How to permanently delete your Apple ID: Full guide

Deleting your Apple ID is generally straightforward, but there are a few steps you should take beforehand to ensure you don’t lose access to important data or services. This guide walks you through everything you need to do and provides step-by-step instructions for unlinking your Apple devices from your account before you delete it.

Note: Apple ID is now called Apple Account, but this guide will refer to it as Apple ID for consistency.

What is an Apple ID?

Your Apple ID is the single account that ties together almost everything you do in Apple’s ecosystem. It’s your identity across all Apple services. It usually consists of an email address and a password, although in some regions, a phone number can be used instead of an email. With it, you can:

• Sign in on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
• Automatically set up Apple services on new devices.
• Use the “Sign in with Apple” option where supported.
• Sync data through iCloud (photos, contacts, messages, backups, and notes).
• Buy apps, subscriptions, and media.
• Use features like Find My, FaceTime, and iMessage.
• Manage devices and privacy settings.

What happens if you delete it?

Deleting your Apple ID permanently removes any data that Apple was storing for that account on its servers, apart from certain data it’s legally required to keep. This means you can’t reopen your account and:

• All content stored in iCloud, like photos and videos, is deleted.
• You can’t receive calls and messages sent to your account through iMessage, FaceTime, or iCloud Mail.
• You lose access to Apple services, such as iCloud, the iTunes Store, Apple Pay, or the App Store.
• All Apple Store appointments and AppleCare support cases are cancelled.
• Related Apple subscriptions will be cancelled after the end of the billing cycle.
• You may lose access to items purchased through the iTunes Store, App Store, or Apple Books.
• Family Sharing groups are disbanded, and family members lose access to shared subscriptions or content.

Without an Apple ID, you’ll still be able to use your Apple devices, but you won’t be able to download or update apps from the App Store, sync data through iCloud, back up your iPhone or iPad, or use Find My. A Mac can still run local apps and download software from the web, while an iPhone or iPad becomes far more limited unless you’re in the EU, where third-party app marketplaces are allowed (but still discouraged by Apple).

What to do before deleting your Apple ID

To avoid issues such as lost data, failed payments, or service interruptions, make sure you complete the following steps before submitting an Apple ID deletion request:

Back up iCloud data and device info

Make a backup before deleting your Apple ID, since you’ll lose access to iCloud and everything stored in it afterward. Be sure to save important files, such as photos, videos, and documents, to an external drive or a storage service that doesn’t rely on your Apple ID for access.

Review subscriptions and services

Check your active subscriptions, since they’re automatically canceled at the end of their billing cycle after you delete your Apple ID. If you’re paying for a product in installments through Apple Pay, you’ll have to pay off any remaining loan payments before deleting your account.

Sign out of all devices

It’s important to sign out of any devices linked to your Apple ID before deleting it. This stops iCloud services, including Find My, from running on those devices. If you delete your Apple ID without signing out first, the devices that were still signed in may stay locked to that Apple ID. This may prevent you or anyone you give or sell the device to from using it because the Apple ID required to unlock the device no longer exists.

Update accounts that use your Apple ID

Change your login method for any websites where you use your Apple ID to sign in. You should also update your payment method for services billed through Apple Pay to avoid payment issues or service interruptions.

Check your Family Sharing status

If you’re the organizer of your Family Sharing group and that group includes a child’s account, that account will also be deleted. To keep that account active, you’ll need to transfer it to another Family Sharing group before you delete your Apple ID.

Can you use the same email or phone number again?

According to Apple, you generally can’t reuse the email associated with a deleted Apple ID to create a new account. Apple keeps a one-way hash of that email as a security measure and legal obligation, which prevents it from being used again as long as it’s stored. The company doesn’t clarify whether the same phone number can be reused, but it may not be possible in regions where a phone number can serve as the primary Apple ID login.

Step-by-step process to delete your Apple ID

1. Go to Apple’s Data and Privacy page and log in with your Apple ID.
2. Click the Request to delete your account option.
3. Choose a reason for deletion, then click Continue.
4. Go over Apple’s warning regarding what happens after you delete your Apple ID, and select Continue.
5. Review Apple’s terms and conditions, agree to them, and click Continue.
6. Choose how you want Apple to send you account status updates, then click Continue. Options include email, phone, or another account.
7. Apple will provide you with an access code, which you should note down and store securely, as it lets you reactivate your account if you change your mind before your request has been processed.
8. Type in the access code, select Continue, and finally click Delete account.

Deactivation vs. deletion: Know the difference

Unlike deletion, deactivating your Apple ID is temporary. Apple keeps all information associated with a deactivated account so you can reactivate it whenever you want. It does stop processing most of your information while your ID is deactivated, which means nothing new is collected, synced, or backed up under that account, and your data isn’t used to run Apple services unless it’s legally required to.

If you want to reactivate your Apple ID, you’ll have to contact Apple’s support team and provide the unique alphanumeric access code you received when you requested the deactivation.

How to deactivate your Apple ID

1. On Apple’s Data and Privacy page, select the Request to deactivate your account option.
2. Choose a reason from the dropdown menu, then click Continue.
3. Review Apple’s list of things to know before deactivating your account, then agree to its terms and select Continue.
4. Choose how to receive account status updates, write down the unique code provided by Apple and store it securely, then click Continue.
5. Enter the access code, click Continue, and select Deactivate account to finalize the process.

What if you can’t access your Apple account?

If you’re unable to log into your account, try the following:

• Reset your password: Apple recommends resetting your login on a trusted device that’s signed into your account. If this isn’t an option, you may need to use the Apple Support app on a borrowed device from a friend or family member.
• Change your Apple ID email: You can change your primary email address associated with your account on a trusted device, just like your password. Alternatively, you can use the Apple Account management page.
• Contact Apple Support: Access the company’s support page and contact their representatives. Once they verify your identity, they may be able to help you regain access to your account.
• Start an account recovery request: This process can help you regain access, but Apple recommends it as a last resort because it could take several days or longer. You can start account recovery on your device or by visiting Apple’s account recovery page.

How to remove an Apple ID from all devices

How to remove your Apple ID from an iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app and tap your name, which is located at the top of your screen.
2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out.
3. At this point, Apple gives you two options:

• Erase This Phone: This removes your Apple ID, all of your apps, and any associated data from the phone. It’s the option to pick if you’re selling, trading, or giving the phone away.
• Sign Out But Don’t Erase: This action removes your Apple ID only (and some data), but all apps and settings remain.

4. If you chose to sign out without erasing, tap Continue on the next two screens.
5. If you’re erasing your phone, tap Continue. Next, you’ll need to choose between Keep your eSIM and Erase Data or Delete eSIM and Erase Data. If you’re only signing out of your Apple ID from the phone, you won’t see this step.
6. Type in your Apple ID password, tap Confirm and Sign Out, and you’ll get signed out.

How to remove your Apple ID from a Mac

1. Click the Apple icon from the menu bar and select System Settings.
2. Select your Apple Account name at the top, then click Sign Out.
3. Decide whether or not to keep a copy of the data on your Mac.
4. Enter your password for your Apple account. It’ll turn off the Find My Mac feature and sign you out.

How to unlink your Apple ID from Apple Watch

Place your Apple Watch and iPhone close together, then follow these steps:

1. On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app.
2. Navigate to the All Watches tab and select the info icon (i) next to the Apple Watch you want to unlink.
3. Tap the Unpair Apple Watch button at the bottom.
4. Select the Unpair [Apple ID’s name]’s Apple Watch option.
5. Enter your account password to unpair the device.

Note: If you have an Apple Watch GPS + Cellular model, you’ll have to choose whether to keep or remove your cellular plan. Apple recommends keeping the plan if you intend to pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone in the future.

How to remotely remove a device from your Apple ID via iCloud

1. Access the Find Devices page on iCloud. Sign in with your Apple ID if asked to.
2. On the All Devices tab, choose the one you want to remove.
3. Click Remove.

Enhance your privacy when deleting an Apple ID

Deleting an Apple ID doesn’t come with any inherent privacy risks. Apple encrypts communication to its servers using HTTPS/TLS, which protects your Apple ID login and makes it very hard for anyone to intercept or alter your deletion request.

The main concern comes from using public or untrusted Wi-Fi, where you might encounter general network threats. For example, if you accidentally connect to a hotspot controlled by a bad actor, they could redirect you to a fake Apple login page or tamper with your Domain Name System (DNS) to send you to look-alike sites.

Why use a virtual private network (VPN) during the deletion process

When you connect to a VPN, all your data, including DNS lookups, is sent through an encrypted tunnel to the VPN server. This prevents the Wi-Fi network owner, internet service provider, or anyone monitoring the network from reading or modifying your data, so they lose the ability to redirect you to fake pages, hijack your DNS, or interfere with your connection before you reach Apple’s real site.