Why wont my iphone 3gs go into recovery mode

Easton1966 Said:

"Why wont my iphone 3gs go into recovery mode: So I have this old Iphone 3Gs and I got it at an estate sale the person said that it was unlocked but it was not.[...]"

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Getting into a Locked iPhone:

Seems you've been scammed --though a full-assumption on my part. The iPhone locked to the owner's account. This is a theft-deterrent. So, take it back to the estate sale, and ask for a return. If you don't it is useless to you. This is the site the seller should have used prior to selling it: What to do Before you Sell, Give Away, or Trade In your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support. The seller should have known better.

You won’t be able to install and use any third-party app to chat, as an iPhone 3GS (2009) tops out at iOS 6.

iOS 16 is current.

There are folks unhappy with app vendors dropping support for iOS 12.

Here is the Factory Reset sequence: Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Here’s how to use DFU to force a reset: https://www.lifewire.com/using-iphone-dfu-mode-2000656

None of this bypasses Activation Lock. If that is set, this iPhone is useless to you.

Easton1966 wrote:

So the people at the sale buy storage units and so they wouldn't even know the codes unless they know the people who originally owned the unit.

Then you bought a brick. Recycle it. It will never be useful to you.

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying a used iPad/iPhone - Apple Community

Easton1966 Said:

"Why wont my iphone 3gs go into recovery mode: So the people at the sale buy storage units and so they wouldn't even know the codes unless they know the people who originally owned the unit.”

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Getting into a Locked iPhone:

Then take this as a learning experience, knowing to always have the seller let you log in, prior to selling it to you. Once again, this is the site to have the seller user seller prior to selling it to you: What to do Before you Sell, Give Away, or Trade In your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support. It’s a shame they didn’t.