iPad Is Activation Locked by Former Employee

BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 10:58

Hi All,

We have an iPad 5th generation which is activation locked - employee left 5 months ago, can't be contacted and the number tied to the iCloud was their personal number.
We don't recognize the mobile number; Telstra Business say the number isn't ours either and the iPad was only returned to head office this week.

My Boss is content with throwing it away but was making this post as a last-ditch effort to find out if there's anyway around it. Any Paid software that can remove it?

We don't even have proof of purchase for this device as it was purchased way before either of us were working here and no one here seems to have a clue about it.

Note: iPad has already been replaced in our stock. So if we gotta chuck it, so be it.

Electrical & Electronics Apple Tablet

closed Comments

  • GG57 on 15/09/2023 - 11:00
    +5

    I suggest taking it to the dodgiest pub in the dodgiest part of town, and asking if anyone can help.

    • bdl on 15/09/2023 - 12:36
      +2

      iPub

      • reactor-au on 16/09/2023 - 07:45

        Is that apples version of epub?

  • 87percent on 15/09/2023 - 11:05
    +4

    congrats, you got yourself a paperweight

  • try2bhelpful on 15/09/2023 - 11:13
    +1

    Have you contacted Apple support about it? If it hasn’t been deliberately bricked they might wipe it and unlock it for you.

    • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 11:16
      +1

      I looked into that and started an Activation Lock request. But doubt it would get far without Proof of Purchase.

      • try2bhelpful on 15/09/2023 - 11:19

        Maybe but worth an ask, particularly if the company has registered the iPad in the past.

        • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 12:38

          Oh I see, worth a go

      • pegaxs on 15/09/2023 - 12:33
        +2

        But doubt it would get far without Proof of Purchase.

        If it was bought through the company, it would have proof of purchase somewhere. They didn't just pay cash for it off some random dude on a street corner in the dark one night.

        There will be a place they got it from and a rough date/time they purchased it and it will be on their bank statement. Take a copy of the bank statement to the shop they got it from and get a reprint of the receipt.

        When people start on with this "but we cant locate the receipt…" or "the previous owner cant be contacted at all" malarkey, it rings alarm bells to me that this is a stolen iPad and that you are the one that got arseholed from the company and dont want to return it.

        People can be found, especially ex-employees and receipts dont vanish into the ether as soon as something gets paid for.

        • [Deactivated] on 15/09/2023 - 12:43
          +2

          Chuckled @ 'malarkey'

        • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 12:49
          +1

          The managers would just get the people that wanted stuff to buy it and they'd be reimbursed for it. That's sorta how it works now, except we got company credit cards now.

        • 87percent on 15/09/2023 - 14:54

          Pm me the imei and I can check when it was bought (if what you said about it being from Telstra)

          • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 15:25

            @87percent: the mobile number was the ex employees number, otherwise TBTC would've told us the number was still active with us (as we recycle mobile numbers all the time here) - iPad wasn't bought from Telstra. Got no idea where it was bought from unfortunately.

  • screensaver on 15/09/2023 - 11:18

    The employee must have an email address and mailing address, try that

    • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 12:51

      Suppose we could try that - but after 90 days that stuff is usually deleted from the system

      • PeppaPigDidNthngWrng on 24/09/2023 - 12:41

        If it was connected to a deleted work email address, just re-create the account & address and reset the password so you have access to that email address. Then you can use it to reset everything else with the ipad.

        • BLAIL on 24/09/2023 - 13:31

          This only works if we can get the SMS code from the phone the ex employee has.

  • screensaver on 15/09/2023 - 11:19
    +2

    Run their name through facebook, google etc and then send a message via messenger

    • cauilfield on 15/09/2023 - 11:31
      +4

      what for? They dont necessary have to cooperate

      • screensaver on 15/09/2023 - 14:19
        +3

        If you dont ask you dont get

  • jugsy on 15/09/2023 - 11:31
    +1

    Working from rusty memory - I think you can bypass that with the ipad plugged in to a machine running Apple Configurator.

    • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 12:59

      What is Apple Configurator? I assume its a MDM.

      • No on 15/09/2023 - 13:42

        Apple Configurator is a app that only runs on Mac OS.

        I'd be surprised if it can help bypass activation lock. We use it to join devices to our MDM.

        • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 15:22

          would be much appreciated if you're able to test it

  • Jolakot on 15/09/2023 - 11:47
    +6

    The 5th gen iPad has an A9 chip, which is vulnerable to the checkm8 exploit: https://checkm8.info/remove-activation-lock-screen

    They charge $25 to use their tool, there are other cheaper/free options, but they require some tech skills to use and aren't nearly as reliable.

    So you can reset the iPad, then use checkm8 to bypass the activation screen, and it'll mostly work as expected. The device will still be locked to their icloud, but checkm8 tricks it into thinking that it has been activated.

    But you will have to use checkm8 every time you factory reset the iPad, and it will be permanently jailbroken too.

    Perfectly fine for personal use, better than a paperweight.

    • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 12:54

      Hmmm I see - worth doing if i got my boss to approve me of taking it home. But then again, I don't want it, got an iPad Mini 5.

      • Jolakot on 15/09/2023 - 21:00

        Don't have a nephew/neice/elderly relative who could make use of a free ipad?

  • JimmyF on 15/09/2023 - 11:58

    We don't even have proof of purchase

    Then you're screwed for any legal methods via apple….. Its a paper weight in their eyes.

    You could try some of the more darker web corners to bypass the lock if you really really need to.

    employee left 5 months ago

    I'm guessing not on good terms to the sound of it.

    • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 12:55
      +1

      Don't know if left on good terms or not, only interacted with them when they had issues with the CRM.

      • JimmyF on 15/09/2023 - 16:07

        Don't know if left on good terms or not

        Kinda reads like they didn't. Left 5 months ago, only just returned the tablet now, isn't contactable, and returned the device locked instead of removing their account. Fully well knowning it was a paper weight.

        • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 16:18
          +1

          We have another branch in Brisbane and the Branch Manager found the iPad in one of the drawers last week. I only know they worked here longer than I have.

          • JimmyF on 15/09/2023 - 18:13

            @BLAIL: Fair enough, well that bit of 'detail' changes a few things.

  • atj on 15/09/2023 - 12:10
    +4

    My Boss is content with throwing it away…

    Just in case it's literally headed for the trash, even locked these can be parted out so please consider putting it on eBay/Gumtree or recycling with Apple/etc. That or ~$40 will get you a display driver board for one of these if you're into that kind of thing.

    • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 13:00

      you mean sell on gumtree or eBay for Parts?

      • JimmyF on 15/09/2023 - 16:08

        Thats what they are saying. Someone will use it for parts, screen/case etc.

  • AustriaBargain on 15/09/2023 - 12:21
    +3

    Bring it to Apple for recycling. The on the clock hours to find this employee and get the iPad unlocked could cost more money than a preowned 5th gen iPad is even worth. It's been five months so you obviously don't need this specific iPad. Just buy a new one if you need one now.

    • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 13:01

      They recycle for free and we just drop it off at any Apple Store?

      • AustriaBargain on 15/09/2023 - 13:09
        +1

        Yup. You can drop it off at Officeworks if they are a e-waste collection point, but I suspect Apple will be more likely to make sure it actually is recycled. It's kind of one of their big PR things atm.

        • Protractor on 15/09/2023 - 14:50
          -1

          They make very dry cider

    • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 15:27
      +1

      Will try this and report back

      • djsweet on 15/09/2023 - 16:39
        -1

        Lol out of all the options, you elect for outright fraud.
        Damn, just throw it out, its not even your money. Who cares!

          • djsweet on 16/09/2023 - 13:40

            @meowsers: Idk, fabricated receipt indicating an event that never occurred with the intention to deceive for financial gain. Sounds like fraud to me

  • dogboy on 15/09/2023 - 12:29
    +1

    Godamn I hate the Apple ecosystem :(

    • NigelPearson on 16/09/2023 - 17:54

      Many Android devices are no different.

      I have a Galaxy Tab A6. It was possible to reset the Google account stuff any mostly use it, but the Samsung account is locked to a previous user. Trying to remove the account; which does backups to Samsung Cloud, and "Find my mobile" screen lock etc; isn't possible without that Samsung account password.

  • Drpepper666 on 15/09/2023 - 12:55

    youre out of luck, if youre a business look at mdm system in the future so you can reset it yourself

    • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 12:57

      Just researched what MDM is, which one do you prefer

  • Drakesy on 15/09/2023 - 13:50
    +1

    5th Gen Ipad is pretty much a paperweight anyway, i'd cut your losses.

    • BLAIL on 15/09/2023 - 15:30

      couldve been useful as it even got iOS 16

  • Davo1111 on 15/09/2023 - 16:23
    +1

    Our IT buys the iphone themselves, has the reciept, scans it etc. avoids this drama.

    Not sure about the MDM etc.

  • Joey2scoops on 16/09/2023 - 08:32

    You've already spent more than it's worth, just destroy it before you go down more rabbit holes.

  • Orgazmo on 16/09/2023 - 12:30

    Sell it for parts if all else fails

  • bigmudcake on 17/09/2023 - 19:45
    +3

    If your purchasing modern Apple hardware for a business that is owned by the business and not employees, then as a must you need to do the following.

    1. Setup an Apple Business Manager account.

    2. Setup a special Apple business account either through your closest Apple Store, or an authorised reseller for all future purchases of devices.

    3. Then inside your Apple Business Manager account add the special business id that was created by the Apple Store or reseller.

    4. Once all is setup and linked, purchase all equipment through this specially linked Apple Business account from the Apple Store or reseller that you are setup with. Equipment will then show up inside your Apple Business Manager and they are prevented from being "linked" to personal Apple ids.

    I have done this for Apple equipment I manage in the Company I work for. Bit of a pain to setup but saves thousands of dollars in expensive paper weights.

    Any previous Apple equipment that was purchased via a Apple Business account or reseller can be added to Apple Business Manager via Apple Configurator as touched on in previous posts here.

    As an added bonus you can also setup an MDM system and also link it inside Apple Business Manager, then your able to have a customized setup of equipment the moment they are unboxed and turned on by employees, i.e. you do not need to touch them first.

    Also there is no point trying to bypass activation lock since the former employee still has the power to remote lock and wipe this device from their icloud account at their leisure. Conversely any Apple equipment you have purchased using method above can be locked and/or wiped to the business in case any employees have light fingers.

    • BLAIL on 17/09/2023 - 20:57

      +1 So you're saying that any of the existing devices we have, we can put on this MDM without ever touching them and therefore can prevent activation locks? Have about 10-20 devices we definitely won't know the passwords for.

      • bigmudcake on 17/09/2023 - 21:43
        +1

        Unfortunately, the existing devices that are not known inside Apple Business Manager and purchased through consumer channels, will need to be touched (setup with Apple Configurator) in order to be added - make sure you remove personal icloud accounts first. After that though, all devices can then be managed through an MDM system such as Mosyle. All new devices purchased through your Apple business account are automatically enrolled before they are delivered to you. In theory you can get them delivered directly to your employees, for self setup.

        Ideally, if you setup all devices within Apple Business Manager, after a factory reset, they will activate via your Apple Business Manager account and connect to the MDM system you have setup within it, to do your customized setup.

        You need to have a chat to the Business unit within an Apple store if your managing 10+ devices. Also look at https://www.reddit.com/r/macsysadmin/ for help from other Admins (mainly talk about macs but does relate to iOS devices as well since same setup and management is involved.

        If you have 10 - 20 devices with no invoices/receipts, and dont know passwords then this needs to be setup as a matter of urgency to avoid future paper weights.

        If existing devices were previously purchased under a business account with Apple or authorized business reseller then they can be added without needing to touch them by adding the existing Business account number used to purchase them to Apple Business Manager

        Also, setting up Apple Business Manager is free, but takes time and paperwork to setup. Setting up Mosyle for MDM with 20 devices or under is also free. Using an MDM is quite powerful as is allows you to configure custom settings & restrictions, and preload apps when device is setup.

  • Love a bargain on 17/09/2023 - 22:48
    +1

    There are also charities (e.g. the reconnect project based in Sydney) that fix/ refurbish old devices and provide them to the underprivileged. They can use the parts even if the device is locked.

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