How to Remove or Bypass iCloud Activation Lock (2025 Full Guide)

Removing Apple Activation Lock Without Knowing the Previous Owner

Hello, my name is Michael. I purchased a 2018 MacBook Pro at a government auction. This device was lost by someone who did not reclaim it, so it was sold at this auction. I have the government auction receipt and a data wipe report issued by Blanco. Do you have any good methods to remove the Apple Activation Lock from the device?

I would greatly appreciate any helpful advice you could provide.

-Reddit User

If you’re stuck on the iCloud Activation Lock screen and cannot set up your iPhone or iPad, you’re not alone. Activation Lock is one of the most common issues for second-hand iPhone buyers, users who forgot their Apple ID, or anyone who reset a device without signing out properly. In this complete guide, you’ll learn all feasible methods to remove or bypass the Activation Lock, whether or not you have the Apple ID password.

Also Read: Activate iPhone/iPad If You Forgot Apple ID and Password >

Part 1. Can an iCloud Activation Lock Be Removed?

Yes, but whether an iCloud Activation Lock can be removed depends on your situation. iPhone Activation Lock is a feature included in the Find My iPhone function. Once you enable Find My iPhone on your iDevice, your Apple ID and its password will always be required when others try to turn off Find My iPhone, erase your data, or reactivate and use your iDevice. That’s to say, iCloud Activation Lock is designed to prevent the content on your iPhone/iPad/iPod from being revealed when it is in the wrong hands.

That’s to say, if you have the correct Apple ID and password, removing it is easy. If not, the available solutions become more limited. Here are some common scenarios for iCloud Activation Lock removal.

Common Scenarios:

• Bought a second-hand iPhone/iPad with Activation Lock enabled.
• Forgot your Apple ID and cannot reset security questions.
• Inherited an iPhone/iPad that is locked to the previous owner.
• iCloud account issues prevent you from using your device.

Luckily, regardless of whether you have a password or an Apple ID, you can achieve your goal via the solution below.

How to Remove Activation Lock on iPhone/iPad-5 Method

To remove the activation lock on iPhone/iPad, there are 5 efficient methods.

Method 1. How to Bypass Activation Lock Using iCloud/Password

If you can get the necessary details from the person who sold you the second-hand iPhone/iPad, using iCloud to bypass activation lock is the quickest solution. Since the previous user can give you the username and password of the device, here are the detailed steps you can follow to bypass iCloud.

Step 1. Go to iCloud.com and sign in with the Apple ID username and password of the locked device. Then click on Find iPhone.

Step 2. Click All Devices when you open iCloud ‘Find My iPhone’

Step 3. Choose the name and model that you need to bypass to Erase iPhone or Erase iPad > Remove from Account.

Once the steps are completed, the iPhone/iPad will be deleted from the Apple ID, and the Activation Lock should be bypassed.

Further Reading: You may also like this guide: How to Factory Reset iPad without Apple ID >

Method 2. Bypass iCloud Activation Lock on iPhone/iPad Without Apple ID[Safe & Easy]

As one of the most popular and professional iCloud activation lock removal tools for iOS devices in 2025, AnyUnlock – iPhone Password Unlocker would be the best solution for your iOS device when it is stuck on the “Activation Lock” screen. As a comprehensive iOS unlocking toolkit, AnyUnlock can easily meet your unlocking needs, whether your iPhone is linked to an unknown Apple ID, you need to remove your Apple ID, or you forget your Apple ID email or password. Using its iCloud Activation Unlocker feature, you can easily bypass iCloud Activation Lock without an Apple ID or Apple ID password.

To bypass the iCloud Activation lock, please freely download the AnyUnlock – iCloud Bypass Tool. AnyUnlock is compatible with both Windows PC and Mac. Then just follow the steps below to bypass the activation lock iPad/iPhone easily. We provide you with 2 guides since the unlock process for the Windows version differs slightly from that for the Mac version. Now, let’s see how to bypass activation lock.

How to Bypass iCloud Activation Lock on Windows PC:

Step 1. Free get AnyUnlock – iPhone Password Unlocker installed. Launch the software, and you will see the page below. Tap on Bypass iCloud Activation Lock.

Step 2. Connect your device and click the Start Now button.

Step 3. Then, you need to jailbreak your device to allow AnyUnlock to bypass. Read the jailbreak tutorial and click Next once you are finished.

Step 4. You can then start bypassing after clicking the Start Now button.

Step 5. Wait until the process is finished, and you will get the iCloud Activation Lock is bypassed successfully page as shown below.

How to Bypass iCloud Activation Lock on Mac

Step 1. Free download AnyUnlock – iCloud Bypass Tool, install and run it on your computer > Choose the Bypass iCloud Activation Lock on the homepage.

Step 2. You need to connect your iOS device to the computer now, and then click on the Start Now button to proceed to the next step.

Step 3. Following the instructions on the screen of the Bypass iCloud Activation Lock, you need to confirm your iOS device’s information. Put your iOS device into DFU mode, and then the jailbreaking process will start.

Step 4. When the jailbreaking process completes, you can click on Bypass Now to start bypassing iCloud Activation Lock on your device.

Step 5. All you need to do is just wait for a while. After AnyUnlock finishes the bypassing journey, you will see the interface on the screen below. Here you can see the iCloud activation lock has disappeared from your iOS device.

Method 3. Bypass iCloud Activation Lock on iPhone/iPad via DNS

DNS can also serve as a tool to remove an activation lock, allowing you to bypass iCloud activation lock. However, please note that DNS bypass may be a little complicated and cannot always be successful. Anyway, here is how to bypass activation lock via DNS.

Step 1. Restart your iDevice and choose your country & language > Enter the new DNS server as:

• USA/North America: 104.154.51.7
• Europe: 104.155.28.90
• Asia: 104.155.220.58
• In the rest of the world: 78.109.17.60

Step 2. Tap back > Connect to your Wi-Fi network > Done > Activation help. Once you log in, a message will say that you have successfully connected to my server.

Step 3. Tap Menu > Preview the available apps and select the one that can get the details about the previous owner.

Method 4. Bypass Activation Lock via Apple Business Manager

For some supervised iPhones or iPads, the employees may log into their own Apple ID and enable the Find My feature when using the device. However, the employer can be stuck on the iCloud activation lock if the employee leaves without removing the Apple ID and disabling Find My. In this case, organizations using Apple Business Manager (ABM) have access to tools that enable them to disable Activation Lock on supervised devices.

Steps to Request Activation Lock Removal:

Step 1. Log in to Apple Business Manager and go to the Devices section.

Step 2. Use the Search function to locate the device by its serial number and verify its Activation Lock status.

Step 3. Click the ellipsis (•••) next to the device for additional actions.

Step 4. Select Turn Off Activation Lock if the option is available.

Step 5. Confirm that Activation Lock is now set to Off for the device.

As macOS devices gain popularity in organizations, it’s essential to ensure Activation Lock is disabled before handing over devices to employees. Mobile Device Manager (MDM) solutions can help streamline this process.

• For MacBooks, the device must be supervised via Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager to remove Activation Lock using MDM.
• Educational institutions can use Apple School Manager, which functions similarly to ABM for managing devices.

If you find it difficult to use the Activation Lock bypass code for iPhone/iPad activation lock, AnyUnlock is always a better choice.

Method 5. How to Remove Activation Lock via Apple Support

Apple Support provides several solutions for removing Activation Lock, depending on the situation and device status:

– If you know your Apple ID and password, follow Apple’s official steps to remove the lock.

– If you’ve forgotten your Apple ID password, you can recover it using Apple’s recovery process.

– If you have proof of purchase, you can submit an Activation Lock support request. The documentation must include the device’s serial number, IMEI, or MEID. Note that the device must be erased to complete the process.

Part 3. Comparison of Activation Lock Removal Methods

Method	Ease of Use	Success Rate	Requirements	Limitations
AnyUnlock – iPhone Password Unlocker	★★★★★	★★★★★	Requires AnyUnlock software on Windows/Mac	Data will be erased; requires jailbreaking the device.
Using iCloud	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	Requires Apple ID credentials from the previous owner.	Only works if you can access the previous owner’s Apple ID credentials.
DNS Method	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	Needs access to Wi-Fi and correct DNS server settings.	Temporary solution, may not work consistently.
Apple Business Manager (ABM)	★★★★☆	★★★★★	Device must be enrolled in ABM/ADE.	Only available for supervised devices; requires access to ABM account.
Apple Support with Proof of Purchase	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	Proof of purchase with serial number, IMEI, or MEID.	Time-consuming process; may require erasing the device.
Using MDM	★★★★☆	★★★★★	The device must be supervised via Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager.	Only works for supervised devices.

Part 4. FAQs

Q1. What is the Activation Lock bypass code?

There is no universal “bypass code.” Some organizations use MDM activation codes, but they are limited to corporate devices and cannot unlock personal iPhones. Any website claiming a universal bypass code is a scam.

Q2. Will a factory reset remove Activation Lock?

No. Factory resetting an iPhone/iPad does not remove Activation Lock. The lock is tied to the device’s Apple ID at the server level.

Q3. How does Activation Lock get activated?

Activation Lock automatically turns on when:

• Find My iPhone/iPad is enabled

• The device is erased or reset without signing out of the Apple ID

• The owner marks the device as lost via iCloud.com

Q4. How do I remove a previous owner’s Apple ID from a used iPhone?

Only the previous owner can remove their Apple ID remotely: Sign in to iCloud.com > Go to Find My > Erase device> Remove from Account.  If you cannot reach them, your only options are Apple Support (with receipt) or verified bypass tools.

Q5. How do I completely wipe my iPhone before selling it?

Before selling your iPhone, make sure to: Turn off Find My iPhone > Sign out of Apple ID > Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Choose Erase All Content and Settings. This ensures the new owner won’t encounter Activation Lock.

Q6. Can Apple unlock Activation Lock without proof of purchase?

No. Apple requires official proof of ownership. Without a valid receipt, Apple will not remove the lock.

Q7. Does jailbreak remove activation lock?

No. Jailbreaking cannot remove Activation Lock. Some older jailbreak-based bypasses worked on outdated iOS versions, but they do not fully unlock the device and often cause system instability.

The Bottom Line

That is all about how to bypass Activation Lock on iPad/iPhone. Hope you found the three methods useful. And if you wonder about the easiest and fastest way, AnyUnlock must be your best choice. It can help you bypass the activation lock iPhone/iPad with simple clicks and steps. And if you need to remove an Apple ID or unlock other iOS locks, it can help you as well. So why not free download AnyUnlock now to try it?