Skip to main content

Do you need to erase your device? Here’s how to turn off Find My iPhone

how to turn off Find My iPhone
Carlos Vega/Digital Trends
Find my iPhone is one of those very useful features that you want to have turned on. It can prevent a thief from erasing your iPhone, or it can help you locate your device. It also lets you erase it remotely, lock it, or simply send an alert.

As long as Find My iPhone is turned on, you can’t erase your iPhone. There are times when you will want to know how to turn off Find My iPhone, such as when you’re getting ready to sell your iPhone to trade it in for a new iPhone 8 or iPhone X.

How to turn off Find My iPhone

Step 1: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Find My iPhone.

Step 2: Swipe the green toggle to the off position.

Step 3: Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off.

Are you selling your iPhone? Read this!

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Some people want to sell their iPhone, and this is the reason why they need to turn off Find My iPhone. The first thing to do before you move on to your next iPhone is to back up your current iPhone. If you don’t know how to do that, follow our guide on how to backup your iPhone with and without iTunes.

Keep in mind that before you erase and sell your iPhone, it is important for you to sign out of iCloud and iTunes and App Store. When you go to Settings > [your name], you will see Sign Out at the bottom of that page. Make sure that you sign out of your iCloud account, so that the new owner won’t be asked to enter your Apple ID and password.

Are you still learning how to use iOS? Let us help you master it with our best tips and tricks for iOS 11.

Carlos Vega
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Carlos has been involved in computers since 2000, when he earned his MCSE and A+ certifications. A love for technology turned…
The iPhone 16 Pro Max may secretly be a big deal for Samsung fans
An iPhone 15 Pro Max laying face-down outside, showing the Natural Titanium color.

Phone users have come to expect a certain build and design on their devices, which is why the majority of mobile phones have a similar layout. According to the leaker Ice Universe, the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra might have more similarities than you'd expect.

According to the leaker, the two phones will be almost exactly the same size — down to their length, width, height, and even bezel size. The biggest difference is that the Galaxy S25 Ultra won't have the iPhone's Dynamic Island, giving it a slight edge in terms of screen size.

Read more
The next iPhone SE could change everything
iPhone SE (2022) held in a mans hand.

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone SE 4 in 2025. Now, the word is that the budget phone will ship with OLED. In doing so, the entire iPhone lineup will finally shift away from LCD for the very first time — marking a big shift for the lineup as a whole.

According to Nikkei Asia, the shift meanthat Apple will no longer rely on Japan Display (JDI) and Sharp for iPhone displays. The two companies accounted for 70% of iPhone displays a decade ago. The 2025 iPhone SE is expected to use OLED displays from China’s BOE Technology Group and South Korea’s LG Display.

Read more
Charging your iPhone in your car is about to get a lot easier
Scosche MagicMount Charge Elite mount.

Scosche is a well-regarded name in the car accessories world. It specializes in gear for smartphones and audio, as well as even wellness accessories such as a heart rate sensing band. At IFA 2024, the company is adding two new smartphone accessories to its portfolio that use the charging power of Qi2 technology.

The first fresh addition is the MagicMount Charge Pro, which is up for grabs in two mounting options. You can pick between a Window/Dash format or get the Dash/Vent configuration. The former boosts stability by adopting a center balance design. The mounting head is equipped with an integrated ball joint that lets users freely adjust the phone for the best screen viewing experience.

Read more