If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably tried to sign out of your Apple ID at some point, only to find that the option isn’t available. There’s no need to panic though, as there’s a perfectly good reason for this. Here’s why you can’t sign out of your Apple ID, and what you can do about it.
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Why can’t I sign out of my Apple ID?
There are a few reasons why you might not be able to sign out of your Apple ID. One possibility is that you’re using an older version of iOS that doesn’t support signing out of iCloud. Another possibility is that you’re signed in to iCloud on a device with an activated lock feature, such as Find My iPhone.
If you’re using iOS 10.3 or later, you can sign out of iCloud by going to Settings > [your name] > Sign Out. If you’re using an earlier version of iOS, you can sign out of iCloud by going to Settings > iCloud > Sign Out.
If you’re signed in to iCloud on a device with an activated lock feature, you need to enter your password to turn off the feature before you can sign out. To turn off Find My iPhone, go to Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone and tap the switch to turn it off.
How to sign out of your Apple ID
If you’re using iOS 10.3 or later, tap Settings > [your name]. Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out.
If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, tap Settings > iCloud. Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out.
If you have an Android device, you can manage your Apple ID and access other features from Settings on your device. Just open Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Add Account > iCloud.
What to do if you can’t sign out of your Apple ID
If you can’t sign out of your Apple ID on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, try using Sign out in Settings. If that doesn’t work, force restart your device. If you still can’t sign out, reset your Apple ID password and try again.
How to change your Apple ID password
If you’re using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can change your Apple ID password in the Settings app.
- Tap Settings > [your name].
- Tap Password & Security.
- Tap Change Password.
- Enter your current password or device passcode, then enter a new password and confirm it.
- Tap Change or Change Password.
How to delete your Apple ID
Deleting your Apple ID is a permanent process. If you delete your Apple ID, you will no longer be able to access any of the services or data that you have associated with it. This includes anything that you have purchased from the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store; any iCloud data; and any documents or backups that you have stored in iCloud Drive. Before you delete your Apple ID, be sure to sign out of all Apple services on every device that uses your account.
How to recover your Apple ID
If you forgot your Apple ID, you can look it up.If you know your Apple ID but want to change it, sign in to your Apple ID account page.
To sign in to your Apple ID account page, Go to appleid.apple.com and enter your Apple ID and password. If you have two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID, you’ll be asked to enter a six-digit verification code that’s automatically sent to your trusted device or phone number. Once you sign in, you can change the name, password, and email address that you use for your Apple ID.
How to protect your Apple ID
By signing out of your Apple ID, you can prevent other people from accessing your iCloud data, making purchases on your behalf, or opening a Find My iPhone session. If you share an Apple ID with someone else, consider creating a separate account for yourself.
To sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:
- Tap Settings
- Tap iCloud.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out. If you’re using iOS 10.3 or later and want to turn off Activation Lock before you sell your device, tap Erase [device].
- Enter your password and tap Turn Off.
After you turn off Activation Lock, you can remove the device from your account by tapping Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Devices and tapping the device that you want to remove.
FAQs about signing out of your Apple ID
Q: I forgot my Apple ID password. What should I do?
A: If you forget your Apple ID password, you can reset it online or by calling Apple support.
Q: Why can’t I sign out of my Apple ID?
A: There could be a number of reasons why you are unable to sign out of your Apple ID. It is possible that you do not have the correct password, or that your account has been disabled. If you need further assistance, you can contact Apple support.
Q: How do I change my primary Apple ID?
A: You can change your primary Apple ID by signing into My Apple ID (https://appleid.apple.com) and updating your account information.