Whether you have a second Apple ID you do not use or want to suspend your main Apple account for a while, this tutorial shows you how to deactivate your Apple ID, the consequences of doing so, and how to later reactivate it.
Even after you deactivate your Apple account, Apple will keep that account and its data on its servers. However, you won’t be able to sign in with your Apple ID on any device or the web.
And if you’re already signed in, you will be logged out and you won’t be able to access your iCloud data and everything else that’s store by various Apple services.
Also see: How to permanently delete your Apple ID
Should you deactivate your Apple ID?
You must not deactivate your Apple account if you have (or plan on using) even one Apple device such as an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, or HomePod. This will ensure you can get regular software updates, install and update your apps, and can use things like App Store, Books Store, iTunes Store, iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, iCloud Mail, and more.
We strongly advise you go through this Apple Support page, which explains all the consequences of deactivating your Apple ID.
Before you deactivate your Apple ID
1) Go through your active subscriptions. Once you deactivate your Apple ID, your subscriptions that are managed through Apple will not be renewed. As a result, you won’t be able to use those services on other devices. For instance, I subscribe to Canva through my Apple account. If I deactivate my Apple ID and once my current billing cycle ends, I won’t be able to use Canva Premium on my Windows computer.
2) Back up your iCloud data, such as contacts, notes, important emails, and more, to a place that is not dependent on your Apple ID.
3) If you have passwords stored in iCloud Keychain, move them somewhere else. Similarly, if you have set up two-factor authentication codes in your iPhone or Mac’s iCloud Keychain, set them up elsewhere, like Google Authenticator on your Android phone.
4) Download DRM-free purchased movies, songs, books, audiobooks, and other things locally so you can use them.
5) Apple also asks you to pay off any remaining Apple Pay Later loan installments that you may have.
6) You should sign out of iCloud and turn off Find My on your iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro, Mac, and other devices. If you don’t, you won’t be able to sign out or turn off Find My, and thus Activation Lock will stay in place, until you reactivate your account.
Related: 13 things to do when moving from iPhone to Android
Deactivate your Apple ID
If you’ve decided to go ahead, follow these steps in a web browser on your phone or computer.
1) Visit privacy.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID email and password.
2) Scroll down the “Manage your data” screen and click Request to deactivate your account.
3) Carefully review the “What happens when my account is deactivated” and “Before deactivating your account” sections. After that, scroll down, select a reason why you’re deactivating your account, and hit Continue.
4) Go through the important information Apple wants you to know about and hit Continue.
5) Review the “Deactivation Terms & Conditions,” check the box if you agree with those conditions, and hit Continue.
6) Decide where you want Apple to reach you in case they need to contact you regarding your account.
7) Very important: You will now see an access code. You must keep it safely somewhere. Once again, this place should not be one that’s accessible with your Apple ID, which you’re deactivating.
If you lose this code, you will never be able to reactivate your Apple ID and get your data stored there. So, note this code someplace safe and hit Continue.
8) Apple will ask you to enter the access code shown above. This is to ensure you actually took note of that code. So, enter it and hit Continue.
9) Hit the red Deactivate account button to finalize your suspension request.
Remember that Apple lets you deactivate your account for any reason, but it will take up to seven days to verify your deactivation request. During this time, your Apple ID will remain active.
In rare cases, if your account is not deactivated, you’ll see a message telling you that you must contact Apple to complete the process.
Reactivate your Apple ID
When the time comes to regain access to your Apple ID, simply contact Apple Support, give them the access code you saved during the deactivation process, and they will help you activate your account again.
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