You’re staring at a "Hello" screen, or worse, a demand for an Apple ID password that you don't have. It’s frustrating. It's basically a high-tech paperweight right now. Maybe you bought a used iPad from eBay and the seller vanished, or perhaps you dug an old iPad Air out of a drawer and realized your 2017 self was way better at creating complex passwords than your 2026 self is at remembering them.
Whatever the case, figuring out how to get past activation lock on ipad isn't always straightforward. Apple designed this as a theft-prevention measure called "Find My." It’s a literal kill switch. If the device thinks it’s stolen, it stays locked. Period. But "locked" doesn't always mean "forever," provided you have the right documentation or a little bit of technical patience.
Let's be real: most of the "one-click" software you see advertised on YouTube is garbage. Most of it is just a gateway to malware or a way to take $40 from you for a "free trial" that never actually works. We're going to talk about the legitimate paths, the grey-area workarounds, and why some iPads are unfortunately destined for the recycling bin.
The Only 100% Guaranteed Way: Apple's Official Support
The cleanest way to handle this is through Apple. If you are the original owner and can prove it, they will help you. If you aren't, it gets tricky.
Apple has an online portal specifically for activation lock support requests. You’ll need the serial number or IMEI. More importantly, you need the original sales receipt. It can't be a handwritten note from a guy named Dave at a flea market. It needs to be a formal invoice showing the device's serial number and the date of purchase.
Why the receipt is king
Apple's security team doesn't care about your story. They care about the paper trail. If you have a PDF of your receipt from Best Buy or a scan of your Apple Store invoice, you can submit a request through their "Activation Lock Support" page. They’ll review it—usually takes a few days—and then they remotely ping the device to unlock it.
What if it's a gift or inheritance?
This is a common headache. If a relative passed away and left you an iPad, Apple can unlock it, but they require legal documentation. You’ll likely need a death certificate and proof that you are the rightful heir to the property. It’s a lot of red tape. Honestly, it’s a pain, but it’s the only way to get the device fully functional with a clean iCloud status.
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How to Get Past Activation Lock on iPad via iCloud.com
If you bought the iPad from a legitimate seller and they just forgot to sign out, don't panic. You don't need the iPad to be in their physical hands. They can do this from their couch.
Reach out to them. Ask them to follow these steps:
- Log into iCloud.com/find.
- Select "All Devices" and find the iPad in question.
- Choose "Remove from Account."
Wait. They should not just click "Erase." If they erase it but don't remove it from the account, the activation lock stays. They must explicitly remove it from their Find My network. Once they do that, you just restart the iPad, and the lock screen disappears. It’s like magic, but it’s just basic database management.
The DNS Bypass: A Clever but Limited Trick
Maybe you don't have the receipt. Maybe the seller is a ghost. There is an old-school trick called a DNS bypass.
Is it a full unlock? No.
Does it let you browse the web? Yes.
Basically, you trick the iPad into connecting to a third-party server instead of Apple's activation servers. When you’re on the Wi-Fi setup screen, you hit the "i" icon next to your network and manually change the DNS settings.
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Common DNS IP addresses for this include:
- USA: 104.154.51.7
- Europe: 104.155.28.90
- Asia: 104.155.220.58
After you change the DNS and try to activate, the iPad redirects you to a portal. From there, you can use a custom browser, watch YouTube, or use basic apps. But—and this is a big "but"—you haven't actually bypassed the lock. You've just found a way to use the hardware as a browser. If you restart or try to sign into the App Store, you're right back at the lock screen. It's a band-aid, not a cure.
The Truth About Jailbreaking and "Bypass" Tools
Search for how to get past activation lock on ipad and you'll find a million "Pro" tools like Tenorshare 4MeKey, AnyUnlock, or Checkm8.
Here is the nuanced truth: Some of these actually work, but only on specific, older iPads.
The exploit known as Checkm8 is a hardware-level vulnerability found in chips from the A5 to the A11. If you have an older iPad (like the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, or the 5th/6th/7th gen base models), these tools can technically "bypass" the activation screen by jailbreaking the device and deleting the setup app.
The Massive Downsides
- Tethered status: If the battery dies or you restart the iPad, it might relock. You'll have to plug it back into a computer to "re-bypass" it.
- No iCloud services: You usually can't sign into your own iCloud account. This means no iMessage, no FaceTime, and often no App Store. You have to sideload apps or use a web browser.
- Security risks: You are giving a random, third-party software package full "root" access to your device. You have no idea what else that software is doing.
If you have a newer iPad with an M1, M2, or M4 chip? Forget it. These exploits don't work on them. The security enclave is too tight. Anyone telling you they can bypass a 2024 iPad Pro for $20 is lying to you.
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Buying Used? How to Avoid This Nightmare
Prevention is better than a weekend spent scouring Reddit for bypass codes. If you're buying a used iPad, there is one thing you must check before handing over the cash.
Go to the "Settings" app. If you see a name at the very top, the iPad is locked. Even if the seller says "Oh, I'll just sign out later," don't believe them. Make them sign out right there. If the iPad is on the "Hello" setup screen, go through the setup until it asks for Wi-Fi. If it proceeds to a "Remote Management" or "Activation Lock" screen, hand the device back and walk away.
There is also a "hidden" lock called MDM (Mobile Device Management). This happens when a company or school owns the iPad. It might look unlocked at first, but three months later, a screen pops up saying "Property of [Big Corp]." You can't get past that easily either.
Actionable Steps to Take Right Now
If you are currently stuck, here is your sequence of operations:
- Check the Box: Look for the original box. Sometimes the serial number on the box is enough for Apple if you can prove you bought it from a carrier like Verizon or AT&T.
- Contact the "Previous Owner" via Message: If the iPad shows a hint of an email (e.g., s*****@icloud.com), try to guess it if it's a family member. If you bought it online, use the platform's dispute system immediately.
- The Apple Support Portal: Go to the official Apple Activation Lock support page. Upload your proof of purchase. Be honest and clear.
- Avoid "Fiverr Experts": Do not pay someone on social media to "remote unlock" your device. They will take your money and block you. There is no "secret database" they have access to.
- Check your Chipset: Look up your iPad model. If it's a newer M-series chip, your only options are the original owner or Apple. If it's an older A-series chip, you might be able to use a Checkm8-based jailbreak tool, but prepare for a severely limited user experience.
If all else fails and Apple denies your request, the iPad is essentially a parts machine. The screen, battery, and casing have value on the secondary market, even if the logic board is locked forever. It's a tough pill to swallow, but in the world of Apple security, sometimes the wall is just too high to climb.