7 Ways to Remove the “iPhone Locked to Owner” screen

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When you turn on a device running iOS or iPadOS 15 or a later version that is locked by Activation Lock, the “iPhone Locked to Owner” screen will appear. Activation Lock, a component of Apple’s Find My [device], is responsible for this lock. It guarantees the security of the device’s information and all its data, preventing unauthorized reactivation by someone who has erased the device.

In the following we will walk you through various methods of removing the “iPhone Locked to Owner” screen.

 

1. Enter Screen Passcode

To bypass the iPhone locked to owner screen using this method, you’ll need the screen passcode. If you don’t have it, reach out to the seller or previous owner to obtain these details. With their passcode, you can remove the activation lock by following these steps:

  1. On the activation screen, tap on “Unlock with Passcode.”
  2. Enter the screen passcode previously used on your device.
  3. You should successfully access your iPhone.

 

2. Contact the Owner

To address the “iPhone Locked to Owner” problem on a second-hand device, reaching out to the previous owner is often the most effective solution. This approach is particularly useful if you bought the used iPhone from someone you know, have their contact information, or can connect through social media. Simply explain the situation to the owner and kindly request either the Apple ID and password or remote removal of the iPhone Locked to Owner screen.

 

3. Use iCloud With Apple ID

If you’re unable to contact the previous owner directly or they decline to provide their iCloud account details, you can ask them to take action remotely by signing into their iCloud account. The former owner simply needs to erase your iPhone and remove it from their account. Once this is done, the activation lock will be lifted, allowing you to set up your iPhone with a new Apple ID. Here’s what the previous owner should do:

  1. Sign in to iCloud.com and click on “Find My iPhone.”
  2. Locate the device and select “Remove from Account.”
  3. Confirm by clicking “Remove.”
  4. After a moment, you can proceed to set up the iPhone as a new device.

 

4. DNS bypass

To unlock your iPhone using the DNS bypass method, particularly applicable to older iOS versions, follow these steps to bypass the activation lock without the previous owner’s involvement:

  1. Set up your iPhone as a new device and navigate to the WiFi settings page.
  2. Connect to a WiFi network and access its settings.
  3. On the subsequent screen, tap on the option to configure DNS and select “Manual.”
  4. Enter one of the following DNS values:
    • 104.154.51.7
    • 78.109.17.60
  5. Continuously click “Next” and “Back” until your device establishes a connection with the iCloud DNS Bypass server, ultimately unlocking your iPhone.

 

5. Medical ID

If the Lost Mode hasn’t been activated on the iPhone, you can check if the user has set up a medical ID that may contain useful contact information. Follow these steps:

  1. Attempt to swipe up on the Locked Screen to reveal the Passcode.
  2. Tap on “Emergency” located near the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  3. Tap on “Medical ID” near the bottom-left corner of the screen.

If the user has set up medical details, you may access helpful information such as medications, birthday, blood group, genotype, emergency contacts, and more. This information can assist you in reaching out to the owner or someone close to them.

 

6. Use third-party Software

There are different third-party software programs you can use to unlock your iPhone and remove the “iPhone Locked to Owner” message:

  • iSumsoft iLock Refixer
  • UnlockGo
  • AnyUnlock
  • Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock (iOS)

 

7. Reach out to Apple Support

If you find yourself still unable to bypass the iPhone Locked to Owner screen after attempting the previous methods, your final option is to reach out to Apple Support for assistance. This avenue is available if you possess proof of purchase for your iPhone. Begin by submitting an Activation Lock support request on the Apple Support website, including details such as the serial number, IMEI number, or MEID number of your device, along with the proof of purchase. Following this, await verification from an Apple representative, who will then proceed to remove the Activation Lock from your iPhone.