What happens when you delete your Apple ID

Deleting your Apple ID is permanent and cannot be undone. Once deleted, you lose access to all Apple services tied to that account: iCloud, the App Store, Apple Music, iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Pay, and any photos or documents stored in iCloud. You cannot use the same email address to create a new Apple ID for 30 days after deletion.

Before you delete, Apple requires you to remove the ID from all your devices. This means signing out of iCloud on every iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV connected to that account. If you forget a device, the deletion process will not complete.

Deletion takes about a week. Apple sends a confirmation email and gives you a seven-day window to cancel if you change your mind. After seven days, the account is gone and cannot be recovered.

Key Takeaways

  • You must sign out of iCloud on every device before Apple will let you delete the account, or the process will fail.
  • Deletion is permanent after seven days and cannot be reversed, so back up any photos, documents, or data you want to keep first.
  • You cannot use the same email address to create a new Apple ID for 30 days after the account is fully deleted.
  • The fastest way to start deletion is through your Apple ID account page at appleid.apple.com, not through Settings on a device.
  • If you have an active subscription to Apple Music, Apple TV+, or iCloud storage, cancelling it before deletion prevents unexpected charges.

Back up your data before you start

Any photos, videos, documents, or notes stored in iCloud will be deleted along with your account. If you want to keep them, read them to your computer or another device first.

For photos and videos, use iCloud.com on a computer: sign in, go to Photos, select the images you want, click the read icon, and save them to your computer. For documents in iCloud Drive, sign in at iCloud.com, open iCloud Drive, select your files, and read them the same way. For notes, open Notes on your iPhone or Mac, select each note, tap the share icon, and choose Save as PDF or email it to yourself.

If you use iCloud Keychain to store passwords, write down any passwords you need for accounts you plan to keep using after deletion. You will not have access to them once the account is gone.

Sign out of iCloud on every device

Apple will not let you delete your account if it is still signed in on any device. You must sign out on every iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV that uses that Apple ID.

On iPhone or iPad: Open Settings, tap your name at the top, scroll down, and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password when prompted. A menu will ask what you want to do with iCloud data on that device — choose Keep on My iPhone or Keep on My iPad so you do not lose local copies of photos or notes. Repeat this on every iPhone and iPad.

On Mac: Open System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, scroll down, and click Sign Out. Choose whether to keep a copy of iCloud data on your Mac. Repeat on every Mac you own.

On Apple Watch: Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone, go to Privacy, and turn off iCloud sync. Then unpair the watch from your iPhone.

On Apple TV: Go to Settings, select Users and Accounts, select your account, and choose Sign Out.

After signing out everywhere, wait a few minutes for the changes to sync across Apple's servers before moving to the next step.

Cancel subscriptions and remove payment methods

If you have active subscriptions — Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, iCloud+ storage, or any app subscriptions — cancel them before deletion. Otherwise, Apple may attempt to charge you after the account is deleted, and you will have no way to manage the subscription.

To cancel subscriptions, go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click Subscriptions, and select each active subscription to cancel it. For app subscriptions purchased through the App Store, open the App Store on iPhone, tap your profile icon at the top right, select Subscriptions, and cancel each one.

Remove any payment methods stored in your Apple ID account. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click Payment and Shipping, and delete any credit cards or other payment methods listed.

Start the deletion process on Apple's website

Go to appleid.apple.com in a web browser and sign in with your Apple ID and password. Click Data and Privacy in the left menu. Scroll down and click Delete Your Account and Data. Apple will ask you to confirm your reason for deletion — select one from the dropdown menu. This step does not affect the deletion; it is only for Apple's records.

Read the warning about what will be deleted. Click Continue. Apple will ask you to choose what happens to your Apple ID email address — you can keep it as a regular email account or delete it entirely. Most people choose to keep it so they can still receive emails sent to that address. Click Continue again.

Enter your Apple ID password one more time to confirm. Apple will send a confirmation email to your address. Open that email and click the link inside to verify the deletion request. You have seven days to click this link, or the deletion request will expire.

Complete the seven-day waiting period

After you click the confirmation link in the email, Apple begins a seven-day countdown. During this time, your account is marked for deletion but still exists. You can sign in to appleid.apple.com and cancel the deletion if you change your mind by clicking Reactivate Your Account.

After seven days pass with no cancellation, your Apple ID is permanently deleted. You will receive a final email confirming the deletion is complete. At this point, you cannot recover the account or any data associated with it.

The email address you used for the Apple ID cannot be used to create a new Apple ID for 30 days. After 30 days, you can use it again if you wish.

What to do if you are locked out of your account

If you cannot sign in to appleid.apple.com because you forgot your password or do not have access to your recovery email, you will need to reset your account first. Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email address, and follow the steps to verify your identity using a trusted device or recovery key.

If you do not have access to any trusted devices or recovery options, contact Apple Support by going to support.apple.com, selecting your device, and choosing Account and Sign In. You can start a chat or request a callback. Apple will ask you security questions to verify you own the account before helping you regain access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my Apple ID if I still owe money for subscriptions?

Yes, but Apple will attempt to charge you for any active subscriptions even after deletion. Cancel all subscriptions before you start the deletion process to avoid unexpected charges to your payment method.

What happens to my iMessage and FaceTime after deletion?

Both services stop working when ready once your Apple ID is deleted. Anyone trying to reach you through iMessage or FaceTime will not be able to contact you through those services. Text messages sent as SMS will still work if you switch to an Android phone or another device.

Can I recover my Apple ID after the seven-day waiting period ends?

No. Once the seven days pass without cancellation, the account is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. You cannot restore any data, photos, or documents that were stored in iCloud.

Do I need to delete my Apple ID if I just want to stop using Apple devices?

No. You can straightforward sign out of iCloud on your devices and stop using them. Your Apple ID will remain active, and you can sign back in later if you get another Apple device. Deletion is only necessary if you want to completely remove the account.

What if I share an Apple ID with family members?

Deleting the account affects everyone in the family group. Before deletion, set up separate Apple IDs for each family member, transfer their data to their own accounts, and remove them from the family group. Then you can delete the shared account without affecting their access to their own data.