I just purchased a used iPad air, how can I reset it?

[iMore Question]

how can i reset the ipad air? just bought this ipad and have no way of contacting the original owner

this ipad air will not allow me to reset without the original owners email address, please is there any way I can bypass this...thx

 

[HankAZ]

Re: how can i reset the ipad air? just bought this ipad and have no way of contacting the original o

this ipad air will not allow me to reset without the original owners email address, please is there any way I can bypass this...thx

Apple added the Activation Lock to iOS 7 to combat the rampant unauthorized reselling of lost/stolen devices. There is no way around this lockout? your only options are to contact the person you bought it from and get (1) the Apple ID login credentials, or (2) your money back. If you bought it from an honest/legitimate seller, they?ll help you out. If you bought a stolen device from a scumbag, you are simply SOL, and you now own a pretty, albeit expensive, paperweight.

I love the Activation Lock concept, but it appears to be punishing the unwitting buyer much more than the scumbag thief.

So there it is. If it's your device, use the link (https://iforgot.apple.com/password/verify/appleid) to reset the login. If you purchased the device from someone on eBay or CraigsList or a similar site, take whatever recourse you have against the seller to recover your cash.

In the future, Before you buy a used iOS device make sure there is no active Activation Lock enabled that device. Just get either the serial number or IMEI and enter it here. Apple will report the status of the device.
https://www.icloud.com/activationlock/