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iCloud/iPad Wipe

I have an iPad that needs to be reset, but the iCloud password belongs to an employee that no longer works here and will not respond. How do I reset the iPad and get rid of the iCloud link? Note that this is not a corporate machine, but one I bought for my team and this employee logged into his iCloud account while using it just before leaving, and has now left us in a lurch not being able to reset the machine.

Posted on Oct 26, 2020 1:37 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 27, 2020 9:53 AM

If the iPad was not centrally managed by a corporate MDM platform - and the employee was permitted to use their own AppleID - then the iPad will be locked to private AppleID account to which you will have no access.


You are therefore entirely reliant upon proving original ownership, to Apple. The original sales invoice that clearly shows the device serial number is usually required.


Here are the Apple support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be turned off:

Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Turn off Activation Lock – Apple Support


As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, or unless you can secure the cooperation of the previous owner, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. Without documentary evidence that you are the original owner (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple won’t assist - and nobody here will be able to help you.


2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 27, 2020 9:53 AM in response to ScrappyCoCo

If the iPad was not centrally managed by a corporate MDM platform - and the employee was permitted to use their own AppleID - then the iPad will be locked to private AppleID account to which you will have no access.


You are therefore entirely reliant upon proving original ownership, to Apple. The original sales invoice that clearly shows the device serial number is usually required.


Here are the Apple support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be turned off:

Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Turn off Activation Lock – Apple Support


As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, or unless you can secure the cooperation of the previous owner, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. Without documentary evidence that you are the original owner (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple won’t assist - and nobody here will be able to help you.


Oct 26, 2020 3:02 PM in response to ScrappyCoCo

ScrappyCoCo wrote:

I have an iPad that needs to be reset, but the iCloud password belongs to an employee that no longer works here and will not respond. How do I reset the iPad and get rid of the iCloud link? Note that this is not a corporate machine, but one I bought for my team and this employee logged into his iCloud account while using it just before leaving, and has now left us in a lurch not being able to reset the machine.

IF you still have the purchase receipt, you can take it in to the Apple store and see what they can do for you.

iCloud/iPad Wipe

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