I need help with a company-owned iPhone 15 Pro that's currently locked because we forgot the Apple ID and PIN. After multiple failed attempts, we reset the device to factory settings, only to realize we remembered the PIN right after that. Now, the phone is showing 'iPhone Locked to Owner' and asking for the original Apple ID credentials, which we no longer have access to. We've tried reinstalling the firmware, but it hasn't helped. I'm wondering about the right legal steps to take to regain access—would contacting Apple Support with proof of purchase work? Has anyone experienced something similar?
4 Answers
If the device was enrolled in Apple Business Manager (ABM), you could open a ticket with Apple enterprise support. They'll take a few days, but they could remove the lock for you.
Have you looked into whether the phone is under Mobile Device Management (MDM)? If it is, you'll want to get in touch with the MDM provider, as they usually have procedures for situations like this. It’s crucial for company devices.
Returning the phone to whoever it belongs to might be an option, but if you want to keep it, resetting the original Apple ID through account recovery could help. It could sometimes just be a matter of exploring recovery options for the email associated with the Apple ID.
It sounds like a jam! If it's a company phone, have you checked with your IT department? They might be able to reset it or at least guide you through the steps depending on how it was set up initially. Seems like they’d have a way to help with situations like this.

Yeah, if your IT team set it up, they should have the tools to assist. Definitely worth reaching out to them.