I created a new Apple account on February 19th and deactivated it about eight hours later. However, I had logged into iCloud on my iPhone and enabled Find My iPhone, which now prevents me from signing out. This phone was a gift from my friend, and when I tried to remove the activation lock, Apple's site asked for proof of purchase. My friend unfortunately doesn't have the receipt or the original packaging anymore. I've reached out to customer service, but they just told me to get the receipt. My friend is getting frustrated because I keep bringing this up. Even if I return the phone, he can't use it properly, and I don't want to bother him too much. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of issue, and is there a way around it? My friend can only confirm he was a long-time user of this phone.
2 Answers
Without proof of purchase, that phone is pretty much a paperweight since it's locked to the suspension. It's a tough spot, honestly.
Hey there! Your friend, being the original owner, is the only one who can get it unlocked through Apple Support. It’s frustrating, but that's their policy.

We've already tried to get it unlocked, but since I can't sign out of iCloud, the activation lock is stuck.