iPhone 14 Pro Activation Locked after update/reset, seeking removal assistance

Apple does not reply on this web site. This is a customer to customer support service. That said, Apple has well-defined requirements for unlocking a device and I have never seen anybody post about them making an exception. Refer to How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support There are only two ways to remove a lock:

#1 If you have the necessary information, you or the signed in owner can do this yourself by simply signing in with the owner account and password information and doing as instructed in the above article. If you use this method and this is a new device to you, follow unlocking by doing as outlined in What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support or What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support . If you do not have the required information then you can try method 2 —>

#2 Apple can completely reset a device if a person can provide sufficient evidence of valid ownership. Read the requirements and steps for an Activation Lock support request at: https://al-support.apple.com/#/additional-support and links at the bottom right for the type of service requested. Apple says they “may” require "proof of purchase documentation” and that you need “proof of ownership documentation”, but does not detail what currently constitutes proof other than it “must include the product serial number, IMEI or MEID.” User reports on this community and chat with Apple indicate that typically Apple will absolutely require, and ONLY accept, an original receipt issued by Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller. Presumably this is the only kind Apple can authenticate against fraud since Apple is not involved in third party sales. Apple recommends that you "Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device" --> Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device - Apple Support

Note that the device cannot have Lost Mode set on it or is a managed device. If your device has been taken over by you having entered a scammer’s Account then the scammer has likely set Lost Mode and the device is lost to you.

If anybody tells you that you have to be the “original” owner, they are WRONG. In the case of removing the lock with the correct information, it can be anybody who knows the currently signed in account information. In the case of asking Apple to unlock it, as long as you have the original Apple receipt (which may well not have any personally identifying information on it) you are okay. Apple confirmed this in a conversation.

If Apple resets the device this will give you access to the device but won't restore access to the account used to lock it. There is nothing that can be done to expedite an Activation Lock request.

According to what you are telling us,

• you bought a "secondhand refurbished phone"
• you don't know the Apple Account credentials for the owner to whom the phone is Activation Locked
• you don't have the original sales receipt from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller (and the secondhand seller "was unable to provide" [even] "an official retail tax invoice" for a secondhand sale.

Under these conditions, Apple will not remove the Activation Lock.

Return the phone to your "personal business contact named Mateen" and get your "₹58,000" back – if you can. Or, if "Mateen" knows the original owner, and the original owner is willing to release the Activation Lock, ask Mateen to have the original owner do that. Otherwise the Activation Lock will continue to do its job, and the phone will remain useless to you.

See: The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying a Used iPad/iPhone – Apple Community

While the salient points have already been made …

… additionally, your phone clearly was NOT properly “refurbished.”

Otherwise, you would not be in this situation.

You might want to re-assess dealing with this particular establishment going forward.

Thank you for the advice. To clarify, I have solid proof of my authentic ownership. I have the full video recording of myself unboxing this brand-new, sealed device, along with the complete WhatsApp chat logs covering the ₹58,000 transaction with the wholesale dealer. I have now opened my official support channels and I am submitting these files directly to Apple's official verification team for a review of my clean IMEI record."

Thank you for the advice. To clarify, I have solid proof of my authentic ownership. I have the full video recording of myself unboxing this brand-new, sealed device, along with the complete WhatsApp chat logs covering the ₹58,000 transaction with the wholesale dealer. I have now opened my official support channels and I am submitting these files directly to Apple's official verification team for a review of my clean IMEI record."

Thank you for the advice. To clarify, I have solid proof of my authentic ownership. I have the full video recording of myself unboxing this brand-new, sealed device, along with the complete WhatsApp chat logs covering the ₹58,000 transaction with the wholesale dealer. I have now opened my official support channels and I am submitting these files directly to Apple's official verification team for a review of my clean IMEI record."

"I am insisting on this because I know I am not wrong. I paid a full price of ₹58,000 for this device in good faith, and I am the legitimate, rightful owner. I have absolutely nothing to hide. I understand the automated system has limitations regarding official store receipts, but as a genuine customer who unboxed the sealed device themselves and has concrete video evidence, I deserve a channel to present my case. I am confident in my clean record and am fully prepared to speak with an official representative to clear this up."

💡

Good luck with that then. From what others in similar situations have reported with devices from non-Apple sources, Apple has an extremely rigid set of criteria for unlocking a device. Apple will be the one to decide if you have met those.

I have no doubt that you purchased this in good faith.

But you stated yourself in your opening post that it was a “secondhand refurbished phone” …

… certainly not the ”brand-new, sealed device” as you have subsequently posted.

After all, Apple ceased production of that particular model three years ago.

You paid a whole lot of money to someone you trusted; and they betrayed that trust.

Absolutely best of luck in your coming endeavors w/ Apple.

Unfortunately, I suspect that you’re probably going to end up “out” your 58k INR and “without” a functional phone.

Thank you for the reality check. I fully understand that Apple’s criteria are extremely rigid, especially for devices from non-Apple sources. However, since I have already submitted my official request through the proper portal along with my unboxing video and chat history, I will wait for their formal decision. I appreciate your guidance throughout this discussion."

appreciate your insight and analysis. To clear up the confusion, the device was sold to me by the reseller as a refurbished unit, but it was physically delivered in a sealed box which I unboxed myself. I am fully aware that the automated criteria are rigid and the chances are low without an authorized store bill. Since I have already submitted my full transaction history, unboxing proof, and clean IMEI details directly to the official Apple support portal, I will let them make the final decision. Thank you for your time and feedback."

aqeebnagori wrote:

Thank you for the advice. To clarify, I have solid proof of my authentic ownership. I have the full video recording of myself unboxing this brand-new, sealed device

You are contradicting yourself. Earlier you told us "I purchased this refurbished device in good faith" and that "it was an informal transaction for a secondhand refurbished phone" (emphasis mine).

A refurbished phone is, by definition, not a brand-new device. Even Apple does not claim that their own Certified Refurbished phones are new devices.