Bought an iPod Touch, Seller is Still Signed In.
July 28, 2016 12:25 PM Subscribe
I bought an iPod Touch from a friend, but it was signed into his icloud account, and "find my ipod" was also engaged. The seller apologized, and told me he just signed off the device remotely. But when I try to erase the device, I'm still asked for its Apple password. What now? It's running the current iOs.
I'm pretty sure he's not scamming me (i.e. didn't sell me a stolen iPod), as he's a distinguished corporate lawyer.
I'm pretty sure he's not scamming me (i.e. didn't sell me a stolen iPod), as he's a distinguished corporate lawyer.
Are you friends to the level where you can chat on the phone while he changes his password to something you can share, then you type it in to log out of the device, then once you're done he changes it back/to something secret? Not something that will work with strangers, but if he trusts you with his info for 30 seconds it might just be the easiest thing.
posted by brainmouse at 12:29 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by brainmouse at 12:29 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Have him sign into iCloud.com. Go to Settings. There will be a list of "My Devices". Click on the item in question. You'll see a prompt, "Lost, sold or gave away this device?" Follow the instructions.
He will need to do this, as it's registered to him, but he can do it from his own location.
posted by blob at 12:29 PM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]
He will need to do this, as it's registered to him, but he can do it from his own location.
posted by blob at 12:29 PM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]
Response by poster: brainmouse,
He doesn't want to share the password, and I'd honestly feel uncomfortable with it, even if he changed it right back. If he were simultaneously hacked, or otherwise went wrong, I could appear culpable, and I mentioned he's a lawyer.
blob,
I'll try. He's not super responsive, would be better to do on my end, but Apple is quite right to make it difficult for people to erase and repurpose other people's devices, obviously.
posted by Quisp Lover at 12:50 PM on July 28, 2016
He doesn't want to share the password, and I'd honestly feel uncomfortable with it, even if he changed it right back. If he were simultaneously hacked, or otherwise went wrong, I could appear culpable, and I mentioned he's a lawyer.
blob,
I'll try. He's not super responsive, would be better to do on my end, but Apple is quite right to make it difficult for people to erase and repurpose other people's devices, obviously.
posted by Quisp Lover at 12:50 PM on July 28, 2016
Response by poster: Blob, his response:
"The device isn't there. We removed it." He showed me a screenshot of his "my devices page", and it doesn't appear.
I've powered down the ipad and rebooted, then gone to settings to erase all content/settings, and am still prompted for password.
posted by Quisp Lover at 2:07 PM on July 28, 2016
"The device isn't there. We removed it." He showed me a screenshot of his "my devices page", and it doesn't appear.
I've powered down the ipad and rebooted, then gone to settings to erase all content/settings, and am still prompted for password.
posted by Quisp Lover at 2:07 PM on July 28, 2016
What iOS version is it? Also, are you going to "General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings"?
I don't believe iPods have any sort of activation lock. Even if they did, you'd have a problem setting up the phone after a reset, not before.
If you are doing "Erase all Content and Settings", contact Apple Care. They might have you come into an Apple Store, but perhaps they can get things going over the phone/chat.
posted by sideshow at 2:19 PM on July 28, 2016
I don't believe iPods have any sort of activation lock. Even if they did, you'd have a problem setting up the phone after a reset, not before.
If you are doing "Erase all Content and Settings", contact Apple Care. They might have you come into an Apple Store, but perhaps they can get things going over the phone/chat.
posted by sideshow at 2:19 PM on July 28, 2016
Response by poster: Current iOs
Yes, General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings
Apple Genius seems the way to go, agreed.
posted by Quisp Lover at 2:25 PM on July 28, 2016
Yes, General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings
Apple Genius seems the way to go, agreed.
posted by Quisp Lover at 2:25 PM on July 28, 2016
Have you got access to a computer with itunes? Put the phone into device firmware upgrade mode.
Steps to get to DFU mode (from here):
Entering DFU Mode on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
1-Plug your device into your computer with a USB cable.
2-Turn off the device.
3-Hold the Power button for 3 seconds.
4-Hold the Home and Power buttons for 10 seconds.
5-Release the Power button but keep holding the Home button.
6-After about 15 seconds you will be alerted by iTunes saying that it has detected a device in Recovery Mode.
Make sure the device screen is blank and no logos are present
Itunes will prompt you to update the device. See instructions from Apple here (slightly different instructions on button pressing). Either way, don't let go when you see the Apple logo--you have to wait longer until you see the recovery mode screen.
posted by neda at 3:18 PM on July 29, 2016
Steps to get to DFU mode (from here):
Entering DFU Mode on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
1-Plug your device into your computer with a USB cable.
2-Turn off the device.
3-Hold the Power button for 3 seconds.
4-Hold the Home and Power buttons for 10 seconds.
5-Release the Power button but keep holding the Home button.
6-After about 15 seconds you will be alerted by iTunes saying that it has detected a device in Recovery Mode.
Make sure the device screen is blank and no logos are present
Itunes will prompt you to update the device. See instructions from Apple here (slightly different instructions on button pressing). Either way, don't let go when you see the Apple logo--you have to wait longer until you see the recovery mode screen.
posted by neda at 3:18 PM on July 29, 2016
Response by poster: Nope. After updating iPod according to these instructions, I got:
"Activate iPod
This iPod is linked to an Apple ID. Enter the Apple ID and password that were used to set up this iPod."
posted by Quisp Lover at 10:48 PM on July 30, 2016
"Activate iPod
This iPod is linked to an Apple ID. Enter the Apple ID and password that were used to set up this iPod."
posted by Quisp Lover at 10:48 PM on July 30, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Quisp Lover at 12:26 PM on July 28, 2016