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How to Bypass iCloud Activation Lock on iPhone/iPad

April 30, 2026Louisa White

The iCloud activation lock on iOS can protect private information in case your iPhone is lost or stolen. Although the activation lock greatly improves the security of iPhone/iPad, there is still a major drawback. For those who buy a second – hand iPhone or iPad on eBay or from your friends without having iCloud Activation unlocked, it can be really tricky to bypass iCloud Activation.

So how can you bypass iCloud Activation on iPhone? If you are looking for the quickest way to remove iCloud lock, the following steps for iCloud bypass will be of great help.

What is Activation Lock?

Activation Lock is a feature that was created by Apple to stop any other person from accessing your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch should it be lost or stolen. The activation lock is enabled immediately after you activate Find My on your device.

How does it work?

Once the activation lock has been activated, your Apple ID and password will be needed in order to:

Turn off “Find My” on the gadget.
Erase the gadget.
Activate the gadget again after erasing it.

This activation lock is connected to Apple's activation servers. If someone were to restore the gadget to factory settings, it would still require the credentials of the original owner to activate it again.

Method 1. Bypass iCloud Activation with Apple ID

The simplest way to remove iCloud activation lock is to enter the Apple ID and password directly on the device during the setup process. If you’ve forgotten your password, you can reset it at iforgot.apple.com.

Method 2. Remove iCloud Activation Free with iCloud

If you bought the device from someone else and they are not present, they can still delete iCloud activation lock remotely.

Step 1.

Enter the official website of iCloud and sign in with the Apple ID.

Step 2.

Select the Find iPhone option and check All Devices.

Step 3.

Then pick the device you want to bypass the iCloud activation lock and click Erase iPhone and Remove from Account.

Step 4.

Restart or set up the device. Activation Lock should be gone, and the phone will let you set a new Apple ID. If the phone still asks for the original Apple ID and password, the removal didn’t work, and you need to repeat the steps above.

Step 5.

When you enter the new Apple ID credentials, turn on Find My to reactivate Activation Lock with the updated Apple ID and password.

Remove iCloud Activation Lock with iCloud

Tip: If your Apple ID or password is not working, click here to solve it.

Method 3. Bypass iCloud Activation via Professional iPhone Unlocker [Most Effective]

Recommendation: Powerful Tool to Unlock iPhone and Remove Apple ID

Bypassing iCloud activation lock is convenient when you forget your Apple ID password and want to activate your iOS devices. While another quick way to let you not worry anymore is to remove the Apple ID from your iPhone. And Aiseesoft iKnockin - iPhone Unlocker can greatly help when you forget your iPhone passcode or Apple ID password. What's more, this software is designed with straightforward buttons and detailed built-in tutorials, enabling you to delete your Apple ID without the password quickly. In addition, you can also use this iOS-26-compatible unlocking tool to bypass Screen Time and remove MDM.

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Step 1.

Download and launch the Aiseesoft iKnockin - iPhone Unlocker on your computer. Select the Bypass iCloud Activation Lock option from the interface. Then, use a USB cord to connect your iPhone to your PC.

Step 2.

Your device information will be recognized and shown. Next, click Start Now to go on.

Step 3.

Follow the instructions to jailbreak your iPhone and click Next after the jailbreaking is done.

Step 4.

Then, you just need to wait for a while, and your device activation lock will be removed.

As you can see, Aiseesoft iKnockin - iPhone Unlocker is a powerful iCloud activation bypass tool. The whole process is very smooth and easy. Thus, many users choose this solution for iPhone Activation Lock bypass on all iPhones, including the latest iPhone 17 series.

Method 4. Disable Lock through Apple Support

Apple Support offers different ways to remove Activation Lock based on your situation:

• If you know your Apple ID and password, simply follow Apple’s official instructions to disable the lock.

• If you’ve forgotten your Apple ID password, use Apple’s account recovery process to reset it.

• If you have valid proof of purchase, you can request Activation Lock removal through Apple Support. Your documentation must include the device’s serial number, IMEI, or MEID, and the device must be erased before the request can be processed.

Method 5. Delete iCloud Activation Lock on iPhone/iPad using DNS

Get an iPhone that's on "Activate iPhone screen"; it needs iCloud activation bypass. You can follow the guide below to bypass iCloud Activation Lock most quickly.

Step 1.

Go to the Settings app and tap WLAN.

Step 2.

From your present WLAN, click the "i" symbol to continue.

Step 3.

In the Wi-Fi setting menu, scroll down to find Configure DNS and tap it.

Step 4.

Remove the existing DNS and enter the new DNS according to your location:

• To bypass iCloud Activation in the USA/North America, the new DNS is 104.154.51.7

• To bypass iCloud Activation in Europe, the new DNS is 104.155.28.90

• To bypass iCloud Activation in Asia, the new DNS is 104.155.220.58

• To bypass iCloud Activation in other areas, the new DNS is 78.109.17.60

Step 5.

After you have entered the new DNS, tap on Save.

Once the iCloud activation bypass settings are done, you'll receive a message saying "You have successfully connected to my Server." Now that you have completed iCloud unlock, you can access most functions like iCloud locked user Chat, Mail, Maps, Video, Games, and more.

Note:

1. This method has been proven to be effective for iCloud Activation Lock bypass from iOS 8 to iOS 26. If you want to remove iCloud Lock on other iOS versions, you could also give it a try.

2. Changing DNS allows you to bypass iCloud Activation Lock on iPhone quickly, but this is only a temporary solution. To bypass iCloud Activation permanently, you need to adopt the other solution.

Tip: Click here to read more about bypassing iPhone 11’s activation lock if interested.

Method 6. Set a Permanent Bypass

If you have unfortunately forgotten your Apple ID credentials or need a device that can be used by multiple people (for testing or sharing), you can follow the steps in Part 2 to set up permanent bypass using iCloud credentials to bypass the activation lock. And remove the device from the account through Settings, set it up with a different Apple ID, and disable Find My.

FAQs about Bypassing iCloud Activation Lock

Can I bypass the iCloud activation lock with jailbreak?

No, you can't use jailbreaking to bypass iCloud activation. Jailbreaking iPhone is a method that can help you to install apps on your iOS devices out of the App Store. But iCloud Activation is used to ensure your iPhone's safety.

Can you bypass the iCloud activation lock on iPad?

Of course, yes. You can use ways like entering new DNS, using iCloud, etc.

How do I activate my iCloud account on my iPhone?

You should open Settings on your iPhone first. Then tap your name you have signed in on your iPhone. After that, select iCloud and enable the feature you want to use.

Conclusion

The best way to remove iCloud activation lock is always through official Apple methods. If you forget your Apple ID Aiseesoft iKnockin - iPhone Unlocker is your best choice to for iCloud Activation Lock Removal. Try it now!