How to remove iCloud before selling your iPhone

iCloud Activation Lock is the single most common reason recyclers reduce their offer or reject a phone entirely. Here's how to make sure yours is clean before you send it.

What is Activation Lock?

When Find My iPhone is enabled, your Apple ID is linked to the device. Even after a factory reset, a new owner can't set up the phone without your Apple ID password. Recyclers can't resell a locked phone — which is why they'll either reject it or drop their offer significantly.

How to remove it before selling

The easiest way is to sign out of iCloud on the device itself:

1. Open Settings 2. Tap your name at the top 3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out 4. Enter your Apple ID password 5. Tap Turn Off for Find My iPhone 6. Tap Sign Out and confirm

That's it. Activation Lock is now removed.

What if you've already sent the phone?

You can remove Activation Lock remotely at icloud.com/find. Sign in with your Apple ID, click All Devices, select the phone, and click Remove from Account. The recycler can then proceed with the reset.

Checking it worked

Ask someone to try and set up the phone. If it goes straight to the Hello screen without asking for your Apple ID password — it's clean.