If you are getting ready to sell your iPhone 16, trade it in, hand it to someone else, or simply switch Apple accounts, you will probably need to turn off Find My iPhone first. Apple locks this feature tightly on purpose because it protects your device if it is lost or stolen. That is good for security, but it can be a little annoying when you are trying to make a clean switch.
The good news is that the process is fast once you know where to look. In this guide, you will learn how to turn off Find My iPhone on iPhone 16 step by step, what to do if the toggle is greyed out, and a few common fixes if Apple refuses to let you sign out. If you are in a hurry, the short version is simple: go to Settings, tap your name, open Find My, then turn off Find My iPhone and enter your Apple ID password.
Quick Summary
- Open Settings on your iPhone 16.
- Tap your Apple ID name at the top.
- Go to Find My.
- Tap Find My iPhone.
- Turn it off and enter your Apple ID password to confirm.
Tutorial – How to Turn Off Find My iPhone on iPhone 16
The steps below will fully disable Find My iPhone on your device. This is the standard method Apple uses, and it requires your Apple ID password for security.
Step 1: Open the Settings app
Go to your iPhone 16 home screen and tap Settings.
You should see the main Settings menu, with your Apple ID name at the very top. This is where most account and security changes begin.
Step 2: Tap your Apple ID name
At the top of the Settings screen, tap your name and profile picture.
This opens your Apple account page. If you do not see your name, make sure you are signed in to the correct Apple ID first. Find My is tied to that account, so you need access to it before you can disable the feature.
Step 3: Select Find My
On the Apple ID page, tap Find My.
You should now see options related to device tracking and location sharing. This is the control center for Find My iPhone, Find My network, and location settings.
Step 4: Tap Find My iPhone
Inside the Find My menu, tap Find My iPhone.
You will likely see a toggle switch on the next screen. If it is turned on, it will appear green. This is the setting you need to change.
Step 5: Turn off Find My iPhone
Tap the toggle next to Find My iPhone to switch it off.
Apple will ask for your Apple ID password to confirm the change. This is normal. It is the last security check before the feature is disabled.
Step 6: Enter your Apple ID password and confirm
Type in your Apple ID password, then tap Turn Off or Disable if prompted.
After confirmation, Find My iPhone will be turned off. On the screen, you should see the toggle switch turn gray, indicating the feature is no longer active on that device.
Step 7: Verify the change
Go back one screen or reopen Find My to confirm the setting stayed off.
If the toggle remains gray and no longer shows as enabled, you are done. If you are preparing the phone for sale or trade-in, this is also a good time to sign out of your Apple ID and, if needed, erase the device.
Alternative Methods and Edge Cases
If you are selling or trading in the iPhone 16
Turning off Find My iPhone is only one part of the process. For a full handoff, you should also:
- Turn off Find My iPhone.
- Go to Settings and tap your Apple ID name.
- Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
- If needed, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
This removes your account and personal data from the device so the next owner can activate it without trouble.
If the Find My iPhone toggle is grayed out
This usually means one of three things:
- Screen Time restrictions are active.
- The phone is managed by a work or school profile.
- You are not signed in with the correct Apple ID.
Check Settings > Screen Time first. If the phone is managed by an organization, you may need the administrator to remove restrictions.
If you want to turn off location sharing, not Find My completely
These are different settings. If you only want people to stop seeing your location, go to:
- Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services
- Or open the Find My app and stop sharing your location with specific people
This keeps device protection on while limiting who can see where you are.
If you forgot your Apple ID password
You cannot turn off Find My iPhone without the password.
In that case, go to iforgot.apple.com to reset your Apple ID password, then return to the iPhone 16 and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off Find My iPhone erase my data?
No, turning off Find My iPhone does not erase your photos, apps, or messages. It only disables Apple’s tracking and anti-theft feature for that device.
Can I turn off Find My iPhone without the Apple ID password?
Usually, no. Apple requires the Apple ID password to protect the device from unauthorized changes.
Why is Find My iPhone missing from my settings?
If you cannot find it, you may be signed in to a different Apple ID, or the phone may be subject to Screen Time or device management restrictions. Check your Apple account first.
Do I need to turn off Find My before selling my iPhone 16?
Yes. It is strongly recommended. If Find My stays on, the new owner may hit Activation Lock and be unable to use the phone normally.
Will signing out of Apple ID also turn off Find My iPhone?
In many cases, yes, but Apple may ask you to disable Find My first or enter your password during sign-out. It is safer to turn it off directly before signing out.
Can I turn Find My iPhone back on later?
Yes. Just return to Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone, then turn it back on and sign in with your Apple ID if prompted.
Tips
- If you are preparing your iPhone 16 for sale, back up it first using iCloud or a computer.
- Make sure you know the correct Apple ID password before starting, because Apple will not let you bypass it.
- If Find My iPhone is on, the device is protected by Activation Lock, which helps protect against theft but must be removed before transfer.
- You can check whether the phone is still linked to your account by opening the Find My app on another Apple device or signing in to icloud.com.
- If the phone belongs to an employer or a school, ask the admin before changing the account’s security settings.
- After turning it off, confirm the status on a second screen so you do not assume it worked when it did not.
Troubleshooting
- If the toggle will not switch off, restart the iPhone 16 and try again. A quick reboot often clears minor software glitches.
- If Apple keeps asking for a password you do not know, reset it at iforgot.apple.com and then try again.
- If the setting is blocked, check Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Restrictions can prevent account changes.
- If this is a managed work phone, contact your IT team. Device management can lock Find My and other security settings.
- If your iPhone says it cannot connect to Apple servers, check your Wi-Fi or cellular data, then try again. Apple needs an active connection to verify the change.
- If the phone is stuck and the settings look wrong even after signing out, update iOS via Settings > General > Software Update, then retry.
Conclusion
Turning off Find My iPhone on an iPhone 16 is usually straightforward, as long as you have the right Apple ID password. For most people, it takes less than a minute once you know the path in Settings.
If you are selling, trading in, or handing off the device, this step matters a lot. It helps you avoid Activation Lock issues and makes sure the next user can activate the phone without headaches.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.