Users Report Some iPhone 7 and 6s Models Activation Locked With Wrong Apple IDs

[MH01]

They either messed up an internal release or got hacked.

Either way, this is a huge issue . We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg of individuals reporting the problem.

So what happens if you have always owned your iPhone, bought it instore somewhere and no longer have the receipt. Kinda sad that Apple no longer has validation that that you registered this phone to your Apple ID, and requires proof to fix it. Backups and rollback Apple....

This becomes so much worse for people who have bought 2nd hand iPhones, fun times proving ownership.

 

[deadolive]

This happened to me on two different phones going back to iOS 8.4. This issue is getting more widespread.

 

[SirRahikkala]

I'm concerned that the Russians have hacked Apple's database.

I believe it's the 400lbs hacker who did that.
[doublepost=1475737191][/doublepost]I believe that someone has stolen the device/IMEI database from the factory in China (I don't know what kind of audits Apple do or require from their partners). All phones are in inventory and obviously batches are checked out when they go to transportation etc. Maybe the Apple servers are difficult to "hack" but in this case, it's not really Apple.

If so, this is huge **** storm for Apple and it will be really difficult to fix.

 

[robert05au]

I believe it's the 400lbs hacker who did that.
[doublepost=1475737191][/doublepost]I believe that someone has stolen the device/IMEI database from the factory in China (I don't know what kind of audits Apple do or require from their partners). All phones are in inventory and obviously batches are checked out when they go to transportation etc. Maybe the Apple servers are difficult to "hack" but in this case, it's not really Apple.

If so, this is huge **** storm for Apple and it will be really difficult to fix.

So I haven't seen this happen as yet. But handy know what to watch for. I have an iPhone 6S+ for just on 12 months now as others have seen it. I will keeping watch

 

[Loge]

Is this definitely limited to iPhones, or has anyone had this on an iPad?

 

[colorfuel]

Did anyone have this with an iPhone SE as of jet? Alot of iphone 5s/5Ss must be recycled for SEs, no?

 

[conlov]

maybe related to:
"hackers" are able to remove the activation lock by changing the serial number of the device to an unused one. if apple then uses this number for a legit device...

Yes, this is definitely the reason. Wow, this is serious! I wonder how Apple will fix it. It seems impossible? They will have to disable activation lock for everyone. No other way around it. Activation lock just became a useless feature.

 

[iMacDragon]

Yes, this is definitely the reason. Wow, this is serious! I wonder how Apple will fix it. It seems impossible? They will have to disable activation lock for everyone. No other way around it. Activation lock just became a useless feature.

Makes me wonder is the the device information section of phone not signed with a key that boot loader checks to prevent this sort of tampering?

 

[sofila]

My solidarity to those having this kind of issue on their brand new iPhone. All of the unboxing excitement down in a minute. Must be awful

 

[69650]

It's the FBI & NSA getting even with Apple for not co-operating.

 

[GalileoSeven]

With as serious as this issue is, I'd say the more sustained attention it receives, the better. Don't see an Apple/Techie blog with this story somewhere on their page? I'd say share it. The more people talk about this (away from message boards and in more visible/promient spaces) for a sustained period, the sooner Apple's going to have to address this issue.


(Oh and if you're feeling especially audacious, you could even try emailing Tim Cook)

 

[kentsydney]

Happened to me but in a slightly different way- I took my 6 plus in for a camera repair under warranty- I did an iCloud backup the genius erased my phone to see if my camera issue was software related - it wasn't so camera module replaced. When I tried to restore from iCloud backup the activation lock asked for an old. Me email we never used and couldn't remember password for.

It took 2 weeks to get back up and by that time I lost my iCloud backup and so lost contacts old text messages etc.

Really really frustrating especially as I had to make repeated calls to apple and send proof of purchase twice as they didn't seem to believe me.

This happened out of blue and my wife and myself have had iPhones for 10 years and continuously upgrade

Something wrong with apples activation lock procrsd

 

[dav1dd]

Hackers gotta hack...

Sounds like that to me. Apple has been breached in a bad way.

 

[kdarling]

It's the FBI & NSA getting even with Apple for not co-operating.

I know you're probably joking, but it's too heavy handed even for the FBI, and NSA doesn't normally target Americans. So I'd guess Russia or China, if a government is involved.

But more likely, it's just someone at the China factories making money on the side. Or even at Apple HQ.

Apple will figure it out, but is unlikely to explain it, since it doesn't fit their desired security image.

 

[yPree]

Is this definitely limited to iPhones, or has anyone had this on an iPad?

This is not limited to iPhones. I currently have an iPad mini 4 on iOS 10 activation locked. I can provide pictures when I am home. It's been locked for almost two weeks now, I purchased it directly from apple when it first released. Upgrading to iOS 10 basically bricked my iPad.

I no longer have the receipt, I am unsure how to go about unlocking it....
[doublepost=1475752423][/doublepost]

Happened to me but in a slightly different way- I took my 6 plus in for a camera repair under warranty- I did an iCloud backup the genius erased my phone to see if my camera issue was software related - it wasn't so camera module replaced. When I tried to restore from iCloud backup the activation lock asked for an old. Me email we never used and couldn't remember password for.

It took 2 weeks to get back up and by that time I lost my iCloud backup and so lost contacts old text messages etc.

Really really frustrating especially as I had to make repeated calls to apple and send proof of purchase twice as they didn't seem to believe me.

This happened out of blue and my wife and myself have had iPhones for 10 years and continuously upgrade

Something wrong with apples activation lock procrsd

I've been reading up on this and I've been told the process is very long as you said and that's why I haven't even begun attempting to fix my activation locked iPad Mini 4. It's a damn shame cause it's completely useless atm.

However, I have no issues with my iPhone 7 Plus.

What do you prefer I do for my iPad though? Was there anything you did wrong that caused this process to go on for two weeks? Would I be able to get a new receipt if I no longer have the same credit card i used when i bought the iPad Mini 4 from apple? This is a mess.

 

[BeardMan7]

What do you prefer I do for my iPad though? Was there anything you did wrong that caused this process to go on for two weeks? Would I be able to get a new receipt if I no longer have the same credit card i used when i bought the iPad Mini 4 from apple? This is a mess.

In the past I've never needed the receipt for directly purchased iPhones from Apple. They've never asked for the receipt if I called the Apple support because of warranty reasons. But if you want a copy of your receipt, you can call Apple support and ask for it, they'll send it to you by email.

 

[Loge]

Production of a receipt should not be a requirement to continue to use a product you've paid for.

Apple need to get this sorted out quickly.

 

[teefar]

Same thing happened with my new 6s but after a few failed password attempts I clicked "skip" my account appeared and I could login.

 

[Sodner]

I'm having this problem with my iPhone 6s Plus I've used the past year. I got a 7 Plus and everything is fine with it, but after erasing my 6s Plus to sell, it was Activation Locked with some unknown h*****@icloud.com account.
I went to Apple and had them supposedly fix it. Sent it off to Gazelle and now it's locked again so I have to reject their offer and get it sent back. A royal pain in the @ss Apple!!!!

 

[smarks90]

With as serious as this issue is, I'd say the more sustained attention it receives, the better. Don't see an Apple/Techie blog with this story somewhere on their page? I'd say share it. The more people talk about this (away from message boards and in more visible/promient spaces) for a sustained period, the sooner Apple's going to have to address this issue.


(Oh and if you're feeling especially audacious, you could even try emailing Tim Cook)

I have been sharing all of these forums posts here on MacRumors and this story with the adviser helping me. I'm not sure how far this will make it or whate level of detail they'll be forthright with but at least "I can't find any other reports of this in our system" isn't a possible answer any more as I am NOT alone.
[doublepost=1475757615][/doublepost]

Production of a receipt should not be a requirement to continue to use a product you've paid for.

Apple need to get this sorted out quickly.

this is the problem. I agree with you and am really frustrated that this can happen but that would also defeat the intended purposes of the activation lock. If I can walk up to you and steal your phone and then have Apple unlock it without proving I'm the owner, what's the point?

They need to resolve the issue and return the activation lock to its correct operation. it's never been an issue for me before this 6s+/7+ transition this year. The whole thing is frustrating because it's preventing me from selling the 6s+ in good consciousness because anyone I sell to won't have "proof of purchase" needed to remove lock. best case scenario the buyer can track you down and have you submit necessary proof to unlock the phone. that's days of waiting and potentially hours on the phone to do this. Come on Apple!

 

[Val-kyrie]

HOLY COW!!!

My mom has had her iPhone repeatedly ask for her original Apple ID, one she hasn't used in like 4 years! It will come out of a reset, and occasionally ask for verification, and even though setup with her current Apple ID, it will eventually popup demanding that she verify with her old, and inoperative, Apple ID. I wonder if this is related. We have a case open with Apple support and they just appear to blow us off. Which sucks for my mom... She thinks that I should have some pull over Apple for all the years I've supported computers in general, and Apple users in the are in particular.

Nope. They still think I'm a nobody. Like everyone else...
[doublepost=1475714484][/doublepost]

So Apple cellular chips have been hacked? DAMN...

Unfortunately, we may be at the point where users will have to unite as a community to bring attention to this issue to force Apple to deal with it--whether that means a dreaded class action lawsuit, contacting news outlets, public awareness campaigns via social media, etc. An activation lock is not acceptable for anyone who has purchased an Apple device legitimately, be it first or second hand.

I would not mind the removal of the feature at this point. There is a point where the quest for security breeds loss of freedom and oppression. We may be at that point with this "feature."

Edit: I would encourage you all to post a link to this article on your social media accounts, as I just did.

Edit 2: Does anyone know if turning off Find My iPhone will prevent this debacle or if turning it off opens the door for another user/thief to activate your MEID?

 

[iansumuk]

Sounds to me like they've screwed up and are enrolling the devices on the Apple Device Enrolment Programme when they shouldn't be.

 

[wsbsteven]

This issue happened to me when I had a warranty issue with my 6s plus. They couldn't swap my device because my device was activation locked with a yahoo email address from China. It took about 2 hours to get it straightened out in the store. They even used one of my Applecare repair entitlements to repair a device two months prior to my issue. The device wasn't even the same device I had covered.

 

[urtules]

I think it is very old server side issue, it just a lot of people activate their new phones right now. I had it on my iPhone 4. It happened long time ago, it didn't prevent me from using the phone. Not sure is it the same issue.

 

[smarks90]

Unfortunately, we may be at the point where users will have to unite as a community to bring attention to this issue to force Apple to deal with it--whether that means a dreaded class action lawsuit, contacting news outlets, public awareness campaigns via social media, etc. An activation lock is not acceptable for anyone who has purchased an Apple device legitimately, be it first or second hand.

I would not mind the removal of the feature at this point. There is a point where the quest for security breeds loss of freedom and oppression. We may be at that point with this "feature."

Edit: I would encourage you all to post a link to this article on your social media accounts, as I just did.

Edit 2: Does anyone know if turning off Find My iPhone will prevent this debacle or if turning it off opens the door for another user/thief to activate your MEID?

Re: Edit 2: I've turned off find my iPhone both times it has happened to me so far.... it's like that removed the lock to your icloud account and then there is still one in the background that takes over with the other random icloud email...