‘Find My iPhone’ is a handy application available from iCloud.com, that is used for tracing your iPhone or iPad if it is lost or misplaced.
If your device goes missing, you can put it in ‘Lost Mode’ immediately. This feature will then display where your device is and allow you to track where it’s been. You can immediately lock your device and send it a message with a contact number. Then whoever finds it can call you from the Lock screen without accessing the rest of the information on your device.
To set it up follow the instructions below;
To add a device
- Sign in to iCloud.com or use the ‘Find my iPhone’ app to see your missing iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac on a map.
- Open Settings
- Tap on iCloud
- If you aren’t signed in already, enter your Apple ID and password (your iCloud credentials)
- Turn on the toggle for “Find My iPhone”
It’s that easy. You will be prompted to turn on Location Services if it is inactive.
Handy Tip; Activation Lock is designed to prevent anyone from using your Apple device. If you ever lose your device, it will start working the moment you turn on “Find My iPhone’. From then on your iCloud credentials will be required before anyone can turn this feature off, erase your device or reactivate it.
Deleting a device or remote erase.
Sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you’re worried that your device has fallen into the wrong hands, you may want to initiate a remote wipe to delete your personal data and restore your device to it’s factory settings. Note that Find My iPhone will continue to display your customised message even after the device has been erased. And if you do retrieve your device, you can restore it from your iCloud backup.
Removing a device is easy when you delink the device. This process is as simple as turning off the switch from Settings → iCloud.
While having multiple iCloud Accounts is not recommended, it is not uncommon for users to delete iCloud Account From iPhone and Add a New one. You will find below the steps to Delete iCloud Account from iPhone and switch to a New iCloud Account.
Delete iCloud Account From iPhone
Follow the steps below to remove iCloud Account From iPhone. The same steps can be used on other iOS devices like iPad and iPod.
1. Open Settings, scroll down and tap on Passwords & Accounts.
2. Next, tap on iCloud option located under “Accounts” section.
4. On the pop-up, tap on Sign Out again.
5. You will see another pop-up, asking you to confirm that you do want to continue with the process of deleting iCloud Account. Tap on Delete from My iPhone.
6. You see yet another pop-up from iCloud, this time asking you as to what you would like to do with your iCloud and Contacts Data stored on your iPhone.
As you can see in the image above, you have two options to choose from:
- Keep on My iPhone – Choosing this option will backup all your iCloud Safari, News and Contacts data to your iPhone
- Delete from My iPhone – All your iCloud Safari, News and Contacts data will be deleted from your iPhone.
7. On the Final screen, enter your Apple ID Password and tap on Turn OFF.
Wait for your iPhone to Turn OFF Find My iPhone and sign you out of iCloud.
How to Switch to Different iCloud Account
One of the reasons as to why people delete an iCloud Account on iPhone is to switch over to a new or different iCloud Account.
Most Apple users use iCloud to synchronize and backup their devices as well as to access some Apple services available through iCloud. When you stop using, give away, or sell one of your devices, though, you need to remove it from your iCloud account. You can do that using your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
How to remove a device from iCloud using an iPhone or iPad
1. Start the Settings app and then tap your account name at the top of the screen.
2. Scroll down to find the list of devices connected to your account. Tap the one you want to remove.
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Related coverage from Tech Reference:
How to log out of Find My iPhone on an iPhone running iOS 13, by using the new Find My app
How to use the Find My iPhone feature for a Mac, to locate your computer if it's lost or stolen
How to access iCloud Drive on an iPhone with the Files app, so you can work on and save documents across your Apple devices
How to change the iCloud account on your iPhone, and use a separate account for iTunes & App Store purchases
How to activate and access iCloud Drive on a Mac computer
Dave Johnson
Freelance Writer
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.