My mum passed away several years ago, and her iPad and iPhone have been stored in a drawer ever since. I recently tried to use them, but both are Activation Locked. Apple Support suggested taking them to an Apple Store, but the store said they could not unlock the devices without the original proof of purchase. I brought her death certificate, but the devices are still unusable. Is there any legitimate way to remove the Activation Lock, or somewhere that can securely erase and recycle the devices?
3 Answers
Apple may be able to help with an Activation Lock in estate situations, but a death certificate alone might not meet their requirements. They can also ask for the original proof of purchase, especially if the devices were bought many years ago. Without the Apple Account credentials or acceptable ownership documents, the store generally cannot unlock them.
If you know the email address for her Apple Account, try recovering the account through Apple’s official account-recovery process. If you can regain access, you may be able to remove the devices from the account and use them normally. The device passcode is separate from the Apple Account password, so knowing one does not necessarily provide the other.
You can connect the devices to a Mac or Windows computer and erase them through Finder or the Apple Devices app. That will remove the personal data, but it will not remove Activation Lock—the devices will still require the linked Apple Account afterward. Once erased, an electronics recycling program or Apple’s recycling service should be able to process them; recycling recovers useful metals and components rather than simply throwing the devices away.
I did visit an actual Apple Store and brought the death certificate, but they said they also needed proof of purchase. The devices are old enough that we no longer have that paperwork, so I’ll look into securely erasing and recycling them.