So about three months ago, I picked up an iPhone 8 from a lady in my neighborhood with my friend who collects phones for parts. She was a bit rough around the edges, but surprisingly, she gave us the passcode, which actually worked. A few weeks later, my friend passed the phone to me. Everything was great until I tried to reset it to use my local Cox hotspot for free Wi-Fi. I accidentally chose 'reset all settings' instead of just resetting the network settings. This took me back to the initial setup screen and now it's asking for a Wi-Fi connection, then hits me with this iCloud activation lock. I still have the iCloud email I was logged in with, but I feel like Apple won't unlock it for me. I've been stuck like this for about a month now, and while I didn't steal the phone, I'm pretty sure the lady I got it from may have. Is there any chance to get it unlocked or am I just holding onto a useless brick?
3 Answers
Honestly, I’m having a hard time believing this whole story. If you took it from someone questionable, it definitely raises some red flags. Just being real here.
Sorry to say, but it sounds like you've got yourself a brick now. Without the owner's credentials, it's highly unlikely you'll be able to unlock it.
Unfortunately, unless you can provide Apple with proof of purchase or a receipt showing that you own the phone, you won’t be able to get past the iCloud activation lock. Apple has strict policies regarding stolen devices, so that’s their standard procedure.
I get where you're coming from, but trust me, I didn’t steal it! Just trying to get some advice, thanks for understanding!