I've just been given a corporate iPad mini that previously was used by someone else in my team. It appears to have been factory reset - it is taking me through the welcome and setup process (language selection/wi-fi selection/etc.), but once I've connected it to the network, it says the iPad is currently linked to an existing Apple ID (it masks it with stars, but shows enough information that I can see who that is) and asks me to sign in with that Apple ID (which I don't have). The person in question is uncontactable. Is there any way I can forcibly reset it and remove its link to that Apple ID? If not, are there any options which make it more useful than a lightweight doorstop?
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If it still wants a previous ID, it hasn't been reset. – Tetsujin Dec 11 '14 at 14:49
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In short, no. It's a security feature to prevent thieves from selling the device on, as it is rendered useless if you don't have the person in question's apple ID and password.
Stan Hutcheon
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Only if it's been put in Lost Mode, otherwise you can simply reset it. – Tetsujin Dec 11 '14 at 14:53
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@Tetsuijin, how would I reset it? I am seeing the welcome/setup process screen, there appears to be no option to do that. If I don't connect it to Wifi or iTunes, it refuses to proceed; when I do, it asks for the Apple ID. – Andrew Ferrier Dec 11 '14 at 14:54
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You can't 'simply' reset it. It defeats the whole point of asking for a password. They wouldn't ask for one if not. – Stan Hutcheon Dec 11 '14 at 14:57
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@AndrewFerrier "it asks for the Apple ID" - do you mean it is telling you an appleid and askign for the password, or does it just want an appleid? If its the second, go to appleid.apple.com and make a new one. – Tyson Dec 11 '14 at 15:00
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@StanHutcheon, understood, I was trying to understand what Tetsujin was referring to. – Andrew Ferrier Dec 11 '14 at 15:02
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It wasn't clear initially at what point it was requesting the ID - if it was at the App Store etc, then it hadn't been reset but was still a possibility. If you can't get in at all, it's now a brick. – Tetsujin Dec 11 '14 at 15:04
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Quickest way to discover if it's possible to reset is to try it…
If you can't get that far, it's a brick.
Tetsujin
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I can't get that far. I'm in the welcome/setup process screens. – Andrew Ferrier Dec 11 '14 at 15:02
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This doesn't bypass activation lock. See the linked question and answer... – bmike Dec 11 '14 at 15:03
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then it's a brick. Apple themselves can clear it, if you can prove ownership; there's no other way. Give it back to IT & let them deal with it. – Tetsujin Dec 11 '14 at 15:05