How to remove Activation Lock and turn off Find My iPhone on iPhone or iPad

By Mick Symons, Rene Ritchie
last updated

How to erase an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with the Find My iPhone app

You can no longer simply remotely turn off Find My iPhone. From a separate device or the Find My iPhone app, the only way to remove an iPhone or iPad from Find My iPhone is by erasing it. Here's how to do it using the Find My iPhone app.

  1. Launch the Find My iPhone app from any iOS device. If you don't already have it you can get it for free in the App Store - Download Now (opens in new tab)
  2. Sign in with your iCloud account, if prompted.
  3. Tap on the device you'd like to erase.

Launch Find My iPhone, sign in, tap on the device you'd like to erase

  1. Tap on Actions at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Tap Erase on the bottom righthand corner of the screen.
  3. Tap Erase to erase all contents and settings from the device.

Boom. Your iPhone or iPad has now been essentially reset to factory settings. This is a good tool if you've completely lost your device and are totally sure you're never getting it back. It's also a good idea to do if you're selling or giving away your device. The only issue is that, if you did not sign out of iCloud first, then Activation Lock still may be active on the phone.

Mick Symons
Mick Symons

Mick is a staff writer who's as frugal as they come, so he always does extensive research (much to the exhaustion of his wife) before making a purchase. If it's not worth the price, Mick ain't buying.

8 Comments
  • Can we say how stupid it is that Apple won't let you sign in to iCloud.com from an iOS device? Most people think signing in in settings will merge accounts. They should let you sign in on a friend's phone and at least ONLY access FMiP and turn it off.
  • It is stupid, but if you do need to do it then you can download a browser which lets you customise your useragent string, so the website thinks you're browsing from a computer
  • How unlock activiation lock my i phone
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  • Hey guys i just got my hands on an iPhone (i've never owned an iPhone but my missus has a 7Plus i'm assuming mine is a 6s or even a standard 6 as the screen is about 5" or maybe a lil bigger. BUT ANYWAY.... i'm an Android man never owned a single apple product so it's ALL Alien to me & my girl is no tech savvy person what-so-ever so no point worrying to put any questions 2 her! Sooooo i need sum1 to help me unlock th1s phone! i mean the chinese do it ALL DA TiM EM =TEY LiTERALLY HAV 90% OFF ALL iPHONES DAT get boosted from around the world end up there!
    just 2 be clear the one i got iS NOT HOT! i got it on GUMTREE from a backpacker & i think when she got home or to wereva she was going she pulled a SCAM & lockd me out of da phone so she could get a new one from APPLE as aftEr a few days a screen came up say1ng phone was locked.... SOOOOOOO... HOW DO i RESET THE PHONE (LikE THOSE CRAFTY CH1NESE i'VE BEEN READ1NG ABOUT LOL)j iT SAYS = iPhone is Disabled-Connect to iTunes
    SOS 0nly (into left corner of screen)
    EM ERGM ENCY in middle of screen under iPhone is Disabled-Connect to iTunes
    CAN SUM 1m PLS HELP ME =MANY THX!! [contact info removed per rules]
  • Sounds like you have a locked phone due to it being either stolen, or account locked.  We cannot help you unlock - you need to work through Apple.  Anything else would be against our site rules.  Good luck.
  • I forget my apple id. And phone is stuck in icloud activation mode. Any way i can unlock my phone?
  • Also this video can help to unlock iPhone if you forgot the passcode, and the activation lock can be removed. YouTube ID: jkPAB7tCRig