To sign out of your Apple Account on an iPhone, open Settings, tap your name at the top, scroll to the bottom, and tap Sign Out. Choose whether to erase the iPhone or sign out without erasing, then enter your passcode or Apple Account password to finish.
Apple lists these steps in Sign out of your Apple Account and iCloud on your devices, checked in October 2026. The same steps work on iPad. Your Apple Account was formerly called your Apple ID.
Before You Sign Out
Signing out of your Apple Account also signs you out of iCloud, the App Store and other Apple media services, iMessage, and FaceTime. Your iCloud data stays in iCloud, but it is removed from the iPhone unless you choose to keep a copy. Apple suggests a few steps to avoid losing anything:
- Back up first. Make sure you have a recent iCloud backup. See how to back up an iPhone to iCloud.
- Let changes sync. If you just edited synced content, wait a bit or check iCloud.com to confirm it synced.
- Save what is not in iCloud. Not everything is backed up, so copy anything that is not synced.
- Know your password. If you do not know your Apple Account password, change it before you sign out.
How to Sign Out of Your Apple Account on iPhone
- Open the Settings app. Result: Settings opens.
- Tap your name at the top of the screen. Result: your Apple Account page opens.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out. Result: Apple asks how you want to sign out.
- Choose Erase this iPhone or Sign Out But Don’t Erase. Result: the onscreen prompts explain what stays and what is erased.
- Enter your iPhone passcode or Apple Account password. Result: Apple verifies it is you.
- If you chose Sign Out But Don’t Erase, tap Confirm and Sign Out. If you chose Erase, tap Sign Out, then Sign Out again. Result: you are signed out.
Use Sign Out But Don’t Erase if you want to switch to a different Apple Account and keep the phone’s other content. Use Erase this iPhone if you are selling or giving away the phone.
What Turns Off When You Sign Out
Apple lists many iCloud services that stop working on the phone after you sign out, including:
- Apple Pay, Apple Cash, and Apple Card
- Find My
- iCloud Backup, iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, and iCloud Keychain
- iCloud Mail, Notes, and Reminders
- Messages in iCloud and Game Center
- Continuity features like Handoff
If you only want to stop some of these, Apple suggests changing your iCloud settings instead of signing out completely.
Signing Out Also Affects Your Apple Watch
Apple says that when you sign out on the iPhone paired with your Apple Watch, the watch is signed out of your Apple Account too.
Can’t Tap Sign Out?
If you see “Sign out is not available due to restrictions,” Apple says a Screen Time passcode is probably on. Turn it off in Settings > Screen Time > Manage Screen Time, then try again.
If your name is grayed out, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allow Changes to Settings, tap Accounts, and set it to Allow. If the iPhone belongs to a child in a Family Sharing group, a parent or guardian has to enter the Screen Time passcode. Work or school-managed accounts may also block signing out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will signing out delete my photos?
Photos in iCloud stay in iCloud. Apple says the iCloud copies are removed from the iPhone unless you choose to keep a copy when prompted.
Can I sign out of a phone I no longer have?
Yes. Apple says if you cannot sign out on the device, remove it from your Apple Account instead.
Should I erase the iPhone when I sell it?
Yes. Choose Erase this iPhone, or see how to factory reset an iPhone. AirTags are registered to your Apple Account as well; see how to connect an AirTag to your iPhone.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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