How to Deactivate an iPhone?(3 Methods)

Are you looking to deactivate your iPhone? Here is a simple guide on How to deactivate an iPhone.

Deactivating an iPhone essentially means wiping out all the contents of the device including various settings and files. Doing this will bring the iPhone back to its default glory including bringing back the factory settings and layout. This means that this allows you the chance to start over again while setting up.

Deactivation of the iPhone is done for countless reasons; be it to resell your iPhone, to repair or update, to try to find a lost iPhone or even simply to detox from phone addiction. Deactivation allows the user to protect their privacy and safe keep all their personal information that they have updated on their iPhone over the years.

Deactivation of the iPhone is a simple process and can be done in two ways; directly or remotely. You can directly deactivate your iPhone through iOS or, surprisingly, through iTunes and remotely through iCloud or at an Apple Store.

How to Deactivate an iPhone?(3 Ways)

The following are the 3 different methods to deactivate an iPhone.

Using iOS to deactivate or reset your iPhone

Step 1: Click on the ‘settings’ app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Hit the ‘general’ option and scroll all the way down.

Step 3: Click on the ‘reset’ option, this will lead you to numerous options.

Step 4: Out of all the options presented to you, click the ‘erase all content and settings’ option.

Step 5: The device will ask you to input your Apple ID and password.

Now you have officially deactivated your iPhone, removing all content, data and settings from the device. Once this process is done, the iPhone will restart automatically and will display the welcome screen which asks you to set it up again from scratch.

How to deactivate an iPhone Using iTunes?

iTunes is an entertainment platform provided exclusively to Apple users by the creators. It is a one-stop spot for all your music needs along with access to countless podcasts, audiobooks, meditation prompts and more. But learning that you can deactivate and restore your iPhone through iTunes can come as a shock, it definitely is not a mainstream way to do so.

Step 1: Click on the ‘settings’ app present on the home screen of your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap the ‘iCloud’ option followed by the ‘find my iPhone’ option to turn the setting off that you had previously enabled.

Step 3: The device will now prompt you to enter your Apple ID and password, after doing so hit the ‘turn off’ option.

Step 4: Now open your computer and get onto iTunes.

Step 5: Connect your iPhone to your computer with the help of a USB cable.

Step 6: On iTunes, select your iPhone. When you do this, a summary screen will pop up.

Step 7: Select the ‘restore iPhone’ option and hit the ‘restore’ button on the confirmation pop-up to confirm that you want to go ahead with the process.

Once the deactivation is done, the iPhone will restart automatically and it will display the welcome screen which asks you to set it up again from scratch.

Using iCloud to remotely deactivate and restore your iPhone

iCloud functions as a storage spot for all Apple users and all their devices. It allows for easy access along with strong privacy and protection features. It makes complete sense that you can deactivate and restore your iPhone through iCloud and you can do so with ease.

Step 1: On the web browser of your choice, open iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.

Step 2: Find and click on the ‘find my iPhone’ option.

Step 3: From the menu, select your iPhone to go to the information screen of your device.

Step 4: Here, select the ‘erase iPhone’ option and type in your Apple ID when the pop-up comes up.

Despite carrying out the deactivation process remotely, the deactivation is done immediately as you prompt it if the iPhone is online. This is perfect for when you have lost your iPhone with no hopes of finding it or if your iPhone had been stolen. You will also receive an email after the deactivation confirming the completion of the process.

Despite all the ways shown here on how to deactivate your iPhone, the easiest of all would simply be to call Apple Support and ask them to deactivate your iPhone for you. They will simply enquire about you your Apple ID and the reason for deactivation and they will even send you an email to your Apple ID email address when the deactivation process is done.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I deactivate my iPhone without a password?

Ans. Yes, you can deactivate your iPhone without a password. You will have to do so through iTunes and you can successfully restore your iPhone without a password. You will simply need a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer for this.

2. Does removing my SIM card deactivate the iPhone?

Ans. Removing the SIM Card simply means that the next user will not be able to make calls from your account but other sensitive information on your iPhone such as emails, files, photographs, etc. still remain and can be accessed again.

3. Does deactivating my iPhone disable the ‘find my iPhone’ option?

Ans. Yes, restoring your iPhone will deactivate the ‘find my iPhone’ lock. You will need to enable it again if you wish to after resetting your iPhone. You can find it under the ‘iCloud’ option in the ‘settings’ app.

4. How do I restore any Apple device?

Ans. Step 1: Click on the ‘settings’ app on your Apple device.

Step 2: Then hit ‘general’ and scroll down.

Step 3: Find and hit ‘device management’, here look for the Apple device you wish to deactivate and click on it.

Step 4: Now select ‘deactivate device’ under ‘device info’ and you are done.

Q5. How can I resent my iPhone without having to move any data from it?

Ans. To do so, hold the home and sleep buttons down simultaneously until the screen shows the Apple logo, you can let it go for the device to reset.

Related Posts:

• How to Change Language on iPhone?
• How to Calibrate iPhone Screen?
• How to Make Keyboard Bigger on iPhone?
• How To Control F on iPhone and iPad?
• How to Make Hotspot Faster on iPhone?
• How to Split Screen on iPhone?

Final Words

Be it to resell or to start over, whatever your reason to deactivate your iPhone, the process is simple and will hardly take a minute of your time. Hopefully, this how-to article helps guide you in the process of deactivating and restoring your iPhone.a