Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max - Switch off Find my iPhone

Find My iPhone is a useful feature that helps you locate your iPhone or iPad if it gets lost. It shows your device's location on a map and secures it, preventing unauthorized resets. However, if you need to send your phone in for repair or sell it, you must disable Find My iPhone first. Below, we explain how to turn off this feature either directly from your device or through iCloud.

Disable Find My iPhone from your device

Follow these steps to disable Find My iPhone directly on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap iCloud.
3. Tap Find My iPhone.
4. Toggle the switch next to Find My iPhone to turn it off.
5. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off.
6. Find My iPhone is now disabled.

Disabling this feature from your device is quick and easy, but make sure to remember your Apple ID credentials.

Disable Find My iPhone via iCloud

If you no longer have access to your iPhone or iPad, you can also turn off Find My iPhone using iCloud. Be aware that this method will erase all data from your device, so back up your files first if you want to keep them.

1. Go to iCloud.com on your computer and log in with your Apple ID.
2. Click on Find iPhone.
3. Select All Devices at the top of the screen, then choose your device.
4. Click Erase iPhone to delete all files and settings.
5. Confirm by clicking Erase.
6. Enter your Apple ID password if prompted.
7. Optionally, provide a phone number and message for the device screen.
8. Click Done, then Remove from Account.
9. Find My iPhone is now disabled, and all files are deleted from your device.

Using iCloud is a great option if you can't access your phone directly, but remember to back up your data first.

What to do if your iPhone fails to clear and you've already sent it for repair

If your iPhone is already in for repair and you can't disable Find My iPhone, follow these steps to remove it from your account:

1. Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
2. Click Find iPhone.
3. At the top, click All Devices and select the device you sent for repair.
4. Click Stop Erase Request.
5. Click Remove from Account.
6. Your device is now removed from Find My iPhone.