How do I unlock an iPhone that says Locked to Owner?
Answer
Locked to Owner means Activation Lock is on. You must sign in with the Apple Account that was used to set up the phone. If that password is forgotten, use Apple’s official account recovery; a factory erase alone will not remove the lock.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Stop if a website or popup asks you to pay to unlock the iPhone or install unknown software—those are common scams.
- Erasing the iPhone does not remove Activation Lock; you still need the original Apple Account.
Follow these steps
Read the Activation Lock screen carefully
On the Locked to Owner screen, note any Apple Account email that is partially shown and any buttons such as Unlock or Forgot Password. Use that exact account—not a different iCloud address unless it is the setup account.
You should see: You know which Apple Account the phone is asking for.
Try the Apple Account used at setup
Enter the email and password for the Apple Account that was used when the phone was first set up (often the one used for iCloud, App Store, or Find My). Tap Unlock if prompted.
You should see: The phone unlocks and continues to the home screen or setup, or you get a clear incorrect-password message.
Reset the Apple Account password officially
If the password is forgotten, open a browser on another device and go to iforgot.apple.com. Follow Apple’s recovery steps for that account email. Wait if Apple says recovery will take extra time.
You should see: Apple lets you reset the password or starts a waiting period for account recovery.
Sign in again after recovery
After the password is reset, return to the iPhone Activation Lock screen and sign in with the updated password. Avoid third-party "unlock" sites that ask for payment.
You should see: Activation Lock clears and the iPhone can be used or set up normally.
If you bought a used phone and cannot unlock it
Contact the seller and ask them to remove the device from their Apple Account (Find My / Devices list) or provide the correct Apple Account credentials. Without that, the lock cannot be removed by erase alone.
You should see: The previous owner removes the device, or you return the phone if they cannot.
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Extra tips
What to look for: A message such as "iPhone is locked to owner" or "Enter the Apple Account and password that were used during setup," plus the Apple Account email shown on the lock screen if one appears.
Before you change anything: Write down the Apple Account email shown on the Activation Lock screen if it is displayed. Confirm you are on the iPhone’s built-in unlock screen or Apple’s official iforgot.apple.com page—not a third-party unlock site. If this is not your phone, stop; only the previous owner’s Apple Account can remove Activation Lock. Never share your Apple Account password or verification codes with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.