Why might you want to turn off “Find my iPhone”?
Apple created Find My to help users protect their iOS devices. That’s why temporarily disabling it or turning it off completely is only recommended in very specific situations:
- Selling or trading in your device. If you plan to sell or give away your iPhone, you need to turn Find My off. If you don’t, the buyer won’t be able to activate it due to the Activation Lock, since your Apple ID will still be tied to the phone.
- Sending your phone for repair. Some Apple Support centers or third-party repair shops will recommend or even ask you to disable Find My before giving it away for repairs. They usually do so to verify that you’re the rightful owner of the device and, in some cases, because technicians may need access to it for diagnostic testing.
- Switching Apple accounts. If you’re changing your account or moving to a new Apple ID, you’ll need to disable the feature. Otherwise, your old account will stay tied to the device.
- Switching to a new iPhone. If you no longer use your iPhone and it’s just collecting dust in your desk drawer, you might want to disable “Find my iPhone” on it so the app won’t be cluttered with devices you don’t actually use anymore.
- Troubleshooting issues. Temporarily disabling Find My might help if the app isn’t working correctly or if your phone isn’t showing up when you try to locate it.
Remember — this feature is a key part of iPhone security, and you should always keep it on. Otherwise, you risk losing your device. If your phone is lost or stolen while it’s disabled, you won’t be able to track or lock it remotely.
And if you’re worried about privacy, disabling it won’t stop someone from tracking your phone. It only prevents you from keeping your own device safe. No one else can track your iPhone through Find My unless they have access to your account.
How to turn off Find My on an iPhone
If you have your iPhone at hand, the quickest way to disable Find My is to go through your settings:
- 1.Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top.
- 2.Scroll down and tap “Find my.”
- 3.Tap “Find my iPhone.”
- 4.Turn the toggle off next to “Find my iPhone.”
- 5.Enter your Apple account password and tap “Turn off.”
Once you do this, the phone disconnects from your account, and the Activation Lock is lifted. If you’re preparing to sell your device, you should erase the iPhone so that none of your photos, videos, or personal information remains.
How to turn off Find My from another device
Sometimes, you may not have access to the original iPhone. It might be broken, in for repair, or already sent to a buyer. In that case, you can disable “Find my iPhone” remotely.
Turn off Find My from an iPad or another Apple device
If you have another Apple device, like an iPad, Mac, or iPhone, signed in with the same Apple ID, you can use it to turn off Find My on your iPhone:
- 1.Open the Find My app.
- 2.Tap on the “Devices” tab.
- 3.Find your iPhone in the list and tap on it.
- 4.Scroll down and tap “Remove.”
If you’re selling your phone and forgot to delete all data, you can also click “Erase iPhone” to wipe your phone clean.
If you don’t have another device connected to your Apple ID but have Family Sharing set up, a member of your Family Sharing group can use their iPhone to help you manage your iPhone in the Find My app.
If you’re selling your phone and forgot to delete all data, you can also click “Erase iPhone” to wipe your phone clean.
If you don’t have another device connected to your Apple ID but have Family Sharing set up, a member of your Family Sharing group can use their iPhone to help you manage your iPhone in the Find My app.
Turn off Find My from a computer
If you don’t have another Apple device connected to your account but can access a computer, you can turn off “Find my iPhone” using iCloud directly:
- 1.Go to “icloud.com” and sign in. You may be asked to enter a 6-digit code sent to your phone for 2FA.
- 2.Click on the Find My icon. You’ll be asked to enter the login details to confirm your identity.
- 3.Find the “All devices” tab and choose your iPhone.
- 4.Then click “Remove.”
Why can't I turn off Find My on my iPhone?
In some cases, you might find yourself unable to turn the “Find My iPhone” feature off because of:
- Forgotten or wrong password. For security reasons, turning off Find My requires your Apple ID password. If you forgot it or entered the wrong one, you won’t be able to prove you’re the rightful owner of the device and will be unable to disable the feature.
- Security delay. In rare cases, Apple imposes a waiting period before letting you remove a device from your account.
- Offline device. If your iPhone is turned off or has location services disabled, it will show the “No location found” error and won’t let you turn off Find My until it turns back on again.
- Stolen device lock. If Stolen Device Protection is activated, you must turn it off first in your settings. In this case, the “Find my iPhone” option will be greyed out.
- No internet connection. To disable the feature, you have to be connected to the internet. Go to your settings first and check if you’re connected to a mobile or Wi-Fi network or if your connection is working.
If any of these situations occur and you can’t find a way to resolve them, contact Apple Support for guidance. They can help verify your ownership and walk you through the process of removing the device from your Find My app.
Why should you keep Find My on?
Although sometimes you may need to turn it off, “Find my iPhone” is there for a reason. Unless you’re selling or no longer using your iPhone, disabling it should only be temporary. The feature helps you to:
- Deter theft. The Activation Lock, which is part of Find My, makes stolen iPhones harder to resell because it prevents others from using the device and keeps it trackable to the owner.
- Secure your device. If your phone is lost or stolen, you can use the Find My app to activate Lost Mode on the iPhone. This way, you’ll lock certain features, disable payment options, and display your contact information so someone who finds it can reach you.
- Protect your data. You can also use the Find My app to erase your iPhone remotely and wipe personal information, including photos, videos, messages, contacts, and stored accounts.
- Recover your phone. Even when the battery is critically low, Find My can show your iPhone’s last known location.
- Stay connected with family. With permission, you can use the Find My app to set up Family Sharing and keep track of family members’ devices.
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