How to Turn Off Find My Phone on iPhone and Android
Find My Phone is one of the most useful security features on modern smartphones — until the moment you need to turn it off. Whether you're preparing to sell your device, troubleshooting a software issue, or transferring ownership, disabling this feature requires a few specific steps that differ depending on your platform.
Here's a clear breakdown of how it works, what disabling it actually does, and why the process varies more than most people expect.
What "Find My Phone" Actually Does
Find My on iPhone (part of Apple's broader Find My network) and Find My Device on Android do more than just show a dot on a map. Both services:
- Track your device's GPS location remotely
- Allow you to lock or wipe the device if it's lost or stolen
- Tie the device to your account so it can't be easily reset and reused without your credentials
On iPhones, this last function is enforced through Activation Lock — a feature baked into Apple ID that prevents anyone from using your iPhone after a factory reset unless they know your Apple ID and password. This is the most important thing to understand before you turn it off, especially if you're selling or giving away your phone.
How to Turn Off Find My on iPhone 📱
Apple bundles Find My with iCloud and Activation Lock. Disabling it requires your Apple ID password.
Steps:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap your name at the top (your Apple ID profile)
- Tap Find My
- Tap Find My iPhone
- Toggle Find My iPhone to off
- Enter your Apple ID password when prompted
- Tap Turn Off
That's it. Once disabled, your device will no longer appear in the Find My app on your other Apple devices or at icloud.com/find.
If you're selling the phone, the more complete approach is to sign out of your Apple ID entirely:
- Go to Settings → [Your Name] → Sign Out
- This removes your Apple ID, disables Find My, and removes Activation Lock in one step
Attempting to erase and sell an iPhone with Find My still enabled will leave the device locked to your account — making it nearly unusable for the next owner.
How to Turn Off Find My Device on Android
Android's equivalent is Find My Device, managed through your Google account. The process is slightly different depending on the manufacturer and Android version, but the general path is consistent.
Steps (stock Android / Pixel):
- Open Settings
- Tap Security (or Security & Privacy on newer Android versions)
- Tap Find My Device
- Toggle it off
On Samsung devices (One UI):
Samsung runs two separate tracking systems — Google's Find My Device and Samsung's own Find My Mobile.
To disable Google's version:
- Settings → Security and Privacy → Find My Device → toggle off
To disable Samsung Find My Mobile:
- Settings → Biometrics and Security → Find My Mobile → toggle off
If you're planning to factory reset a Samsung phone before selling it, it's worth disabling both.
Why You Might Need to Turn It Off
The most common reasons people disable Find My Phone:
| Reason | Platform Consideration |
|---|---|
| Selling or trading in the device | Critical on iPhone (Activation Lock); important on Android |
| Factory reset or repair | Required on iPhone before sending to service |
| Troubleshooting sync/iCloud issues | iOS-specific |
| Switching Google accounts | Android — sign out of Google account handles this |
| Privacy preference | Both platforms |
| Parental control setup changes | Both platforms, depending on Family Sharing or Google Family Link |
What Happens After You Turn It Off
On iPhone: The device is removed from your Find My network immediately. Activation Lock is lifted. If someone wipes and restores the phone, they won't be prompted for your Apple ID credentials.
On Android: The phone is removed from your Google account's device list. However, Android doesn't have a direct equivalent of Activation Lock built into the OS by default — though Factory Reset Protection (FRP) serves a similar function on most Android devices and is tied to your Google account sign-in, not specifically to Find My Device being enabled.
This distinction matters: turning off Find My Device on Android doesn't necessarily remove FRP. To do that, you need to remove your Google account from the device before performing a reset.
Variables That Affect the Process 🔍
The steps above cover the most common scenarios, but your specific situation introduces factors that can change what you need to do:
- iOS version: Apple occasionally moves settings between major iOS releases. The path above reflects recent iOS versions, but layout can vary on older software
- Android version and manufacturer skin: Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and other manufacturers customize the Settings menu significantly
- Whether you know your Apple ID or Google account password: Both platforms require authentication to disable these features — if you've forgotten your credentials, account recovery becomes the first step
- Managed or corporate devices: MDM (Mobile Device Management) profiles on work phones may prevent you from disabling location tracking features at all, regardless of your account
- Family Sharing or Google Family Link: If the device is part of a family group, the account holder managing the group may need to make changes first
The right sequence of steps depends heavily on which of these situations applies to your device.