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barterphuket
User level: Level 1 (0 points)

iPhone 4 devices keep asking for previous owner's iCloud password

I have 2 iPhone 4 devices that show up in iCloud as my devices under my login email, however the devices themselves keep asking for the password for the previous owners login email. The previous owner (ex-husband) has already provided me with the password his login email, but it does not work. It does not say it is incorrect, it just keeps asking for it.

Can I change the login email to my email on the phone anywhere so I can use my password? Both phones are active and I can access everything, I just cannot do setting changes, like upload photos to iCloud without this password working.

I only want to do this to upload the photos to iCloud before factory resetting the devices.

Posted on Sep 27, 2026 3:22 AM

3 replies

Servant of Cats
User level: Level 9 (55,707 points)

Sep 27, 2026 4:04 AM in response to barterphuket

There are threads on these forums suggesting that it might no longer be possible to activate phones as obsolete as the iPhone 4, at all. Perhaps your account / password issues are related to this in some way.


Even if you were not running into account / password issues, the iPhone 4 is too old and obsolete for what you want to do. The iPhone 4 (GSM) and iPhone 4 (CDMA) are forever limited to iOS 7.*, while the iPhone 4s is forever limited to iOS 9.*. iCloud Photos and iCloud Backup both now require a minimum of iOS 12. I don't think you're going to be uploading any pictures wirelessly to iCloud.


System requirements for iCloud - Apple Support


If you are trying to get photos off of these phones, your best bet is to hook the phones up to a Mac or Windows PC (using a 30-pin-dock connector to USB cable; daisy-chain with a USB-C to USB adapter if necessary), and import photos over the cabled connection.


Transfer photos from your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Limnos
User level: Level 10 (462,771 points)

Sep 28, 2026 10:37 AM in response to barterphuket

barterphuket wrote:
Any ideas on the password / account issue?


You can contact Apple about that but my first thought is that the iPhone 4 simply no longer can even speak to Apple's sign-in system. Read the article provided about iCloud system requirements.


I would focus on seeing if you can transfer the photos to a computer without needing the password. If you can then wipe the devices and recycle them. From the very bottom of Apple Trade In - Apple :

"Does Apple offer recycling?

Yes. Apple Trade In lets you recycle any Apple device (including devices from Apple-owned brands) at any Apple Store and on Apple for free. That includes your batteries and old electronic products as well as free, on-demand packaging recycling for our commercial, education, and institutional customers. When we receive your device, it will be thoroughly inspected to determine if components can be recycled or reused. Whether recycled or reused, all activities relating to the processing of your device will be managed in an environmentally responsible way."





barterphuket Author
User level: Level 1 (0 points)

Sep 27, 2026 10:33 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Thank you for your help, I will try connecting with my PC for transferring the photos.

Any ideas on the password / account issue?

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256365877