- You can delete your Apple ID from Apple's Data and Privacy website.
- Once an Apple ID account is deleted, you'll lose access to a number of services and saved content.
- Deactivating your account is a temporary alternative to permanently deleting your Apple ID.
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While an Apple ID is essential for using an iOS device, if you are leaving the Apple device ecosystem, you might want to delete your account to clean up your digital footprint.
Apple makes it easy to deactivate your account on their Data and Privacy website. Here's how to do it.
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How to delete an Apple ID account
1. Go to Apple's Data and Privacy website. Sign in using your Apple ID.
2. In the Delete your account section, click Request to delete your account.
3. Select a reason to delete your account from the drop-down menu, then click Continue.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to continue with account deletion.
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What happens when you delete Apple ID?
Once an Apple ID account is deleted, you'll lose access to a number of services and saved content. Below is a list of a few things that happen:
- You lose access to Apple services and App Store media purchases.
- Photos, videos, and documents stored in iCloud are permanently deleted.
- You'll no longer receive iMessages, FaceTime calls, or iCloud Mail.
- You lose access to iCloud, the App Store, Apple Pay, Find My, and any apps or services associated with your Apple ID.
- The email address associated with your Apple ID account will be unavailable for use with a new or existing Apple ID.
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What to do before deleting Apple ID
Since you'll lose access to a number of services and data, there are a few things you should do before permanently deleting your Apple ID.
- Back up your data, or download a copy of your data from Apple.
- Sign out of all of your devices and web browsers associated with your Apple ID. If you don't do this, you may not be able to use your devices.
- Review your active subscriptions, as they will be canceled once your Apple ID is deleted.
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How to deactivate Apple ID
Deleting your Apple ID account is a permanent action, so if there's any chance that you'll use it in the future you should temporarily deactivate your account instead. Here's how it's done:
1. Go to Apple's Data and Privacy website. Sign in using your Apple ID.
2. In the Temporarily deactivate your account section, click Request to deactivate your account.
3. Select a reason to deactivate your account from the drop-down menu, then click Continue.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to continue with temporary account deactivation.
Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a contributing writer for Insider based in New York. She loves a good glazed donut and nerdy deep dives into the science of food and how it's made.
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.
