Turn off Find My iPhone by opening Settings, tapping your name at the top, then Find My, then Find My iPhone, and switching the toggle off. You will need your Apple ID password to confirm it. Skip this step and your trade-in company can reject the phone over Activation Lock, a security feature that keeps a stolen or unwiped iPhone from being reactivated by anyone else.
Trade-in programs check for this before they process your payout. This guide covers the exact steps, what to do first, and how to confirm it stuck.
Why Find My iPhone Has to Be Off Before a Trade-In
Find My iPhone links your device to your Apple ID through Activation Lock, and that lock survives a factory reset. Erase your phone without turning the feature off first and it still shows as tied to your account. No buyer or trade-in service can bypass that without your Apple ID credentials. The feature stops thieves from reselling stolen phones, but it also stops you from completing a legitimate trade-in if you forget the step.
How to Turn Off Find My iPhone Step by Step
Open Settings and tap your name at the very top of the screen to open your Apple ID page. Tap Find My, then Find My iPhone, where you will see a green toggle next to the feature.
Tap the toggle to switch it off. iOS will ask for your Apple ID password before the change goes through. Enter it and confirm.
If you cannot remember your Apple ID password or lost access to the account, the process looks different. Bleebot has a full walkthrough on how to turn off Find My iPhone without the password, including what Apple support can and cannot do for you.
What to Do Before You Flip the Switch
Back up anything you want to keep. Once Find My iPhone is off and you erase the device, local data that never made it to iCloud or your computer is gone for good.
Check who can see your location before you hand the phone off. Bleebot’s guide on how to share your location on iPhone also covers how to stop sharing it.
Unpair Bluetooth accessories tied to this iPhone, including AirPods, so the next owner does not connect to them by accident. If a replacement pair gives you trouble later, this fix for AirPods not pairing after an iOS update covers the usual causes. Sign out of iMessage and FaceTime too, so texts stop routing to a phone you no longer own.
How to Confirm It Actually Turned Off
Go back to Settings, your name, Find My, and Find My iPhone. The toggle should read off and gray, not green. You can also check from a browser at iCloud.com under Find My. If the device no longer appears in your list after you erase it, the phone is ready to hand over.
What Happens If You Skip This Step
Most trade-in companies run an automated Activation Lock check during intake. A locked device gets flagged, and your quote gets held or canceled until you remove the lock yourself. Private buyers hit the same wall: an iPhone tied to your Apple ID is a paperweight to anyone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does erasing my iPhone automatically turn off Find My iPhone?
No. Erasing through Settings prompts you to turn off Find My iPhone first if it is still active, but it does not happen silently. You still need your Apple ID password at that point.
Can a trade-in company remove Activation Lock for me?
No. Only the Apple ID owner can remove Activation Lock, either from the device itself or through iCloud.com. Trade-in companies cannot bypass it on your behalf.
What if I already sold the iPhone and forgot to turn off Find My iPhone?
Sign in to iCloud.com from any browser, go to Find My, select the device, and remove it from your account. This clears Activation Lock remotely as long as you still remember your Apple ID credentials.
