u/LordZzac

Hey everyone, hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I bought a used iPhone about two years ago and everything worked fine — I've been using it daily with my own Apple ID and iCloud. Today I updated to the latest iOS version and the phone suddenly locked with an Activation Lock screen. I had no idea, but it turns out the phone must have been Activation Lock bypassed by whoever sold it to me, and the iOS update caused it to revert back to being locked to the original owner's account. I have no proof of purchase (bought secondhand, cash, from someone in another city, no receipt), no contact info for the seller, and it's been two years so there's no realistic way to track them down. I do know my own Apple ID/iCloud email that I was using on the phone, but when I try to log in on my laptop, it asks for the phone number linked to the account — I enter it correctly, but it's esim so it can't be used on another device. I don't currently have another device to test the SIM in. Has anyone been through this exact situation — secondhand phone, bypassed lock reactivated by an update, no purchase proof? Did Apple Support/Account Recovery/Genius Bar actually help you get back in, and what did they ask for? Trying to figure out if I have any real options here or if this phone (and my data on it) is just gone. Any advice appreciated.

What should i do ?

Hey everyone, hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I bought a used iPhone about two years ago and everything worked fine — I've been using it daily with my own Apple ID and iCloud. Today I updated to the latest iOS version and the phone suddenly locked with an Activation Lock screen. I had no idea, but it turns out the phone must have been Activation Lock bypassed by whoever sold it to me, and the iOS update caused it to revert back to being locked to the original owner's account.

Location: Morocco

I have no proof of purchase (bought secondhand, cash, from someone in another city, no receipt), no contact info for the seller, and it's been two years so there's no realistic way to track them down. I do know my own Apple ID/iCloud email that I was using on the phone, but when I try to log in on my laptop, it asks for the phone number linked to the account — I enter it correctly, but it's esim so it can't be used on another device. I don't currently have another device to test the SIM in. Has anyone been through this exact situation — secondhand phone, bypassed lock reactivated by an update, no purchase proof? Did Apple Support/Account Recovery/Genius Bar actually help you get back in, and what did they ask for? Trying to figure out if I have any real options here or if this phone (and my data on it) is just gone. Any advice appreciated.

Location: Morocco

Hey everyone, hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I bought a used iPhone about two years ago and everything worked fine — I've been using it daily with my own Apple ID and iCloud. Today I updated to the latest iOS version and the phone suddenly locked with an Activation Lock screen. I had no idea, but it turns out the phone must have been Activation Lock bypassed by whoever sold it to me, and the iOS update caused it to revert back to being locked to the original owner's account. I have no proof of purchase (bought secondhand, cash, from someone in another city, no receipt), no contact info for the seller, and it's been two years so there's no realistic way to track them down. I do know my own Apple ID/iCloud email that I was using on the phone, but when I try to log in on my laptop, it asks for the phone number linked to the account — I enter it correctly, but it's esim so it can't be used on another device. I don't currently have another device to test the SIM in. Has anyone been through this exact situation — secondhand phone, bypassed lock reactivated by an update, no purchase proof? Did Apple Support/Account Recovery/Genius Bar actually help you get back in, and what did they ask for? Trying to figure out if I have any real options here or if this phone (and my data on it) is just gone. Any advice appreciated.