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I can't login to my iPhone 5s

tayebhathat

tayebhathat

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 2, 2016
6
0
Hi guys, I hope you are doing well.
I have a problem with my iPhone 5s, I'll tell you my story :D. I bought an iPhone from a second hand owner, and he gave me the iCloud just password. I was using it for about three or four days without a Sim card, and suddenly he rebooted by himself and stopped at Apple logo for a while. When he finally booted up it was factor- reseted and when i setup my language and wifi he asks me to enter the Apple ID :( .i don't know the Apple Id . When I called the seller he told me that he has no idea about it, and the Apple id was for the first owner. I tried everything possible to contact him but no thing worked.
And I am struggling with it for three months.
Any one can help me please, i just have to know the Apple Id because I have the password.
And sorry about the long story :D and i hope you can help me. Bye
 
If the seller had the password, the seller had the id. Unless the seller you bought it from was the 2nd owner who for some reason kept using the original owners password but never the login id?

Doesnt seem plausible does it?
 
I am guessing the password you are using is the unlock password for the iPhone, not the password for the iCloud account?

The password it is asking for is the one used to purchase new apps, along with the email address on file with that account.

If this phone was stolen, there is nothing you can do except try to get your money back from whoever sold you the phone.

There was a bug in iOS 9.3 (since fixed in later versions) that did force some phones to try and activate using an old account, here are the instructions if this is the issue:

http://osxdaily.com/2016/03/28/ios-9-3-build-13e237-fix-activation-error-ipsw/

Fixing iOS 9.3 Activation Errors with iTunes
If the device is currently stuck on an activation screen and unable to proceed further, you’ll need to place it into recovery mode to update with iTunes. Be sure to have the newest version of iTunes installed before attempting this procedure, it’s otherwise the same on a Mac or Windows PC:

  1. Connect the impacted iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a computer with a USB cable and launch iTunes
  2. Force reboot the device by holding down the Power and Home buttons at the same time, continue to hold down both buttons until a “Device in recovery mode has been detected” window pops up in iTunes
  3. Choose “Update” when you see this screen
 
Chatter said:
If the seller had the password, the seller had the id. Unless the seller you bought it from was the 2nd owner who for some reason kept using the original owners password but never the login id?

Doesnt seem plausible does it?
Click to expand...
The first owner gave the second the password and told him that the ID is written in iCloud app and he will never need to write it again. But the phone reseted at my hands and the second owner has no way to contact the first for the ID.
[doublepost=1470154646][/doublepost]
Richdmoore said:
I am guessing the password you are using is the unlock password for the iPhone, not the password for the iCloud account?

The password it is asking for is the one used to purchase new apps, along with the email address on file with that account.

If this phone was stolen, there is nothing you can do except try to get your money back from whoever sold you the phone.

There was a bug in iOS 9.3 (since fixed in later versions) that did force some phones to try and activate using an old account, here are the instructions if this is the issue:

http://osxdaily.com/2016/03/28/ios-9-3-build-13e237-fix-activation-error-ipsw/

Fixing iOS 9.3 Activation Errors with iTunes
If the device is currently stuck on an activation screen and unable to proceed further, you’ll need to place it into recovery mode to update with iTunes. Be sure to have the newest version of iTunes installed before attempting this procedure, it’s otherwise the same on a Mac or Windows PC:

  1. Connect the impacted iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a computer with a USB cable and launch iTunes
  2. Force reboot the device by holding down the Power and Home buttons at the same time, continue to hold down both buttons until a “Device in recovery mode has been detected” window pops up in iTunes
  3. Choose “Update” when you see this screen
Click to expand...
Thanks I will try this
 
tayebhathat said:
The first owner gave the second the password and told him that the ID is written in iCloud app and he will never need to write it again. But the phone reseted at my hands and the second owner has no way to contact the first for the ID.
[doublepost=1470154646][/doublepost]
Thanks I will try this
Click to expand...

You can try, but from you last post I don't think it will work, as that fix is only for the iOS 9.3 bug and not a legitimate activation lock.

This whole previous password/apple account setup sounds goofy, as if the phone was set up using someone else's account you would be using their credit/debit card for purchases. It is hard to imagine someone intentionally doing this, unless the phone was stolen & sold by someone who knew the password. (A family member stealing another family member's phone to sell for drug money, for example.)

You can either try and get your money back (if possible) or consider this a lesson learned and only buy future phones directly from a retail store.

On the good side, general public awareness of the anti-theft features of the iPhone should help prevent future muggings/thefts.
 
its most likely stolen , dont buy iphones second hand, the money saved doesnt equal the headache and tension of dealing with the downside, best to buy from online reputable places, gazelle.com etc
 
I don't think it's stolen because the police will find it whenever a sik card inserted on it and this second hand owner was using it normally.
I'll try to contact the second owner and get my money back. Thanks for all of you guys
God bless you
 
tayebhathat said:
No I don't think it's stolen, because the previous owner's sim card was in the phone when I saw it
Click to expand...

It's almost definitely stolen. That "mysterious reboot" was probably the original owner erasing the phone remotely using FindMyPhone.

What the seller did makes no sense. Why would someone just give him their iCloud password, and only the password? And now, all of a sudden he wants to sell it? He either stole the phone or knows who did. Try to get your money back if you can.
 
If it is not stolen, then it is likely a couple of foolish people sharing Apple IDs, or not knowing how to disable activation lock. I hope you do get your money back. Hopefully this will be a valuable lesson to make sure the owner can prove the activation lock is disabled on any future iOS device you buy second hand. Also, make sure it has been paid off; since there are a lot more phone payment plans nowadays.
 
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