iPhone SE (2016) Activation locks are stupid

[Andy_2341]

I know Apple is trying to protect users who get their devices stolen, but this is a bit too much. I’ve got an old SE1. It had been dead in a drawer needing to be restored for 3 months since I got it on eBay. It was presumably dead for a good while before that as it also needed a battery. Apple should send out checks every year asking about older devices like it, especially if they aren’t used. This is wasteful. Now I’ve got a perfectly functioning device with a new battery and I can’t use it. All because somebody forgot to remove it from their account when they upgraded.

Sorry for the rant, I just needed to say that. I know it has probably been said before. If only Apple would do something…

 

[Bigwaff]

I know Apple is trying to protect users who get their devices stolen, but this is a bit too much. I’ve got an old SE1. It had been dead in a drawer needing to be restored for 3 months since I got it on eBay. It was presumably dead for a good while before that as it also needed a battery. Apple should send out checks every year asking about older devices like it, especially if they aren’t used. This is wasteful. Now I’ve got a perfectly functioning device with a new battery and I can’t use it. All because somebody forgot to remove it from their account when they upgraded.

Sorry for the rant, I just needed to say that. I know it has probably been said before. If only Apple would do something…

There are software tools that can bypass / remove activation lock on older, discontinued / vintage devices. Google and ye shall find.

 

[kitKAC]

All because somebody forgot to remove it from their account when they upgraded.

That's the actual problem, not that Activation Lock exists.

 

[hobowankenobi]

The activation lock does really reduce phone theft, which was a real problem in the early days. People got mugged. Stolen iPhones were rampant until a robust system was put in place that sent the value of a stolen phone to nearly nothing,

I think Apple could improve the ability to remove activation locks on old devices. There should be a way to get a prompt, and simply confirm via an iCloud account, even if the original purchaser no longer has physical access...like your situation.

It is a long shot, but Apple will release a device if one can show proof of purchase. Typically folks don't keep records, but always worth asking.

Yes, it is a pain, but we can't return to the bad old days.

 

[eyoungren]

I know Apple is trying to protect users who get their devices stolen, but this is a bit too much. I’ve got an old SE1. It had been dead in a drawer needing to be restored for 3 months since I got it on eBay. It was presumably dead for a good while before that as it also needed a battery. Apple should send out checks every year asking about older devices like it, especially if they aren’t used. This is wasteful. Now I’ve got a perfectly functioning device with a new battery and I can’t use it. All because somebody forgot to remove it from their account when they upgraded.

Sorry for the rant, I just needed to say that. I know it has probably been said before. If only Apple would do something…

I'm just curious…you bought a used SE1 off eBay, waited three months to restore it and only then found out it was activation locked?

I'd think you'd have had a case with eBay to get your money back. Especially if activation lock was not mentioned. But three months?

Or did you knowingly buy it with activation lock and have only now just gotten around to trying to get around the lock?

 

[cousintim]

"I'm just curious…you bought a used SE1 off eBay, waited three months to restore it and only then found out it was activation locked?"

The OP is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

 

[Andy_2341]

"I'm just curious…you bought a used SE1 off eBay, waited three months to restore it and only then found out it was activation locked?"

The OP is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I don’t claim to be a genius, but I’m pretty sharp.

 

[Andy_2341]

I'm just curious…you bought a used SE1 off eBay, waited three months to restore it and only then found out it was activation locked?

I'd think you'd have had a case with eBay to get your money back. Especially if activation lock was not mentioned. But three months?

Or did you knowingly buy it with activation lock and have only now just gotten around to trying to get around the lock?

The lock wasn’t mentioned. It took me 3 months due to situations beyond my control.

 

[Andy_2341]

That's the actual problem, not that Activation Lock exists.

Indeed, but they should add a way to help people remember.

 

[tonmischa]

Ask the seller to remove the activation lock via iCloud.com

How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support

Learn what to do if you see the Activation Lock screen on your device, or if you're asked to remove Activation Lock on a device that's offline and not in your possession.

support.apple.com

 

[v0lume4]

It really is a shame when a feature with good intentions end up shafting honest users.

Different, but in the same vein, I ran into a big issue a while back where I had to log into my Apple account and couldn’t. My memory is a little cloudy, but I think it was because I had to “Allow” the login (2FA method) on another Apple device that I didn’t have access to anymore. I was locked out of my account and customer service had to get involved.

I’ve since added a phone number to my account so I can do text message 2FA. But that was a real pain.

 

[tonmischa]

another Apple device that I didn’t have access to anymore

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Use these steps to transfer information to your new device and, if applicable, remove your personal information from your old device.

support.apple.com

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Reset your Mac to factory settings to prepare it for a new owner.

support.apple.com

 

[ForkHandles]

It is possible that you bought a stolen phone off eBay of course and that the Activation Lock is doing its job as designed.

 

[myhaksown]

That’s why eBay has their guarantee. Extenuating circumstances or not, the seller could have checked by plugging it in. In all likelihood you bought a stolen phone and you waited too long. It’s not like Apple hasn’t put out support articles or never mentioned it. Any reputable reseller checks a device before listing it.

Regardless, as others have mentioned there are tools that can bypass activation lock on older devices. Use your resources. Like google. Complaining about a genuinely helpful feature that has reduced iPhone theft is ridiculous and you can’t blame anyone because you didn’t bother to plug the device in when you got it. Even an iPhone with a bad battery will boot up when plugged in. Sorry to say, this is on you.

 

[Malus120]

Activation Lock certainly has its downsides, most notably contributing to e-waste by effectively bricking perfectly good or repairable devices that just happened to be thrown out or where someone forget to unlink before selling( It also complicate person to person sales by non technical people who can't read / follow instructions.)

That said I think that for most of people, the upside of deterring theft far outweighs the downside. While it would indeed be nice if Apple could improve the system to better handle abandoned, older, devices, cases where people forgot to unlock before selling, etc doing so in a way that wouldn't be easily manipulated by thieves is challenging (and likely to be a lot more resource intensive to run.)

As for this specific case, it sucks and I sympathize. Nonetheless, circumstances be what they may, the onus is on you as a buyer to confirm that you received what you ordered. Try reaching out to the seller and or opening a claim with PayPal if they won't respond.