Turning off Find My iPhone disables the ability to locate, lock, or erase your device remotely, and it removes Activation Lock, the feature that ties the iPhone to your Apple Account. This is the expected step before selling, trading in, or sending a phone for certain repairs. The downside is that if the phone is lost or stolen while it is off, you cannot track or wipe it.
Why this happens
Find My combines two things: location and theft protection.
- Location lets you see the device on a map and play a sound, and on many recent iPhones it can be found through the Find My network even when powered off, but only if the feature was on beforehand.
- Activation Lock prevents anyone from erasing and reactivating the phone without your Apple Account password. Turning off Find My removes this lock so a new owner can set the device up.
- Turning it off also stops remote lock and remote erase for that device.
Is this normal?
Yes. Turning off Find My is a normal and expected step before selling, trading in, or handing a device to a repair service that requests it.
Does it cause any problems?
While it is off you lose theft protection for that device. You cannot locate, lock, or erase it remotely, and it will not appear in the Find My network, so a lost or stolen phone becomes much harder to recover.
How to fix or check it
- To turn it off, open Settings, tap your name at the top, tap Find My, tap Find My iPhone, and toggle it off, then enter your Apple Account password.
- If you are selling or giving the phone away, the cleaner method is to erase it: Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings. This signs you out and removes Activation Lock.
- If you already gave the device away without erasing, sign in at the Find My website or app, then remove the device from your account after it is erased.
- To confirm the current state, open Settings, tap your name, and check Find My.
- To turn it back on, follow the same path and toggle Find My iPhone on.
Frequently asked questions
Does turning off Find My remove Activation Lock?
Yes. Turning off Find My iPhone, or signing out of your Apple Account, removes Activation Lock for that device.
Can I still find my phone if the feature is off?
No. Find My must be enabled before the phone is lost. If it is off, there is no way to track it.
Should I turn it off before a repair?
Some repairs require it, so follow the service's instructions. In general, only turn it off if they specifically ask.