You may need to turn off “Find My iPhone” before you sell, trade-in, or get your device serviced.
In this article, you will learn the correct way to turn off this feature.
Important: Turning off Find My iPhone is the only way to disable Activation Lock, the main anti-theft feature. You will need your Apple ID password to do this.
How To Turn Off Find My iPhone On Your Device
This is the most direct method. You can access this setting directly from your Apple ID profile in Settings.
Step 1: Open Settings and Tap Your Name
Go to the Settings app and tap on your Apple ID [your name] at the very top.
Step 2: Tap “Find My”
On the Apple ID screen, tap on Find My.
Step 3: Tap “Find My iPhone”
Tap on Find My iPhone, which will be listed as “On.”
Step 4: Toggle “Find My iPhone” Off
Tap the toggle button to turn it off.
You will be prompted to enter your Apple ID password. This is a security step to prevent theft.
Enter your password and tap “Turn Off.” This will disable Find My iPhone and Activation Lock for this device.
How to Turn Off Find My iPhone Remotely (Using iCloud)
If you no longer have the iPhone (e.g., you already sold it or gave it away), you can turn off Find My remotely from any web browser.
- Go to www.icloud.com/find.
- Log in with your Apple ID and password.
- At the top of the screen, click “All Devices.”
- Find and click on the iPhone you want to remove.
- Click “Remove from Account.”
Note: If you see “Erase iPhone” instead, you must click that first. After the device is erased, you can then return to this menu and click “Remove from Account.” The device must be offline for the “Remove from Account” option to appear directly.
Conclusion
Turning off Find My iPhone is a simple but critical step before you sell or service your device. The easiest way is directly through your Apple ID settings on the iPhone itself. If you no longer have the device, you can use iCloud.com to remove it from your account.
au9zet