How to unlink Apple ID from iPhone: two simple ways - [#Author's instructions]

iOSLifehacks

January 20, 2022

Many users purchase used iPhones.

In this regard, the problem of unlinking the device from the accounts of the previous owner becomes urgent.

The material answers the question - how to unlink Apple ID from iPhone.

The essence of the problem

If you purchased an Apple phone with an unlinked account from the previous owner, in the first days of use this may not be noticeable in any way - if you know the passcode (or it is disabled), there will be no problems during use.

However, even in this case, there may be restrictions on the use of some services.

The problem occurs, for example, after you have flashed the device or installed an update on it. Now, to activate the device, you need to re-enter the credentials to which the smartphone is linked.

When you enter yours, an error appears, since the device requires entering the information that was entered when activating the iPhone.

If you cannot re-activate with the same data, then in fact, the phone will not work for you. But even if you haven’t installed updates or flashed the firmware, the phone seems to function normally at first glance, but a number of problems are still possible:

• Using iCloud and other Apple services.
• Inability to work with iTunes, since it is impossible to install and launch the program initially.
• Inadequate functioning of some official applications.
• Serious restrictions on all financial transactions, both online and in applications, and via the NFC system.

The second possible reason why you may need to unbind is if the device falls into the wrong hands.

If you have lost your iPhone or had it stolen, you need to remotely unlink your account so that an unauthorized person does not gain access to your personal data, financial procedures, cards, etc.

A specific problem is remote blocking. If you find a device on the street, then with a high degree of probability, the former owner has already blocked the smartphone; you will not be able to use it without entering your account credentials at the unlocking stage.

Rice. 1 Blocked device

Important ! The problem is typical for both iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple Watch. The solutions are given using a smartphone as an example, but the same scheme applies to other gadgets.

Why disconnect your device from iCloud?

If you want to sell or give away your device, you will have to deauthorize it. To do this, you need to unlink the device from iCloud so that the new owner can fully use their IPhone, iPad, iPod, etc.

Otherwise, when trying to activate the device, the new owner will block it and can only be unlocked at an Apple service center or at official local representative offices (in Russia these are reStore and Sotovik), and this will cost a lot of money. Thus, when donating or selling a device, it becomes necessary to unlink it from the iCloud service.

In fact, there are several ways to disconnect a device from iCloud. This variability of actions is explained by the versatility of the Cupertino storage; it can interact simultaneously with personal computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

Unbinding methods

The basic rule that you need to remember is that if you find or purchase a device that is subsequently blocked and asks for account information, you need to know this information to unlock it.

There is no other way to unlock other than entering your original activation credentials.

This is mainly due to the operation of the Find iPhone . Once the user activates it online, the Activation Lock feature is automatically enabled and the device begins asking for activation data when unlocked/rebooted.

It is precisely the activation of the Find iPhone that you need if you have lost your device - this will protect against your personal information falling into the wrong hands.

Not long ago, when purchasing a smartphone from Apple, the buyer was advised to check for the presence of the Activation Lock , so that the seller could not lock the device remotely for fraudulent purposes (for example, extorting money for unlocking). There was even a special algorithm for checking.

This check was carried out using IMEI, allowing the buyer to protect himself from scammers, and also indirectly check whether the device was stolen. But starting in 2022, the possibility of such verification disappeared - Apple turned off the service, citing the fact that it increases the likelihood of hacker attacks on devices.

Rice. 2 Lost iPhone

How to turn off automatic syncing in iTunes

iTunes software, designed to transfer files to the user's device, also has automatic synchronization. This function transfers sometimes unnecessary data to the user’s portable gadget when it is connected to a computer via a USB cable. But even this function can be deactivated.

To turn off automatic syncing in iTunes, you need to:

1. Connect your mobile device to your computer.
2. Open iTunes.
3. Uncheck the box next to the media library object tab.
4. Select “Sync only marked items.”
5. Save accepted changes.

After following the instructions, automatic synchronization in iTunes will stop.

Video instructions demonstrating how to disable automatic syncing in iTunes

Case 1: legal transfer of the device, there is access to a smartphone

The algorithm below is completely official. It assumes that the owner voluntarily unlinks all accounts from the device when transferring it to a new user.

Such measures are carried out when purchasing a smartphone in person.

• Open the Settings on your device, then tap on the iCloud item (in new versions there is no such item, then you need the iTunes Store and Apple Store).

Rice. 3 Device settings

• Scroll down the page that opens and find the Sign Out - tap on it. A pop-up window will appear asking you to confirm your decision - tap again on Exit . Now the device will ask what to do with the data on the device - you can save it or delete it (depending on the situation, select the option that suits you and tap on it).

Rice. 4 Quit

You will be prompted to enter your Apple ID and password - enter your device activation data.

This will start the data deletion process. Wait for it to finish - when this happens, you will receive a corresponding notification on the screen of your device.

The device is now cleared of your personal data and unlinked from your accounts. You can give it to a stranger.

It is clear, however, that this method will not help if the smartphone comes into your hands already blocked.

How to disable synchronization between iPhone and iPad

The methods for disabling synchronization between iPhone and iPad are absolutely identical to deactivating this function between two smartphones. The fact is that Apple tablets run on the same iOS operating system as Apple smartphones. Therefore, you can disable data transfer in two main ways:

• create a new Apple ID account;
• change the synchronization settings of your portable gadget.

The only exception is the lack of Messages on some iPad models. Therefore, deactivation of this service is skipped.

Video instructions on how to disable synchronization between your iPhone and iPad

Possible problems

In most cases, the steps performed are sufficient to completely unlink the device from accounts.

However, sometimes, even after carrying out all the described steps, the iPhone is still in the list of your devices on icloud.com, therefore, for greater reliability, it is recommended to carry out a number of more actions:

• Open the settings of your device, go to General . There, scroll the page to the Reset and tap on it.

Rice. 5 Basic

• In the window that opens, select Erase content and settings , then Reset all settings .

Rice. 6 Reset

Several pop-up windows will appear in turn, in which you will need to confirm your decision by clicking on Erase IPhone .

Some models and update versions also require entering a passcode and/or activation data for your device (password, AppleID).

At this stage, the device is definitely completely unlinked from all accounts. A new user can enter new personal credentials for full operation of the device.

Case 2: there is no longer access to the smartphone

A number of sellers, when transferring a device to a new user, simply forget to unlink it from the Apple Cloud.

This leads to serious restrictions when using the device by the new owner.

To unlink accounts from a device that is no longer in the hands of the owner, you can use the following algorithm:

• Go to www.icloud.com. Log in using the credentials of the device you want to unlink from your account (password and Apple ID).

Rice. 7 Authorization

• Find Find iPhone and click on it.

Rice. 8 Find

• Then check the Find all devices . A list of all Apple devices linked to this account will appear in the background of the map - in the drop-down list, click on the gadget that you want to unlink from your credentials.

Rice. 9 Device selection

• A window with basic functions will appear on the right side of the screen. In its lower right corner, find the Erase iPhone and click on it.

Rice. 10 Erase

• Another pop-up window will appear in which you need to confirm your decision - click on the item Erase .

Rice. 11 Confirmation

• After this, the window in the upper right corner of the screen will update and require you AppleID password , even though you are already logged in to the site - enter it and confirm.

Rice. 12 Account

Since the unlinking occurs remotely, no matter where the smartphone itself is located, if it is turned on, then dialog boxes will be displayed on its screen confirming the process - there is no need to take any actions in them - just click Next , then Finish .

If this is not done, unbinding will still occur, but this will become clear only after rebooting the device.

All actions on the part of the initial owner of the device have been completed, it is unlinked from all accounts.

The cleaning process on an untethered iPhone will start as soon as it has unlimited Internet access. The user will not be able to stop this process.

After the cleaning is completed, the smartphone will reboot and require a new activation with new credentials. The method is very convenient not only for the legal transfer of a phone, but also if it was stolen from you or it was lost - if taken in a timely manner, such measures will prevent your personal information from reaching a stranger.

Possible problems

It is clear that if the remote smartphone does not have access to the Internet, then the command to clear iCloud cannot come to it.

But in this case, you can still unbind via DFU mode.

To do this, do the following:

• Repeat steps 1-5 of the previous algorithm.
• Now that a window with a list of your devices has appeared at the top of the device, click the one you want to unlink and click on the cross to the right of its name. Perform flashing using DFU mode.

Rice. 13 Untying

Flashing in DFU mode can only be carried out with the direct participation of the smartphone itself (on it you need to hold down the Home and Power On / Off ). That is, the method will not help if you have lost your smartphone.

Case 3: you have a device linked to an Apple ID

When buying a device in person, make sure that it is necessarily unlinked from the credentials - it is better if the seller does the unlinking according to the above algorithm in front of your eyes. Otherwise, the device will become non-functional at the first update, not to mention the fact that the seller will be able to block it remotely.

If you find or purchase a device linked to someone else’s account, it is completely useless for you.

You may not install updates until a certain point, but the functionality will still be significantly limited.

In fact, for example, a found activated iPhone cannot be used, even if it is not yet locked remotely.

Not even Apple Support can help you here. Although, if the seller has given you a sales receipt for the purchase of the device and all the complete documentation, then it’s still worth trying to contact them - sometimes the iPhone can be unlocked with the help of support staff.

In all other cases, you need to look for the account owner and act together with him as described in the first or second section. However, finding such a seller is often very difficult; of course, there are cases when the former owner did not unplug the iPhone due to ignorance or inattention, but most often stolen devices are sold in this form, that is, the seller himself does not know the necessary information.

Rice. 14 Locked smartphone

What is an account on iPhone?

First, it’s worth understanding what an account on an iOS phone is and what benefits it can bring to the user. In fact, this is a fairly convenient tool that, after registration, allows users to open access to all company resources. The user just needs to specify the identifier, after which the following actions become possible:

1. The user can set individual characteristics and settings in order to purchase something in the company’s store in the future;
2. You can also purchase media content, the same music or movies, through iTunes;
3. You can easily download updated programs via iOS;
4. There is also access to help resources;
5. You can synchronize the contents of devices using the iCloud service.

Note! Creating an account is not that difficult. The user should only provide an email address, as well as additional data, for example, a backup email, phone number, and enter answers to security questions. If the user was previously registered, but has already forgotten all his data, then he can restore all data through the internal service. In any case, there is an excellent support service that will open up all further possibilities.