should use the device-removal option in Find My or the Apple Account device list, not merely mark it as erased or offline. If he cannot complete that process, Apple may be able to review valid proof of purchase, but a purchase record from a resale transaction may not meet every repair or lock-removal requirement. In practice, having him remove the device correctly and then restoring it is the cleanest route.
He bought it from me through an online marketplace, so I am not sure whether that documentation would satisfy Apple. We will try the account-removal and restore process first.
Removing the device remotely may have detached it from the previous owner’s account, but the unfinished erase can leave the old data and prompts on the iPad until it is successfully restored. Seeing the former owner’s information on the current screen does not, by itself, prove that Activation Lock is still active. A completed computer restore followed by setup is the meaningful check.
So the password prompts could just be leftover from the incomplete wipe, rather than proof that the server-side removal failed?
That sounds like the best option. The battery is in very poor condition, so I may need to keep it connected to the computer throughout the recovery and restore process.