In this guide, we explain your options for erasing and setting up an iPhone or iPad linked to a deleted or forgotten Apple Account that you do not have access to.

When setting up a new iPhone, you are encouraged to sign in with an Apple Account (formerly known as Apple ID). Signing in to your Apple Account allows you to use iCloud, the App Store, Find My, and many important core features.

Almost everyone sets up their iPhone with an Apple Account. Additionally, they keep Find My enabled because it is a great security feature that allows you to see the location of your iPhone and secures it with Activation Lock.

Find My Activation Lock is a theft prevention barrier that prevents a thief from setting up a stolen iPhone after forcefully erasing it in recovery mode. As a result, an iPhone with Activation Lock becomes nearly useless unless the thief disassembles it (however, Apple significantly reduces this situation by preventing repairs with parts obtained from stolen devices).

Logging out of your Apple Account on all your devices is one of the most important recommendations you should follow before entering the process of permanently deleting your Apple Account.

However, if you have overlooked this and still have an old iPhone that is logged in with a deleted Apple Account or an Apple Account you do not have access to, your only option is to contact Apple Support.

Before doing this, obtain the invoice for your old iPhone by downloading it from your email or the online platform where you purchased the device.

Then, contact Apple Support, explain your situation, and send the original invoice/confirmation of that old locked iPhone so that you can prove you are the rightful owner. They will likely assist you in removing the Activation Lock on that device. Once this process is completed, you can set up the iPhone (the Activation Lock will no longer block you).

If Find My is not enabled on your old iPhone, you can erase and set it up directly using recovery mode. The Activation Lock will not block you.

If you have not deleted your Apple Account but have lost access to it, try to recover it. After retrieving your account email address and resetting the password, you can use it to bypass the Activation Lock on the old iPhone.

There is nothing else you can do besides the options mentioned above. However, you may come across some Mac and Windows 'iOS unlocker' software that claims to bypass iPhone Activation Lock. However, these never actually work. I do not recommend spending money on them.