My dad is 73 and has forgotten his passwords, including the one for his Apple Account and the Gmail address connected to it. His iPhone 12 is currently stuck at the factory-reset/Activation Lock screen. I tried the account-recovery options online, but his Gmail was never fully set up, so recovery has not worked. The Apple recovery process has also gone nowhere. He has had the same phone number for about 30 years, cannot afford a replacement phone, and needs access to that number. Is visiting an Apple Store worthwhile, and is there any legitimate way to recover the phone or remove the lock?
2 Answers
If the phone is showing Activation Lock after the reset, it is still linked to your dad’s Apple Account. There is no legitimate workaround without the account credentials or Apple approving the request. Stop guessing passwords so the recovery process is not made harder. Contact Apple Support or visit a store with proof of purchase. His phone number is not lost, either—the carrier should be able to move the SIM or number to another compatible phone while this is being sorted out.
An Apple Store can guide you through the official account-recovery process, but they generally cannot bypass the lock. Try the account-recovery options for not having access to the trusted phone number or email. If you still cannot recover the account, Apple may review an Activation Lock removal request if you can provide valid proof of purchase. Afterward, the phone would need to be set up with a new Apple Account.
Thanks, that helps a lot. I was worried the phone number would be lost along with the locked phone.