How to Fix Apple ID Cannot Be Used to Unlock This iPhone

It is the nightmare scenario for any iPhone buyer: You purchase a second-hand device, turn it on, and are immediately greeted by a white screen demanding a password you don’t have. Or perhaps you’ve reset your own old device, only to see the error message: "The Apple ID cannot be used to unlock this iPhone."

In this guide, we have tested and compiled the top 4 methods to fix this error. We will cover everything from the official free methodsto an instant professional tool.

Why "This Apple ID Cannot Be Used to Unlock This iPhone" Appears?

Before fixing it, it helps to understand why Apple is blocking you. This error is not a bug; it is a feature. When you see "The Apple ID cannot be used to unlock this iPhone," it means the device is still linked to an iCloud Activation Lock from a previous session. This happens because:

• 1. Find My iPhone was not turned off before the device was factory reset.
• 2. You are entering the wrong Apple ID. The phone expects the original email used to set it up, not your new one.
• 3. The device was reported lost. If the previous owner marked it as lost in iCloud, the security is even tighter.

Solution 1. Recover Your Apple ID

If you can't remember the correct Apple ID and password, you can try to recover your Apple ID from the Apple ID website. Once you get your Apple ID back, you can go to unlock the Activation lock on your iPhone. You can follow the steps below to recover your Apple ID.

Step 1. Go to the official website: iforgot.apple.com.

Step 2. Enter the Apple ID email address associated with the locked device.

Step 3. Follow the verification prompts. You may need to confirm your phone number or answer security questions.

Step 4. Once you have reset the password, enter the new credentials on your iPhone to bypass the Activation Lock screen.

Solution 2. Use TunesKit Activation Unlocker to Remove Activation Lock

To fix Apple ID cannot be used to unlock this iPhone, using an iCloud removal tool is the optimal choice if you don't have the Apple ID and the passcode. With the help of TunesKit Activation Unlocker, removing Apple ID from iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch can be very easy. It is a dedicated iCloud removal tool that can help you get into your iPhone without entering any passcode while encountering the iCloud Activation lock.

Besides, this powerful tool also works when you can't remember the Apple ID passcode to activate your iPhone, or bypass the Activation lock in any conditions with simple clicks. With the concise and user-friendly interface, though a novice can fix Apple ID cannot be used to unlock this iPhone without any expert skills.

Now, let's see how to fix this iCloud activation problem by using TunesKit Activation Unlocker.

Step 1Connect iPhone to Computer

Download and install TunesKit Activation Unlocker on your computer. Then, connect your iPhone to the computer. Open the software and choose the Remove iCloud Activation Lock feature, and then click on the Start button. Please read the risk tip and click on the Agree button if you agree.

Step 2Jailbreak Your iPhone

TunesKit iPhone Unlocker will start to download a jailbreak tool to jailbreak your iOS device. Then, you can follow the instructions below to jailbreak your iOS device.

Step 3Fix Apple ID Cannot Be Used to Unlock This iPhone

When your iPhone is jailbroken, restart your computer and open TunesKit iPhone Unlocker. Then, click on the Start to Remove button to remove the Activation lock on your iPhone. When the Activation lock is removed, you will be able to access your iPhone without any hassle.

Solution 3. Remove iPhone from iCloud Account

If you can contact the previous owner of the Apple ID, you can ask him to remove this iPhone from the iCloud account, and then you will be not able to see this Activation lock when you try to activate the iPhone. You can follow the detailed guide below to make it.

Step 1. Open a browser and go to the iCloud website. Log into the Apple ID.

Step 2. Click on the Find My iPhone feature.

Step 3. Hit on the All Devices option and select the device that is restricted by Activation lock.

Step 4. Hit on the Remove from Account button to fix the Apple ID account cannot be used to unlock this iPhone.

Solution 4. The DNS Bypass Trick

This is an old-school "hack" that changes the Wi-Fi settings to trick the iPhone into thinking it's connecting to a different server. It does not fully unlock the phone, but it may let you browse the internet or watch YouTube.

Step 1. On the "Hello" setup screen, press the Home button (or verify settings) to open Wi-Fi settings.

Step 2. Tap the small "i" icon next to your Wi-Fi network.

Step 3. Tap Configure DNS and switch it to Manual.

Step 4. Delete existing servers and add one of these based on your location:

• USA: 104.154.51.7
• Europe: 104.155.28.90
• Asia: 104.155.220.58

Step 5. Back out and try to connect. You may see a "Captive Portal" screen instead of the Activation Lock.

FAQs about "This Apple ID Cannot Be Used to Unlock This iPhone"

Conclusion

If you keep encountering the Apple ID cannot be used to unlock this iPhone screen while activating your iPhone, you should consider using the above 4 solutions to remove the Activation lock and activate your iPhone. If you can't recover your Apple ID passcode or contact the previous owner, you can try using TunesKit Activation Unlocker, which is a powerful iOS unlocking tool that can help you remove Activation lock from your iOS device with simple clicks.