iCloud lock on a dead relative's phone

[crzdcolombian]

My nephew dropped his phone 2 months ago in a lake while paddle boarding . My wife's grandfather died a year ago and her uncle gave us his dad's old iPhone 13. When we had a family get together and he heard what happened.

It is apple locked. No one knows the password. I was looking online. It seems like you need a death certificate? That seems wild? The phone being purchased by the uncle and on his phone plan doesnt prove he is the owner?

I have since added the feature of when you die who can open your phone.

Any help on this? Can't be that odd of a situation.

If it doesnt work we will just get him a iPhone for X-mas as a family present. Tho I have been looking for a cheap SE or 12 in the meantime. As think he should wait for the new SE. He is 10.

 

[iStorm]

By "apple locked", I assume you mean Activation Locked? If the uncle still has the sales receipt showing the serial number, IMEI, or MEID, he can submit a request to have the Activation Lock removed.

Activation Lock - Support

al-support.apple.com

If you meant the passcode, then put the device in recovery or DFU mode to erase and re-install iOS. You may still find that it's Activation Locked during setup though and will need to do the above.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Yep, @iStorm has it right. Request removal through that link, if you have Proof of Purchase.

If you don't, THEN you'll need death certificate & likely proof of status as next-of-kin, etc which is granted, something of a PITA. Whether it's worth that effort for an iPhone, is up to you.

 

[crzdcolombian]

.

By "apple locked", I assume you mean Activation Locked? If the uncle still has the sales receipt showing the serial number, IMEI, or MEID, he can submit a request to have the Activation Lock removed.

Activation Lock - Support

al-support.apple.com

If you meant the passcode, then put the device in recovery or DFU mode to erase and re-install iOS. You may still find that it's Activation Locked during setup though and will need to do the above.

his phone line has since been canceled obviously. He going to t-mobile to see if they have a receipt from when he bought it but yea... seems like too much of a pain when a $100-200 can probably get a SE or 12.

thanks everyone

 

[Fred Zed]

Regarding setting up a legacy contact. Couldn’t one just give their iCloud password and username to a relative and also their iPhone passcode to make things “easier “? Probably a less secure method of doing it I agree.

 

[russell_314]

Regarding setting up a legacy contact. Couldn’t one just give their iCloud password and username to a relative and also their iPhone passcode to make things “easier “? Probably a less secure method of doing it I agree.

If you absolutely trust that person sure. You have to remember for example loving wives become bitter ex wives so I would use this method with extreme caution.

 

[crzdcolombian]

Regarding setting up a legacy contact. Couldn’t one just give their iCloud password and username to a relative and also their iPhone passcode to make things “easier “? Probably a less secure method of doing it I agree.

I mean people don't know when they are going to die....

 

[Fred Zed]

I mean people don't know when they are going to die....

Hence why this topic that you kindly posted made me think to perhaps prepare for such a scenario.

 

[Fred Zed]

If you absolutely trust that person sure. You have to remember for example loving wives become bitter ex wives so I would use this method with extreme caution.

Indeed. I was more referring blood relative or sibling. Initially I was considering perhaps just giving my iCloud credentials but I believe that would require a “trusted” device or phone to be registered with ? So that they can log into iCloud. However I’m thinking it would be just easier for them to have iPhone passcode also. Thoughts?

Reading the small print my legacy contact would need to supply Apple my death certificate and also access key.

 

[russell_314]

Indeed. I was more referring blood relative or sibling. Initially I was considering perhaps just giving my iCloud credentials but I believe that would require a “trusted” device or phone to be registered with ? So that they can log into iCloud. However I’m thinking it would be just easier for them to have iPhone passcode also. Thoughts?

This would work as long as you remember if you changed your passcode, you’d have to update them. I would also give them my Apple ID and password just in case. Be sure to trust that person of course. There’s nothing saying you can’t give out the passcode, Apple ID and password and also make them a legacy contact.

You could also put it written or typed on paper stored in a fire safe or safety deposit box that they have access to. It’s always good to have a in case of emergency or death packet where people can access your will and do simple things like pay your rent for another month while they’re trying to figure out what to do. Just make sure to inform whoever you want where to find it. I’ve seen families buy gravestones for people when they already had one purchased because that person never told them.

Reading the small print my legacy contact would need to supply Apple my death certificate and also access key.

This prevents them from taking over your iCloud account while you’re still alive. Apple doesn’t want to deal with that legal nightmare and it would be pretty inconvenient for anyone it happened to. You have to think there are millions of iPhones so millions of different scenarios that could happen.

 

[Fred Zed]

This would work as long as you remember if you changed your passcode, you’d have to update them. I would also give them my Apple ID and password just in case. Be sure to trust that person of course. There’s nothing saying you can’t give out the passcode, Apple ID and password and also make them a legacy contact.

You could also put it written or typed on paper stored in a fire safe or safety deposit box that they have access to. It’s always good to have a in case of emergency or death packet where people can access your will and do simple things like pay your rent for another month while they’re trying to figure out what to do. Just make sure to inform whoever you want where to find it. I’ve seen families buy gravestones for people when they already had one purchased because that person never told them.



This prevents them from taking over your iCloud account while you’re still alive. Apple doesn’t want to deal with that legal nightmare and it would be pretty inconvenient for anyone it happened to. You have to think there are millions of iPhones so millions of different scenarios that could happen.

Some solid advice and pointers. Thanks