How to Remove iCloud and Apple ID Before Selling Your iPhone

30 Jun 2026 · 2 min read

An iPhone still linked to your Apple ID is useless to the buyer because of Activation Lock. Even after a reset, it will ask for your Apple ID and password. Most iPhone buyers in Pakistan know this and will check. Here is how to remove everything properly.

Step 1: Back up your iPhone

Go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then iCloud Backup, and tap Back Up Now. You can also back up to a computer. Back up WhatsApp separately inside WhatsApp, under Settings, then Chats, then Chat Backup. See our backup guide.

Step 2: Unpair your Apple Watch

If you use an Apple Watch, open the Watch app, tap All Watches, tap the info button next to your watch and choose Unpair. This also removes the watch's own lock.

Step 3: Turn off Find My iPhone

1. Open Settings and tap your name.
2. Tap Find My, then Find My iPhone.
3. Turn it off and enter your Apple ID password.

Step 4: Sign out of your Apple ID

1. Go back to Settings and tap your name.
2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
3. Enter your password and confirm.

Step 5: Erase the iPhone

1. Go to Settings, then General.
2. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
4. Enter your passcode and confirm.

When the iPhone shows the Hello screen, it is ready for the buyer.

Step 6: Remove the SIM

Take out your physical SIM. If you use an eSIM, the erase step will ask whether to keep or delete it. Delete it if you are not moving the eSIM to a new phone.

Step 7: Remove it from your Apple account list

Do it in front of the buyer

The safest way is to keep your data until payment is done, then sign out and erase while the buyer watches. Allow 10 to 15 minutes. The buyer can then start setup and see that no Apple ID is asked for.

If you forgot to remove it

If you already handed over a locked iPhone, sign in at icloud.com/find, choose the device and select Remove This Device. The buyer may need to restart the phone.

Once the iPhone is clean, follow our guide on selling a used iPhone or post your ad for free.