Deleting an account on iPhone. Remove iCloud (Apple ID), or how to unlink an iPhone or iPad from an Apple account

Have a nice time! There is simply a huge number of questions received both by email and in comments to articles on the topic of a forgotten (lost, changed by someone, etc.) iCloud email account and password for it. To be more precise, we are talking about, but this does not change the essence of the matter. In order to somehow systematize all this information, it was decided to write this article. So, if you don’t remember (don’t know) the password or email to which your (or “someone else’s”) iPhone or iPad is registered, but you really want to activate it, then these instructions are for you!

A little history. With the release of the iOS 7 operating system, Apple introduced additional protection for all device owners against theft, loss, etc. Now no person will be able to access the phone, as well as the data that is on it, if he does not know the Apple ID and password for it.

Whatever action you take:

• (full reset).
• Firmware update (upgrade or downgrade).
• Entering DFU mode and then trying to flash.
• Disassembly into small parts and replacement of certain parts of the phone.

NOTHING will help! You shouldn’t trust people who promise to “hack” it for money (usually quite a lot!). Remember - it is impossible to delete an Apple ID without a password. An iPhone or iPad is strictly bound to registration data and can only be removed from this link by:

• The direct owner of the device who owns this information.
• Apple employee.

Speaking of bindings, there are two types:

So, we have the first scenario and there is no question of any kind of lost mode, but you simply forgot the password for iCloud (Apple ID) and the phone (tablet) was blocked after updating the firmware or resetting the settings to factory settings.

What to do? How to remove the activation message? There are two ways:

1. We go to the recovery page and try to do something there: indicate the email to which the Apple ID is registered, enter an additional e-mail address, answer security questions. If you know at least something, then the chances of unlocking your iPhone increase!
2. For those who don't remember anything at all. We write (or better yet, call) Apple support - here is a link to the contact page. We describe your situation as accurately and thoroughly as possible. Remember, there are people sitting there and most often they are not stupid! Most likely, after a short conversation, you will be asked to prove the fact that the device belongs and has always belonged to you. How? Provide a photo of the box (of course, not just the packaging, but the place where the serial number is indicated), the serial number of the gadget itself, plus a purchase document (receipts). If everything is in order and Apple employees trust you, the iCloud Lock will be removed.

However, it may also happen that this does not happen. Why? The fact is that simply a huge number of people began to falsify purchase documents and thus deceive the company. I don’t presume to judge whether this is good or bad, but the fact is clear - the number of devices unlocked using this method has decreased and each new application initially causes distrust.

This means that the following situation may happen - the iPhone or iPad really belongs to you, you provided all the documents, but Apple employees refuse to remove Activation Lock. What should I do? Write to English-language support (the last subheading will help you figure out how to do this) and tell them the whole story, about how you forgot your iCloud password and want to unlock it.

If they don’t help, then unfortunately there’s nothing left.

Not every user of modern smartphones knows how to remove Apple ID from an iPhone. There are several simple ways to do this from a computer or smartphone.

Reasons to delete your Apple ID

Buying phones that another person has used is profitable. Often people buy an iPhone with an old account from a previous user. In such cases, add a new profile and get rid of the old one.

Also, in order to transfer or sell a smartphone, you need to delete personal data, including Apple ID. Otherwise, it could be used by attackers. Therefore, many are wondering how to delete the old owner’s Apple ID.

P Once Apple ID is deleted, it will be impossible to restore all information and account.

The user will lose his photos, videos, passwords, and so on. Therefore, it is necessary to first save all important information on other devices or drives.

How to remove Apple ID completely and permanently

Before this procedure, a person must be fully aware that it will be impossible to restore the account back. Also, due to deletion, it will not be possible to revive all purchases that occurred from this account.

All data stored in iCloud cannot be restored. All subscriptions to services will no longer function.

If a person is disappointed in the manufacturer and wants to use other devices, it is not at all necessary to delete the account. After all, it may come in handy in the future. If you take such a responsible action, you can simply freeze your account. To do this, you need to turn off the devices that are associated with your account.

However, if a person is wondering how to delete Apple ID permanently, to do this you need to:

1. Go to the company’s website and unlink all equipment that is connected to your account. You need to select all phones, tablets and computers and click on the link "Delete".
2. At the bottom of the site there is a tab where you need to create a PIN code. It is needed to contact support very quickly if it requires confirmation of the user’s identity.
3. The last step is to contact customer support. Sometimes employees do not immediately agree to delete an account, so it is necessary to convincingly and truthfully state all the reasons for getting rid of the account.

The support service may refuse.

After all, a real person is communicating with the user and it may seem to him that the reasons for deletion are frivolous.

Method 1: Delete from iPhone

Many people do not know whether it is possible to remove Apple ID on an iPhone. This is a very real task.

To do this you need:

• From your phone go to the section "Settings".
• At the very bottom there is a red key "Exit", you need to click on it.
• Disable " Find iPhone" To do this, you will need to enter a password.
• Click on footnote "Exit", which is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
• As soon as a window pops up with the inscription: “ Delete profile and other data located on iPhone", you need to click on "Exit".

This method is suitable for many versions of phones. Therefore, the owner of the gadget who did not know how to remove Apple ID on iPhone 4s/5s can use these instructions.

Method 2: removal via computer

To get rid of a profile, you will need a MAC or Windows computer. In other cases this will not be possible.

To do this, you need:

• Launch ITunes.
• Go to the store and press the button "Log in."
• Enter your Apple ID details.
• In your account settings, log into your account.
• Make the necessary changes.
• Follow the same steps on the official website.

If you follow these instructions, you can delete your Apple ID account. You need to log in to the site to do everything planned.

Method 3: Using Apple Support

From any device you need to go to the support service website, then log in by filling out all the required fields. Next, create a request requesting account deletion.

Apple devices are not cheap, even, let’s say, in “worn” condition. That’s why many people, having decided to purchase a new smartphone or tablet, sell their previous gadget, and one of the main questions that comes to Apple owners when selling is what to do with Apple ID (Apple ID, Apple ID)? Should it be removed, and if so, how?

In this article, we will tell you how to delete an Apple ID on an iPhone, how to unlink a personal identifier from an i-smartphone, and what consequences a new user faces if the previous one does not delete his account from the iPhone. Let us immediately note that the instructions below are also suitable for other mobile iOS devices - iPad and iPod.

In general, when selling an iOS device, it is absolutely not necessary to delete your Apple ID account; it is only necessary and sufficient to unlink the account from the gadget being sold. However, if you want to start a new life with a new Apple, which you plan to buy after selling your old gadget, or if you are no longer going to use iOS devices at all, but want, for example, to switch to Android - in short, if you no longer need your Apple ID, you can, of course, delete it and we will be happy to tell you how to complete this procedure.

However, we must warn you - even if you are sure that you will never need your account again, you still don’t have to delete it, because, as they say, it doesn’t ask for milk. Moreover, you should think twice about deleting the entry if you purchased some paid applications and content. All purchased utilities are assigned to the Apple ID from which they were purchased, which means that if you delete your account, all purchases will be lost.

Not convinced that it’s better to leave your Apple ID? Well, then we’ll tell you how this account is deleted.

Help Desk

The only correct answer to the question of how to delete an Apple ID sounds like this: contact Apple support. Only the company itself can decide to permanently and permanently delete your account for logging into the App Store, iCloud, iTunes Store and other Apple-branded services.

However, don’t worry, there is nothing complicated in such an application - many guide articles that you will find on the Internet will ask you to write an application in English, send it and wait for a response for several days, but these are already outdated instructions, today Apple has excellent Russian-speaking support service, which, one might say, will do everything for you, you just need to order a call on the relevant topic, for this

In the first case, you provide your first name, last name, email, Apple ID and phone number, click continue and wait for the call - it usually arrives within 5 minutes. In the second case, you, again, fill out all the information about yourself, but call yourself at a convenient time and report that you submitted an application, the specialist will already prepare a solution. Apple's Russian-language support phone number is 8-800-333-5173.

Personal Apple ID management account

As we said above, you can permanently and irrevocably delete an account only through Apple support, but there is another tricky way to get rid of an ID - let’s say, freeze it. You can perform this procedure yourself without contacting support, and here's how to do it:

Now the e-mail previously linked to the Apple ID is free. By the way, it is worth noting that previously, when changing an email address, it was possible to specify even a non-existent mailbox, but recently the rules have changed. At the moment, you can only assign an account to an existing email account, so if you don’t have a backup email account, you’ll have to create one for the sake of it, but it will take 5 minutes.

How to unlink Apple ID?

However, do not forget that if you don’t want to bother with creating a new mailbox or contacting support, but you want to sell a gadget, you can simply unlink your old Apple ID, especially since it’s very easy to do:

That's it! Detachment completed!

What happens if you don’t unlink your Apple ID before selling?

Despite the fact that it is very simple to unlink an Apple ID, many people do not carry out this procedure before selling their device, not out of laziness, of course, but out of ignorance - users simply do not realize how important it is to perform this procedure and now we will tell you why.

Let us immediately note that from the “iTunes Store, App Store” section, leaving before the sale is generally not so important (if you do not see the problem that the new owner will recognize your email, which at the same time is the Apple ID login and is written in the section). Why isn't this important? Yes, because, as you remember, an identifier password is not required to exit this menu, which means that a new user will be able to exit it independently.

But this trick won’t work with the iCloud menu; without knowing the password, you won’t be able to do anything. It won’t work and it won’t work, many people think, having found the ID of the previous owner in the cloud storage menu, just think, I won’t have access to the “cloud” - I’ll store backup copies on my computer! However, the inability to perform a backup in iCloud is not the only and not the main problem that awaits a new user if the previous one has not unlinked.

Activation Lock

The fact is that when you register an Apple ID in the “iCloud” section, the “Find iPhone” option is automatically turned on (and when unlinked, it turns off). And if this option is enabled, then every time after restoring/updating an iOS device (as well as some other procedures), the user is required to have an Apple ID password to activate the gadget - this feature is called activation lock.

Why is this necessary? This is how Apple implemented anti-theft protection - look, someone steals an iPhone, tries to erase data from it (using the recovery procedure or the corresponding menu item in the device settings) in order to make it clean and sell it, and runs into activation lock. How to get around it? No way!

If the theft is not targeted and the thief does not know the Apple ID password, he will not be able to bypass the lock. And although today there are a lot of videos on Youtube and organizations that offer to bypass the blocking for the nth amount of money, you should not delude yourself, most of the videos only have beautiful and promising names, but in fact they do not solve the problem, and the organizations were created by scammers. Some hackers sometimes manage, of course, to log into the system without entering a password, but its functions are greatly limited.

As you can see, the anti-theft system works great and discourages any desire to steal, thanks, Apple, but you probably already guessed that the owner of an iOS device whose previous user has not signed out of iCloud may find himself in the same situation as a thief, for example, when he simply decides to update a gadget.

How to access the device?

The only advantage of the new owner is that he can safely try to contact the previous owner and ask him to help in the current situation - either provide the password, or enter it himself during a personal meeting. Unfortunately, not all buyers save sellers’ contacts, but here’s one good hint - you know the seller’s email - after all, the Apple ID login and the email to which it is linked are equivalent concepts! Of course, it’s not a fact that a person uses this box, but at least there is some hope.

If you couldn’t find the person who sold you the device, but the seller, along with the gadget, gave you a box from it and/or a receipt for purchasing it in the store, you have another hope. You can contact Apple support - you already know how to do this and ask them for help with unlocking. If you can prove that the device belongs to you, as a rule, this requires some data indicated on the receipt and box, then it will definitely be unlocked for you.

What should you do if you haven’t found the person who sold the device and Apple support couldn’t verify that the device belongs to you? Unfortunately, the chances of a successful resolution of the case are not so great. You, in essence, find yourself in the position of a thief and all you can do is contact dubious organizations and watch dubious videos in the hope that you will find a panacea. Here we can only wish you good luck.

Let's summarize

So, now you know how to delete an account, how to freeze it and unlink it from a specific device. Let us remind you that when selling, it is not necessary to delete your account - you can easily use the old Apple ID on the new Apple. But! Unbinding is simply necessary! Otherwise, the new owner will face serious trouble.

Important advice! If you purchase a used iPhone or other Apple mobile gadget, be sure to check whether the owner has logged out of his account, or even better, ask for a purchase receipt and a box - this way you will protect yourself from purchasing a stolen device and will have a very useful one in your hands trump.

There are no compelling reasons for deleting an Apple ID, but if people demand it, we will share our knowledge in this area. The article describes all the possible steps to permanently delete your iTunes account and unlink your email from your Apple ID credentials.
The reason why there is a need to delete an iTunes user record (or Apple ID) there can only be a release of the email address for registering a new Apple ID again. If this is the reason, then you don’t have to permanently delete the Apple ID, because in the user information settings you can simply change the virtual mail address. You can register another account at the address that becomes available.

Ways to remove Apple ID

1. This is changing the information in the settings to arbitrary;
2. Compiling a letter to the technical support service in which you need to ask to delete your account.

• computer, iPhone, tablet;
• Internet access.

How to change data in Apple ID settings

Removing an Apple ID through Apple Support

• all information entered into the fields is entered exclusively in English;
• “Email address” is your virtual mail address from your Apple ID registration;
• “Subject” - here you need to write a phrase like “Help remove all your Apple ID” (Help remove your Apple ID forever);
• the “Comment” line should reflect the reason for the desire to delete all user information.

An example of a request to Apple technical support to delete an Apple ID account

Good afternoon Let me ask you, Apple technical support, with a specific request! I became the owner of an Apple ID (write your email) and as a result of certain circumstances I want to delete it forever. I don't want to use Apple services that require personalization using an Apple ID. I am not asking for a refund of the money I spent on games, movies, and music programs in the iTunes and App Store. Therefore, I ask you to permanently delete my Apple ID.

Then translate this text using Google Translate and the result will be the following content:

Good afternoon! Let me turn to you, Apple technical support to a specific request! I became the owner of the Apple ID (write your email) and as a result of certain circumstances I want to remove it permanently. I do not want to use Apple services with obligatory personalization by means of Apple ID. I do not ask to reimburse the money that I spent on the purchase of games, movies, music, software, and the iTunes App Store. Therefore, please remove my Apple ID permanently.

If you made spelling or punctuation errors, then you don’t have to worry, since anyone, even a child, can authorize an Apple ID, and the company’s technical support should understand the essence of your request.

After sending the letter, you just have to wait for a response. The request may be responded to after several days or even several weeks. So, a response from support will be sent to the email address registered on the Apple ID that you want to delete. This response includes a link that confirms the user's information has been deleted. You need to click on it and your account will be deleted.

As you can see, the Apple ID deletion process is possible, but it is not easy. Sometimes you can even get rejected. And if it happens that you were refused, then you can repeat the procedure, but this letter will not be a request, but a demand, which involves delaying the removal process for some period of time.

A faster and easier option is to replace your information in the settings of your entry in the iTunes store or by using Apple ID management, thus forgetting about it forever. If you need to restore your account if you lose your Apple ID, it’s quite easy to do.

Apple has introduced a special privacy tool (Data and Privacy), which allows you to edit and download data (such as photos, music, documents, etc.) located in iCloud storage, as well as deactivate / delete your ID.

Reasons for removal

Whether you have privacy concerns or decide to use another digital system, it makes sense to delete your Apple ID if you want to stop using it completely. But keep in mind that the deletion is final - this means that even specialists from Cupertino will not be able to restore your account and data.

Therefore, if you plan to return to the company’s services in the future and not bombard thematic forums with questions like “help me restore my Apple ID,” it would be more rational to deactivate your account rather than delete it forever. We recommend that you weigh everything carefully and answer the security questions below.

Are you considering deleting your apple id account as a troubleshooting solution? Is it because you forgot your password or are facing iCloud storage issues? Or are you deleting your Apple ID because you want to attach it to a new email address? In this case, you should not take such radical steps. It’s not difficult to reset your Apple ID password, and it’s also quite easy to fix problems with iCloud. You can also change the email address associated with your Apple ID.

Data and services that will be lost when you delete your Apple ID

Is it possible to continue using Mac or iPhone without an ID? Yes, but somewhat in a limited manner. The ID owner will lose access to most services associated with the account, as well as a large amount of data, including tens of gigabytes of photos and music.

It is very important that you understand what you are giving up when you decide to completely remove your Apple ID from your phone.

For starters, you will lose access to the following:

• purchases from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBooks Store;
• iCloud data, including data stored there by apps and third-party apps;
• services such as Pay, Store, iTunes Store and iCloud are removed;
• Image and FaceTime

You will also lose your Music and News subscriptions. If newspaper and magazine subscriptions are associated with the old ID, consider them to be gone.

If all of the above does not stop you, then follow the instructions below. We will tell you in detail how to delete your Apple ID account and what you need to do to do this.

First Steps: Backup and Shutdown

Make a copy of any data you may need before deleting your Apple ID. Don't forget about your iCloud content and DRM-free purchases. You can also save important documents related to Apple services, such as purchase receipts.

Sequence of actions:

On macOS: Go to System Preferences > iCloud and uncheck Find My Mac.

On iOS: Tap Settings > [User Name] > iCloud > Find My iPhone and move the slider to the left.

Now it's time to deauthorize your computer (Mac). You can do this from the iTunes app: Click Account > Authorization > Deauthorize This Computer. (Deauthorization is also important in other cases, such as computer sales or when sending for service.)

It's also important that you sign out of iCloud and apps on all devices. If you skip this step, you may have problems using these gadgets in the future.

On macOS: Go to System Preferences > iCloud and click Sign Out at the bottom of the sidebar.

On iOS: Go to Settings > [Username] and tap Sign Out at the bottom of the ID screen that appears.

You should also log out of your account from your browsers and clear your cookies.

In the last step, we will show you how to remove a device from your Apple ID. This means deleting devices associated with this identifier. To do this, go to appleid.apple.com.

Next, in the devices section, click on the device icon and then on the “remove” button to disconnect your iPad, iPhone or Mac from your account. This must be done for each linked device.

How to delete your Apple ID account

Once you have finally decided that you want to remove Apple ID, you need to access the removal tool. You will find it at privacy.apple.com, available on PC, Mac or iPad.

After logging into the portal using your Apple ID, go to the "Data Management" section. Here you can:

• correct your personal information: update and correct any incorrect personal information (including replacing your profile photo);
• delete account: delete your ID;
• deactivate account: temporarily disable it.

Depending on the region you are in, you may not see the "deactivate account" option. However, Apple will eventually make it available to you in the future.

Now click on the "Start" button in the "delete account" section to continue with deactivation.

You will then see a list of programs and applications whose data cannot be recovered later. Read it in its entirety and use the drop-down menu at the bottom of the page to indicate your reason for deleting your old Apple ID. Now click on the "Continue" button to move to the next step.

After this, Apple will ask you for the contact information of the owner of the gadget. Select the email address or phone number where you want to receive notifications from Apple about your account status.

Save the unique access code you received from Apple!

At this point, the company provides you with a unique access code, which will be useful if you want to remove the deletion request. The code helps customer support verify your identity.

Be sure to write down your access code or keep it in a safe place. Once you've gone through the passcode screen, you'll see a "Delete Account" button. Click on it to complete the account deletion request, and Apple will take over the next steps.

Account deletion may take up to seven days and your account will remain active during this time.

The deactivation process is almost the same as the removal process. To get started, sign in to your ID at privacy.apple.com and then select the "Get Started" option in the "Deactivate My Account" section of the "Manage Your Account" page.

After this, you will see a message that your apple id has been deactivated.

Are you ready to part with your ID?

Although the Data and Privacy portal began to operate at the request of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Cupertino did not limit itself to the EU zone and decided to make the portal available worldwide for individuals wishing to deactivate or delete their apple id account .

So if you've fallen out of love with iPhones, you can now start the uninstall process quickly and on your own. Just always remember to do the prep work first!