Used iPad checklist: Activation Lock, MDM and Find My

What to check before you pay for a used iPad, so it isn't locked to someone else's Apple Account or controlled by a school or company. For anyone buying a pre-owned iPad from another person.

Watch the seller sign out of their Apple Account and erase the iPad in front of you, until you see the 'Hello' setup screen. Make sure there is nothing under Settings › General › VPN & Device Management, and no 'Remote Management' screen during setup. Then check the model, battery, warranty and that everything works before you pay.

• 1. Check Find My and the Apple Account: On the unlocked iPad, go to Settings › [seller's name] › Find My. Ask the seller to sign out (Settings › [name] › Sign Out) and enter their password in front of you. If the iPad shows an 'iPad Locked to Owner' screen, do not buy it.
• 2. Watch the seller erase it: Ask the seller to go to Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPad › Erase All Content and Settings. Now begin setting it up yourself. A screen asking for the old owner's Apple Account login means the iPad hasn't been released yet. You're good to go only once setup moves past the Hello screen without needing anything from the seller.
• 3. Look for school or company management (MDM): Before erasing, open Settings › General › VPN & Device Management; it should show no device management profile. After erasing, if setup shows a 'Remote Management' screen, the iPad still belongs to a school or company, so walk away.
• 4. Confirm the exact model: Go to Settings › General › About and tap the number next to Model Number to see the A-number (for example A2836). Match it on Apple's 'Identify your iPad model' page, and check that the storage matches what was promised. On this screen, also look for a Parts and Service History section, which only appears if a part was replaced. Unknown means it may not be a genuine Apple part.
• 5. Check the battery: On iPad Pro (M4, M5), iPad Air (M2, M3, M4), iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad (A16), go to Settings › Battery › Battery Health for health, cycle count and first-use date. On older iPads, charge it for a while and watch if the percentage drops fast or the iPad gets unusually hot.
• 6. Check warranty with the serial number: Copy the serial number from Settings › General › About and enter it at checkcoverage.apple.com. This shows whether Apple warranty or AppleCare still covers it, and helps confirm the model is real.
• 7. Test everything before paying: Drag an app icon slowly across every part of the screen to check touch. Test Face ID or Touch ID, front and back cameras, speakers, mic, charging port and buttons. Pair the Apple Pencil, connect to Wi-Fi, and on cellular models insert a SIM and make sure mobile data works.
• 8. Match the bill and box: If there is a bill or box, check that the serial number on it matches the one in Settings › General › About. Keep a copy of the bill, the seller's name and the chat for your records.