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How to Turn Off "Find My iPhone"

Kirk McElhearn
Kirk McElhearn
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What is 'Find my iPhone'?

This Apple service helps your friends or family see your iDevice’s location. If you have iOS 5 or a later version, it's already installed on your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.

’Find my iPhone’ can be very helpful. The service can be useful when your iPhone is lost or stolen.

But we all know that not only our devices get lost. If after several beer-pongs you can’t recall where you are or got kidnapped by aliens, ‘Find my iPhone’ will show your friends where they can rescue you.

So you see, Apple really cares about you, your device and the safety for both.

Although ‘Find My iPhone’ is very useful, not all of us feel the need for using it.

So why would you turn it OFF?

It's a no-brainer. When you need to restore a backup or sell your device, you must disable 'Find my iPhone.' This way, the new gadget owner won't have difficulties tracking his device. Truth talk, it can get tricky to turn off 'Find my iPhone' on the device connected to its previous owner.

1. How to turn off ‘Find my iPhone’ from Computer

You can switch on/off ‘Find my iPhone’ with iCloud. I bet you didn’t know how to turn off ‘Find my iPhone’ online. Lucky you are; I’m here to teach you!

  1. Log in to iCloud.com on your web browser.
  2. Pick 'Find My' in the menu.
  3. Choose your iPhone from the list. Click 'Remove this Device.
  4. If your iPhone is still online and connected to your account, you'll need to proceed with the prompt that follows. If you have already logged out, the device will be removed immediately.
How to Turn off Find My iPhone Online Image 1
Step one and two.

You can remove any device with this method.

How to Turn off Find My iPhone Online Image 2
Step three and four.

If you don’t know yet how to turn off ‘Find my iPhone’ when an iPhone is locked, the only way is to do it online!

2. How to turn off ‘Find my iPhone’ directly from your iPhone

Let’s look at another way to turn off ‘Find my iPhone.’

By the way, you’d better back up your iPhone before making any changes. In the latest iOS versions, it’s easier to disable ‘Find my iPhone.’

  1. Go to Settings => Tap on your 'Apple ID'.
  2. Then tap ‘Find My’ => 'Find my iPhone'.
  3. Turn On or Off the setting, confirm with password.
How to Turn off Find My iPhone Image 1
Step one and two.

This can also work for your iPad. Try it out!

How to Turn off Find My iPhone Image 2
Step three and confirmation.

If you're upgrading to a new device, don’t forget to transfer your iPhone data efficiently with AltTunes.

How to disable ‘Find My Mac’?

It’s no surprise that even your MacBook can be lost or stolen. But if you don’t ever take your computer from home or you want to sell it or prevent for policy reasons, ‘Find My Mac’ may no longer be a relevant service.

So here’s how to turn off ‘Find My Mac’:

  1. Go to 'System Preferences' => 'Internet Accounts' => 'iCloud'.
  2. Click on 'Show More Apps' and pick 'Find my Mac'.
  3. Pick 'Turn Off' and follow the prompts.
How to Turn off Find My iPhone Find My Mac Image 1
Step 1 and Step 2.

Almost there.

How to Turn off Find My iPhone Find My Mac Image 2

Ta-da! Now you have disabled ‘Find My Mac’.

You may wonder how to turn off ‘Find my iPhone’ without a password. The answer is simple: You can’t turn off ‘Find my iPhone’ without entering your account data. This happens for data protection reasons, so you need to get all your brains together to recall your password if you forget it.

So, as you can see, the guys from Apple have done a lot for your iPhone safety—and your own, of course. Be careful and manage your data responsibly!

Additional Tips for Managing Your iPhone Data

Once you've disabled 'Find my iPhone' and are ready to upgrade or sell your device, consider these helpful tips:

FAQ

What is ‘Find My iPhone’?

‘Find My iPhone’ is an Apple service that helps locate your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. It allows you or your trusted contacts to track your device’s location if it’s lost or stolen. It’s pre-installed on iPhones running iOS 5 or later and is useful for device recovery and security.

How do I turn off ‘Find My iPhone’ from my computer?

To turn off ‘Find My iPhone’ from your computer, log in to iCloud.com, select ‘Find My’ from the menu, choose your iPhone from the device list, and click ‘Remove this Device.’ If your iPhone is online, follow the prompt; if not, it will be removed immediately.

How can I turn off ‘Find My iPhone’ directly from my iPhone?

Go to ‘Settings’ on your iPhone, tap on your Apple ID, then ‘Find My.’ Select ‘Find My iPhone’ and turn it off. Confirm the action by entering your Apple ID password. This works for all Apple devices running the latest iOS.

How do I disable ‘Find My Mac’?

To turn off ‘Find My Mac,’ go to ‘System Preferences’ on your Mac, click ‘Internet Accounts’ then ‘iCloud.’ Under ‘Show More Apps,’ select ‘Find My Mac,’ and click ‘Turn Off.’ Follow the prompts to disable the feature.

Can I turn off ‘Find My iPhone’ without a password?

No, you cannot turn off ‘Find My iPhone’ without entering your Apple ID password. This security measure ensures data protection and prevents unauthorized access to your account or device location.

Kirk McElhearn
Kirk McElhearn
Contributing Writer at Softorino
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