- Security
- Privacy
- Performance
If you’re leaving the Apple ecosystem behind, you don’t want to leave any digital footprints that could compromise your privacy or security. That’s where deleting your Apple ID when you move to other operating systems can help. In this article, we’ll explain how to delete your Apple account, preserve your Apple data, and improve your online privacy with a VPN.
.png)
You can quickly and easily delete your Apple ID on Apple’s Data and Privacy website — simply log in from any device and submit a request to delete your Apple account. Apple will verify your identity and process the deletion, which may take up to seven days.
Deleting your Apple ID is permanent — so be sure to back up your Apple data first — but if you no longer use Apple devices or services, it helps boost your internet security. Unlike temporarily deactivating your account, deleting your Apple ID ensures your data is wiped from Apple’s servers, minimizing the risk of data brokers collecting and selling your information which reduces your exposure to identity theft.
If you’re sure you want to permanently delete your Apple ID, follow these steps:
Go to Apple’s Data and Privacy website and log in to your Apple Account.
Click Request to delete your account.
Select a reason for permanently deleting your Apple ID and click Continue to confirm deletion.
Once your Apple ID deletion is complete, Apple will send you a confirmation email stating that your account has been permanently deleted. If you change your mind before receiving this confirmation, you can still cancel the request.
If you're leaving the Apple ecosystem but might use an Apple device or service again soon, temporarily deactivating your account can help prevent its misuse in the meantime. The process for deactivating your Apple ID is similar to deleting your account, but your information is preserved for later use.
Here’s how to temporarily deactivate your Apple ID:
Log in to Apple’s Data and Privacy website and select Request to temporarily deactivate your account.
Next, select your reason for deactivating your account, and click Continue to confirm.
While deactivating your account helps minimize exposure, it doesn’t eliminate the risk of your dormant account being hacked. If you’re concerned that someone may have compromised your online account, try our free Hack Check tool. Additionally, if you suspect your device has been compromised, check out our step-by-step guide on removing spyware from your iPhone.
If you’re selling or gifting an old iPhone, MacBook, or iPad, you don’t need to delete your Apple ID. Instead, simply remove your old device from your account. You can do this by heading to any of the following:
The Settings app
The Find My app
iCloud.com
Apple Music
Apple TV
Because you can access iCloud.com from any device, we’ll show you how you can remove devices from your Apple ID via iCloud:
Go to iCloud.com/find, sign in with your Apple ID, and select the device you want to remove.
Select Remove This Device and confirm the removal.
Before permanently deleting your Apple ID and wiping any data stored in iCloud, back up your Apple data to a local device to avoid losing access to purchased apps, sent messages, and stored files such as photos and videos. To make space for the backup on your device, you may need to clean up your iPhone or clear the cache and cookies on your iPad.
If you’re using a PC, this process can be a bit cumbersome, as there are distinct backup processes for different types of files. For example, here’s how to back up your iCloud photos and videos to a PC:
Open iCloud for Windows. If you don’t have it already, you can download it for free from the Apple website.
Sign in with your Apple ID.
Enable iCloud Drive, select iCloud Photos to manage your media, and click Apply to save changes.
Open File Explorer and navigate to iCloud Photos.
Select the photos or videos you want, then copy and paste them into a local folder or external drive for backup.
If you’re looking to improve your privacy online, Avast Secureline VPN can help by masking your IP address and encrypting all the data you send and receive online. By hiding your online activities — even from your internet provider — this easy-to-use app helps stop data brokers, cyber spies, and snoops in their tracks. Best of all, you can try it out for free to see how easy it is to keep your internet activity private.
