How to turn off Find My Phone on your device
Find My Phone is a tracking feature built into most smartphones that lets you locate your device remotely if it gets lost or stolen. Turning it off means your phone will no longer be findable through that service — and neither will anyone else be able to track it. The steps differ depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or another device.
Before you turn it off, understand what you're losing: if your phone goes missing after you disable the feature, you won't be able to find it using Apple's Find My app, Google's Find My Mobile, or Samsung's SmartThings. You should only turn it off if you have a specific reason — usually because you're selling the phone, giving it away, or troubleshooting a technical problem.
The process takes less than five minutes on any device. You'll need to know your Apple ID password (for iPhones) or your Google account password (for Android), because these services require authentication before you can disable them.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhones, Find My is turned off through Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone, then toggle it off.
- On Android phones, the process varies by manufacturer: Samsung uses SmartThings, Google Pixel uses Find My Device, and other brands may use their own apps.
- You will need your account password to disable Find My Phone, and the change takes effect when ready.
- Disabling Find My Phone means you cannot locate your device remotely if it is lost or stolen.
- If you are selling or giving away your phone, you should turn off Find My Phone before handing it to the new owner.
Turning off Find My on an iPhone
Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap your name at the top of the screen — this is your Apple ID profile. Then tap Find My.
You will see two options: Find My iPhone and Find My Network. Tap Find My iPhone first. Toggle the switch next to "Find My iPhone" to the off position. Your phone will ask you to enter your Apple ID password to confirm. Type it in and tap Turn Off. The feature is now disabled.
If you also want to turn off Find My Network (which lets other Apple devices help locate yours even when it's offline), go back and toggle that off as well. Most people leave this on because it has no privacy downside — it only helps you find your own device. But if you want everything off, toggle it too.
Turning off Find My on an Android phone
Android phones do not all use the same service. What you use depends on your phone's manufacturer and which account you signed in with.
For Google Pixel phones: Open Settings and tap Security and privacy. Scroll down and tap Find My Device. Toggle the switch to the off position. You may be asked to enter your Google account password. Once you do, the feature is disabled.
For Samsung phones: Open the SmartThings app (or Find My Mobile if you have an older Samsung). Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap Settings, then Find My Mobile or SmartThings Find. Toggle the feature off. You will need your Samsung account password.
For other Android phones: Check your phone's Settings under Security, Privacy, or Google for a "Find My Device" or similar option. The exact location varies by brand. If you cannot find it, search your Settings for the word "find" to locate the feature.
What happens after you turn off Find My Phone
The change takes effect when ready. You will no longer see your device in the Find My app (on iPhone) or Find My Device app (on Android). If someone else has access to your account, they will also lose the ability to track your phone.
Your phone will still work normally in every other way. Location services, maps, and weather apps will continue to function. Only the remote tracking feature is disabled. If you change your mind later, you can turn Find My Phone back on by following the same steps and toggling the feature on instead of off.
Turning off Find My Phone before selling or giving away your device
If you are selling your phone or giving it to someone else, you should disable Find My Phone before handing it over. This prevents the new owner from being unable to use the device because it is still linked to your account.
After you turn off Find My Phone, you should also sign out of your Apple ID (on iPhone) or Google account (on Android). On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts, select your Google account, tap the menu icon, and tap Remove account. This completely disconnects the phone from your personal accounts.
Once you have signed out and disabled Find My Phone, the device is ready for the new owner to set up with their own account.
Turning Find My Phone back on
If you turned off Find My Phone and now want to enable it again, follow the same steps but toggle the feature on instead of off. You will need your account password again. The feature will be active within seconds, and your phone will appear in your Find My app or Find My Device app.
There is no waiting period or delay — as soon as you toggle it on and enter your password, the service is active and your phone is trackable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off Find My Phone affect my location services?
No. Location services and Find My Phone are separate features. You can have location services on while Find My Phone is off, or vice versa. Turning off Find My Phone only disables the remote tracking service — it does not affect maps, weather, or any other location-based apps.
Can I turn off Find My Phone without knowing my password?
No. Both Apple and Google require your account password to disable Find My Phone as a security measure. This prevents someone else from disabling it without your knowledge. If you have forgotten your password, you will need to reset it through your Apple ID or Google account recovery process before you can disable the feature.
What if I turn off Find My Phone and then lose my device?
You will not be able to locate it using the Find My app or Find My Device app. Your best option is to contact your phone carrier — they may be able to help you locate it or disable your service. You can also file a police report. In the future, consider keeping Find My Phone enabled for this reason.
Does turning off Find My Phone stop other people from tracking me?
It stops them from tracking you through the Find My service specifically. However, other apps on your phone (social media, maps, messaging apps) may still track your location if you have given them permission. To prevent all location tracking, go to your location services settings and turn off location access for individual apps.
Can I turn off Find My Phone for just one person?
No. Find My Phone is an all-or-nothing feature — it is either on for everyone with access to your account or off for everyone. If you want to prevent a specific person from tracking you, you should remove them from your account or change your account password.