How to Delete/Deactivate Your Apple Account Safely

If you’re thinking about leaving the Apple ecosystem, you may want to delete your Apple account. Luckily, Apple allows you to do this. If you don’t want to lose access to your account entirely, you can also temporarily disable it. Here’s how to do both!

How to delete Apple account

Before we continue, it’s important to know that permanently deleting your Apple account means losing access to all of your data stored in iCloud, including contacts, photos, and files. You’ll also lose access to Apple services like Messages, FaceTime, Find My, Apple Music, and any purchases you’ve made through them.

So, make sure you download your photos from iCloud and make a copy of any other important data.Next, follow the steps below to permanently delete your Apple account:

1. Go to Apple's Data & Privacy website and sign in with your account credentials. If you have two-factor authentication (2FA) turned on, verification codes can be sent to your other Apple devices.
2. You will now be redirected to the Manage Your Data page . Scroll down and tap Request deletion of your account under the Delete your account heading .
3. Expand the drop-down menu labeled Select a reason . Then, click the Continue button .
4. On the next screen, read through the important things to know before deleting and tap the Continue button . Similarly, review the Deletion Terms & Conditions , check the checkbox and tap Continue again.
5. You will be asked how you would like to receive updates about your account. Choose from one of the options on the screen and tap Continue .
6. You will receive a 12-digit access code to verify your identity. Keep this code safe because if you change your mind before Apple processes your request, you can contact Apple Support and provide it to cancel the deletion of your account. Now click Continue .
7. Finally, click the red Delete Account button and select Sign Out .

It can take up to a week for Apple to permanently delete your Apple account. During this time, your account will remain active. However, Apple apps that use iCloud data may not function properly. So make sure you sign out of all your Apple devices.

How to disable Apple account

If you want to take a short break from Apple services and don't want to completely deactivate your account, you can temporarily deactivate your account. While your data will remain intact, it's still a good idea to create a local backup of your data.

During the deactivation period, you will not be able to access iCloud data or use Apple services. If you pay for subscriptions through the App Store, please note that they will not renew while your account is deactivated.

To manage active subscriptions on your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions .

On your Mac, you'll need to go to System Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases and click Manage next to Subscriptions .

Once you've completed it, the process of deactivating your Apple account is more or less the same as permanently deleting it. To start the process, tap the Request to Deactivate Your Account  button under Temporarily Deactivate Your Account . Select a reason for deactivating your account and tap Continue .

Follow the on-screen instructions as detailed above and finally press the Deactivate Account button  when prompted.

When you want to reactivate your Apple account, all you need to do is contact Apple Support and provide them with your access code.

Whether you're switching from iOS to Android or creating a new Apple account, deleting your current account can be a good option. However, if you think you might need to access this account again in the future, you should deactivate your account and store your access tokens in a safe place instead.