Activation lock Ipad 4

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.

If you are the owner of the AppleID that previously activated the device - and you have forgotten your AppleID or associated password, these can be recovered here:

https://iforgot.apple.com

To recover your credentials, you’ll need access to one of the following:

• Your primary email address mailbox that corresponds with your AppleID
• Any of the secondary/recovery email addresses that should be configured for your AppleID account
• Any of the trusted telephone numbers (fixed line or Cellular/Mobile) that are associated with your AppleID

Unless you AppleID account has not been fully/correctly configured, or has been seriously neglected, recovery of the AppleID and password should not be difficult.

More information about recovery of your AppleID:

If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

More information about recovery of your AppleID password:

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

When you recover access to your credentials, you would be well advised to log-in to your AppleID account from a web browser - and verify/update any email addresses and trusted telephone numbers:

https://appleid.apple.com

Sorry, not possible.

The Device Activation process forces the iPad to access Apple’s Security/Activation servers. Your iPad, having been previously activated and associated with an AppleID, will have an activation record that is irrevocably “tied” to an existing AppleID account.

Re-Activation can only occur if the correct AppleID credentials are input; it is the “back-end” server, where the activation record resides, that allows/denies (re)activation of the iPad. This is security and anti-theft mechanism designed to prevent use of the iPad by anyone other than the legitimate owner of the device. The process is secure - and cannot be bypassed.

The method by which your AppleID credentials can be recovered - and any activation issues can be resolved - have already been provided. After currently linked AppleID credentials are recovered, it is then possible to resolve and Activation Lock - or remove the lock to permit reuse with a different AppleID account.

Using a different AppleID is normally not recommended - as all purchased Apps and Subscription services are similarly and permanently tied to the AppleID account from which they have been purchased. If the primary email address (the username) of the AppleID needs to be changed (perhaps because the email account no longer exists), the AppleID account can be updated to reflect the change in email address - without losing access to purchased Apps and services.

However, if you have the original sales invoice that clearly shows the serial number of the iPad, Apple Support may offer assistance in recovering use of the iPad. Only the original Sales Invoice will be accepted as proof of legitimate ownership of the device to which the invoice relates.

To reiterate, you’ll not be able to re-activate the iPad, or release an Activation Lock, without the AppleID credentials that were previously used to activate your iPad.

Sorry, but there is no workaround.

Regrettably, with neither the required documentation nor knowledge of the AppleID credentials, you are very likely correct.

Perhaps that some comfort from the fact that your very old iPad4 has already given good service. Consider the following...

Update support for iPad4 ended September 2017. The final iOS releases for this model were iOS 10.3.3 (WiFi Only models) and iOS 10.3.4 (WiFi & Cellular). iPad4 cannot be updated to any later major version of iOS as it lacks the minimum hardware requirements needed to run more recent versions. The 32-bit platform upon which the iPad4 is based is obsolete.

Many App Developers have also dropped support for older devices and iOS versions preceding iOS11/12/13 - and have withdrawn older versions of their Apps from the Apple App Store. Withdrawal of Apps supporting older models of iPad is making their utility and usefulness significantly more limited. Once compatible versions Apps are withdrawn, you’ll not be able (re)download or (re)install them.

If Apps that you need to use now have higher minimum iOS-version requirements, your only option is to replace your iPad with newer model. Of current models, even the entry-level iPad8 supports current iPadOS 14 - and has hardware specifications and capabilities that vastly outperform your old iPad4.

I hope this information is helpful - if only in clearly stating the limitations of your iPad4 and your available options.