APPLE FIND MY DEVICE

Mac Repairs

The Apple Find My Device security feature can be used to find a lost or stolen device, initiate remote erasure, or mark the device as lost or stolen should it go online again.

Apple requires the device to be removed from the Find My account before service work can proceed. This confirms that you authorise the service, and minimises the risk of stolen or lost equipment being illegitimately serviced.

Devices with Find My may include*:

  • Apple iOS devices – iPhones, iPads, iPods
  • Apple Watch devices
  • Apple Mac, Macbook, or iMac products released 2017 or later

*External accessories such as cables, mice, keyboards, and power supplies do not generally require Find My to be removed.

TURN OFF FIND MY ON APPLE DEVICES

Method 1 – Disable Find My On A Working Device

Apple AirTag/AirPod – using paired iPhone/iPad

  1. Ensure your iPhone/iPad has internet connectivity
  2. Open the Find My app on your iPhone/iPad and from the bottom menu
    • Tap ‘Items’ for AirTags or
    • Tap ‘Devices’ for AirPods or other Apple Products
  3. Select your AirTag or device from the list and Tap Remove
  4. If prompted, enter your Apple ID password, and confirm the removal.

 

Apple iOS Devices – iPhone, iPad, iPod – with no Stolen Device Protection

Use this method when you have access to the iOS device and it still functions:

  1. Ensure your device has internet connectivity
  2. Open Settings.  You’ll usually find this app on the home screen;
  3. Tap your Name at the top of the screen;
  4. Tap Find My.  It’s the green “radar” icon – sometimes you need to click on iCloud first;
  5. Tap on Find My at the top of screen, then move the Find My slider to Off;
  6. Enter your AppleID password and tap Turn Off;
  7. You should now see the Find My slider is set to Off.

 

Apple iOS Devices – with Stolen Device Protection enabled

With the release of iOS 17.3, a number of recent iPhone models XR/XS, 11, and higher models allow an additional layer of security called Stolen Device Protection to be enabled.

Stolen Device Protection enforces an additional security delay to protect your device/account from unauthorised changes. Use of this feature will however alter your available options for disabling Find My when service is required.

If you are in a Familiar Location (typically your home, office, or similar), and have not set ‘Require Security Delay’ to Always – you may choose to turn off Stolen Device Protection under the Face ID & Password menu, followed by then turning off Find My using the above instructions for a device without Stolen Device Protection.

If you are in an unfamiliar location – such as a retailer or Service Plus office – the following options are still available to turn off Find My and allow servicing to be completed.

  1. Settings, General, Reset, Erase All Content and Settings – this will prompt you for your Apple ID, and require a secondary authentication using Touch ID/Face ID, followed by wiping your phone – but will not incur any additional security delay.
  2. Use Method 2 – Disable Find My Using Apple website – further down this page – this will also allow you to turn off Find My – without incurring a security delay.

 

Apple Mac / iMac

Use this method when you have access to the Mac device and it still functions:

  1. Ensure your device has internet connectivity
  2. Click the Apple logo at the top left corner of your Mac home screen;
  3. Click System Preferences;
  4. If you are running Mac OS 11 or higher – click Apple ID (in upper right corner)
  5. Click iCloud – you may be asked for your Apple ID and password;
  6. De-select Find My Mac;
  7. Enter your Apple ID and password, then click Continue.

 

Apple Watch – using paired iPhone

  1. Ensure your iPhone has internet connectivity
  2. Position your iPhone and Apple Watch side-by-side;
  3. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and tap the My Watch tab;
  4. Tap your watch name at the top of the screen, then tap ;
  5. Tap Unpair Apple Watch. For Apple Watch with GPS + Cellular models it is recommended tap Remove [Carrier] Plan first;
  6. Enter your Apple ID password. Tap again to confirm.

 

Method 2 – Disable Find My Using Apple website

Use this method when you don’t have access to your Apple iOS, Mac, or Watch device, or if it doesn’t function.

  1. Using another computer or laptop (not iOS/mobile), open the browser and log into icloud.com;
  2. Enter the AppleID and password that you use for the device you want to disable Find My Device on;
  3. If you are prompted for Two Factor Authentication but do not have access to your device, scroll down for the Find My option;
  4. Click Find My.  The icon looks like a green radar.  A map with tracked devices will show;
  5. Click All Devices at the top/centre of the screen.  If a device is offline you may need to wait up to 30 seconds for all devices to appear;
  6. Click the device you want to remove;
  7. Select Remove from Account.
    • It can take a minute for the “Remove from Account” option to be available while Find My searches for your device.
    • If the device is offline, but has a pending erase request, you may need to cancel the erase request in order to remove it from the account.  NOTE: An erase request will attempt to wipe the device – this will result in loss of any data on the device that is not backed up.

If you have tried the above without success, please visit the Activation Lock Support Site – al-support.apple.com – or call the Apple support hotline on 0800-1-APPLE (0800 127753).

For more information, please refer the Apple articles here:

Remove a device from Find Devices on iCloud.com:  https://support.apple.com/kb/ph2702
Unpair & Erase your Apple Watch:  https://support.apple.com/HT204568
Turn Off Activation Lock – https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201441
Get your iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Ready for Service – https://support.apple.com/en-nz/HT201557
Apple Activation Lock Support – https://al-support.apple.com

FIND MY LOST/STOLEN DEVICE

If your device is lost or stolen and has the Find My feature enabled, you can attempt to locate it, mark it for erasure, or mark it as lost/stolen.

For details on using Find My – please refer to Apple – https://support.apple.com/explore/find-my

It is recommended that you should keep Lost or stolen devices linked to your iCloud account. This will prevent whoever is in possession of the device being able to fully utilise it once you remove it from your account.

DEVICE ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (DEP)

If your device is owned by a Business or Enterprise who has enrolled it in the Device Enrollment Program (DEP) it may also be necessary to remove this also in order to allow servicing.

Should this be required, please raise the matter with your IT Support team responsible for device procurement and administration.

For more information about the Device Enrollment Program please refer to the following sites