Bought an iPhone but it's still in seller name

[Skyedriver]

And now I can't contact them
Bought an iPhone 7, it arrived yesterday, but required a pass code. Hadn't got that so did a full factory reset. I can now get in to the phone but it seems it's still tied to his account.
Trying to make contact but so far he hasn't responded. Is there a way of clearing this or just keep calling him until he answers?
Thanks

[Hashtaggggg]

The phone is little more than a brick without the iCloud account being removed.

Perhaps he did not own the phone and conned you?

[Skyedriver]

It's his email on the phone that is linked to the icloud but I don't know his password or pass code.

[anonymous-user]

Skyedriver said:

It's his email on the phone that is linked to the icloud but I don't know his password or pass code.

As said, you’re stuffed unless the phone can be logged out of iCloud and a new iCloud account authorised.

[Skyedriver]

Seller has now come back with the info, thanks for help everyone.
As an aside, do you need a SIM card in before you download free Apps like WhatsApp?

[The_Jackal]

Always stumps me why someone would sell a phone without factory resetting it first.
Was this phone really cheap by any chance?
Might be worth checking if the IMEI number is on a stolen list.

[alorotom]

The_Jackal said:

Always stumps me why someone would sell a phone without factory resetting it first.
Was this phone really cheap by any chance?
Might be worth checking if the IMEI number is on a stolen list.

You can factory rest an iPhone without removing iCloud accounts. This is done separately.

If it is UK black listed it won't connect to any UK provider sim card network

If the OP connects it to a WiFi network they'll be able to get whatever apps they want without a simcard

[anonymous-user]

alorotom said:

The_Jackal said:

Always stumps me why someone would sell a phone without factory resetting it first.
Was this phone really cheap by any chance?
Might be worth checking if the IMEI number is on a stolen list.

You can factory rest an iPhone without removing iCloud accounts. This is done separately.

If it is UK black listed it won't connect to any UK provider sim card network

If the OP connects it to a WiFi network they'll be able to get whatever apps they want without a simcard

Correct regarding reset. You need to manually de-authorise iTunes and remove the device from iCloud/AppleID before doing the reset as that will
not happen as part of a reset.

[AJB88]

alorotom said:

You can factory rest an iPhone without removing iCloud accounts. This is done separately.

Exactly the same as Android these days, you have to remove your Google account first before factory resetting or else locks it.

[Back to the top]

Having sent an iPhone to both my daughters at uni , I’ve reset the phone but left iCloud active - that way if the phone is taken in transit or in halls on arrival it’s useless - it’s a handy feature to have access to really - whether by design or accident

[Skyedriver]

Can a phone be linked to two icloud accounts at the same time?

[Skyedriver]

BenjiS said:

Skyedriver said:

Can a phone be linked to two icloud accounts at the same time?

No.

Thanks, having accessed the phone with the seller details (after his mother let me know he was not at home) we are good to go. New iCloud account, verified, and a couple of apps added.
Just need my wifes' SIM card and it's up and running.

Thanks to all who contributed

[Sheepshanks]

I know the OP is sorted now, but does iPhone unlink itself when someone uses their account to activate a new phone?

We just passed our old iPhones to our kids and I don’t recall any great palaver - I thought we just reset them and then they transferred everything by leaving the phones next to their new phones, same as we did. Maybe that process unlinks the old phone?

[alorotom]

I don't believe the linking of a new device does trigger the unlink of and old one. Pretty sure it has to be done manually.

[Dracoro]

garyhun said:

Correct regarding reset. You need to manually de-authorise iTunes and remove the device from iCloud/AppleID before doing the reset as that will
not happen as part of a reset.

Is pretty survey that when I factory reset an iPhone I was sending off for replacement, it asked me to sign out of iCloud as part of the reset process.you can opt not to of course.

[AJB88]

From about 7 or 8 I think.

[Beetnik]

AJB88 said:

Exactly the same as Android these days, you have to remove your Google account first before factory resetting or else locks it.

Tosh

[Durzel]

Having recently sold a MBP I imagine it is possibly and probably even common that people just factory reset the phone, it boots to the standard “Welcome to IPhone” part and they think it’s all done, not knowing that actually trying to set it up will ask about the iCloud details if it’s still linked.

Factory reset doesn’t remove iCloud, but casual phone owners might not know that.

I had the same problem with a 7 I bought off Facebook for my niece. Resolved in exactly the same way.

[AJB88]

Beetnik said:

Tosh

Android factory reset protection.

[Skyedriver]

Durzel said:

Having recently sold a MBP I imagine it is possibly and probably even common that people just factory reset the phone, it boots to the standard “Welcome to IPhone” part and they think it’s all done, not knowing that actually trying to set it up will ask about the iCloud details if it’s still linked.

Factory reset doesn’t remove iCloud, but casual phone owners might not know that.

I had the same problem with a 7 I bought off Facebook for my niece. Resolved in exactly the same way.

Exactly this.
Did a factory up date and reset which allowed us to pass the initial 6 digit pass code page but couldn't get past the next bit where it required the password to go with the sellers iD (email).
Later that day we received the correct passcode so cleared that and re registered it to a brand new icloud ID
So unless the original icloud account is still there as well......
So having re registered it (and then verified it) we are up and running, have a couple of apps added and wifes sim card installed and the phone is working.

Why had he not re set it to factory and taken his account off? He had but I then asked about Battery Health and he re registered it again...!