My kid brother bought an ipad off craigslist "apparently" and its locked. He factory reset it and it says at the startup screen where you select language, location etc that the ipad is linked to an apple ID and i need to sign in.

I've tried everything. Resetting it again. And everytime i run into the same wall.

The ipad is linked to the previous owners account. The previous owner has "find my iPad" activated and has now turned the ipad into a brick for anyone else trying to use it.

I researched a bit and read that it's impossible to unlock it unless the previous owner signs in. Apple designed it this way.

There has got to be a way though, just like with everything else

This post was edited by rc3mil on Mar 21 2015 01:10am

It's called Activation Lock and there isn't a work around outside of the original owner unlocking it.

Contact Apple, explain someone ripped you off when you tried buying their product, and threaten them with a class action lawsuit. they'll open it right up, 100%

Won't work for several reasons, randoms from Craigslist are not authorized resellers, OP isn't original owner of the device, and he has no access to the account locking it.

It's a security feature to keep people for selling stolen iDevices. Apple isn't going to circumvent it because you threatened a law suit that you have no grounds for.

The iPad was most certainly stolen.

Yes I believe it was. Well he somehow managed to guess the 4 digit lock screen code. It was 5555

Tried to reformat to factory settings using the ipad itself in the settings icon. Wants the old users info. Says to sign into icloud or some shit.

Wow wtf

Is there seriously no way to do this? Even though I'm inside the ipad and can hookup to wifi and use it ( haven't done that ) ?

just buy one that wasn't stolen. You know, there is some kid out there who misses it. Maybe email the person it really belongs to?

The email is obfuscated unless included on a lost message.



Nope, there is no way around it, some tough guys setup a private server sometime last year and offered unlocks for the course of a month or less before their method got shut down or they took it offline.



It doesn't prevent sale of stolen devices, it does prevent unauthorized use without account login though, which can deter sales but there are always people who can be duped into buying things, even if they aren't able to use them.

Thanks for this