If you’re planning to sell your iPhone, trade it in, send it for repair, or transfer it to another Apple Account, one of the most important steps is turning off Find My iPhone. On iOS 26, Apple still requires users to disable Find My before certain actions because the feature is linked to Activation Lock, which prevents unauthorized access to your device.
The process is straightforward, but there are a few things you should know before getting started. In some cases, Apple’s security features such as Stolen Device Protection, can add an extra verification step when turning off Find My.
Here’s every method you can use to turn off Find My iPhone on iOS 26.
Table of contents
Turn Off Find My iPhone From Settings
This is the fastest and most common method. You’ll need your Apple Account password and an active internet connection.
When Find My is turned off, Activation Lock is removed from the device, making it ready for a new owner, repair service, or trade-in program.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your Apple Account name at the top.
- Select Find My.
- Tap Find My iPhone.
- Toggle off Find My iPhone.
- Enter your Apple Account password when prompted.
- Tap Turn Off to confirm.
After a few seconds, Find My will be disabled on your iPhone.
Turn Off Find My Network (Optional)
Apple’s Find My Network allows supported iPhones to be located even when they’re offline or powered off. If you want to completely disable device tracking, you can turn this off separately.
- Open Settings.
- Tap your Apple Account name.
- Go to Find My.
- Tap Find My iPhone.
- Turn off Find My Network.
- Confirm your selection if prompted.
Remove Find My Using iCloud
If you no longer have physical access to the iPhone, you can remove it from your Apple Account through iCloud.
This method is especially useful if you forgot to disable Find My before selling or giving away the device. Apple allows users to remove Activation Lock remotely after erasing the device.
- Open a browser and sign in to iCloud Find Devices.
- Open Find Devices.
- Select the iPhone you want to remove.
- If necessary, erase the device first.
- Choose Remove This Device.
- Confirm the removal request.
Once completed, the device can be activated by another user.
Turn Off Find My Before Selling or Trading In
Many users forget this step and discover the issue only after arriving at a trade-in location.
Apple requires Find My to be disabled before a trade-in can be completed because Activation Lock remains active while the feature is enabled. Some users with Stolen Device Protection enabled may encounter a security delay when attempting to turn it off in unfamiliar locations.
- Back up your iPhone.
- Turn off Find My.
- Sign out of your Apple Account.
- Erase all content and settings.
- Hand over or sell the device.
What to Do if You Can’t Turn Off Find My
Occasionally, the option may appear grayed out or refuse to disable.
Common causes include:
- Incorrect Apple Account password.
- No internet connection.
- Stolen Device Protection restrictions.
- Apple Account verification issues.
- Software bugs requiring a restart or update.
Troubleshooting Steps
- Connect to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Verify your Apple Account password.
- Update to the latest iOS 26 version.
- Try again from a trusted location if Stolen Device Protection is enabled.
FAQs
Yes. When Find My is disabled, Activation Lock is automatically removed from the iPhone.
No. Apple requires account verification before Find My can be disabled.
Yes, but typically you’ll need to erase the device and then remove it from your Apple Account through iCloud.
The feature helps locate lost devices, activate Lost Mode, remotely erase data, and protect the device through Activation Lock.
Yes. Apple recommends disabling Find My before erasing the device for sale, trade-in, or transfer.
Summary
- Open Settings > Apple Account > Find My > Find My iPhone.
- Turn off the Find My iPhone toggle.
- Enter your Apple Account password.
- Disable Find My Network if desired.
- Remove the device from iCloud if you no longer have access to it.
- Turn off Find My before selling, trading in, or repairing your iPhone.
- Ensure you have internet access and your Apple Account credentials available.
Conclusion
Turning off Find My iPhone on iOS 26 only takes a few minutes, but it’s an important step whenever you’re transferring ownership of a device or preparing it for service. Whether you’re using the Settings app directly on your iPhone or removing the device through iCloud, disabling Find My ensures Activation Lock is removed and the next owner can set up the device without issues. Before proceeding, make sure you know your Apple Account password and complete a backup if you want to keep your data safe.
