How to Turn Off Find My iPad Before Selling or Repairing It

To turn off Find My iPad, open Settings and go to your Apple Account name > Find My > Find My iPad. Turn off Find My iPad, then enter the Apple Account password linked to the device. This removes Activation Lock so another person or a repair provider can activate the iPad, but it does not erase your data; back up and erase the iPad separately before selling or giving it away.

What you need before turning off Find My iPad

Have these ready before you start:

• The iPad's passcode, so you can unlock it.
• An internet connection, usually through Wi-Fi or cellular data.
• The Apple Account password currently linked to the iPad.
• A recent backup if you are selling or giving away the iPad and want to keep its data.

The password is required because Find My is tied to your Apple Account and protects the iPad with Activation Lock. The iPad passcode is not enough. If you do not know the Apple Account password, recover or reset it before handing the device over.

Turning off Find My stops the iPad from being associated with your Find My device list and removes Activation Lock. It also stops that iPad from reporting its location through the Find My network. It does not sign you out of every Apple service, delete your content, or remove the iPad's passcode.

The quickest way to turn off Find My iPad

On an unlocked iPad connected to the internet, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap your name at the top of Settings. This opens your Apple Account settings.
3. Tap Find My.
4. Tap Find My iPad.
5. Turn off Find My iPad.
6. Enter the password for the Apple Account shown on the iPad, then tap Turn Off or follow the on-screen confirmation.

The switch should remain off after authentication. If it will not change, check the internet connection and confirm that you are entering the password for the account displayed at the top of Settings, not a different account.

On an older version of iPadOS, the labels may differ slightly, but the path still uses your account name, Find My, and Find My iPad. Do not confuse this setting with Share My Location: turning off location sharing alone does not remove Find My or Activation Lock.

Do not erase or hand over the iPad until you check these two things

First, make sure your data is backed up if you plan to sell or give away the iPad. Turning off Find My leaves the existing data on the device. Anyone who receives an unlocked iPad could still access that data.

Second, decide whether the iPad needs to be erased. For a sale or gift, back it up, sign out of your Apple Account if prompted, and erase all content and settings. Erasing is separate from turning off Find My, although the erase process may ask for your Apple Account password and can also remove the device's account association when completed.

Erasing the iPad permanently removes its local photos, messages, files, apps, and settings. Confirm that your backup is complete before starting.

To erase it after disabling Find My, open Settings and go to:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content and Settings

Follow the prompts until the iPad restarts to the setup screen. For a repair, do not erase the device unless the service provider requests it or the repair requires it. Disable Find My first, then follow the provider's instructions for passcodes, backups, and personal data.

How to confirm it is really turned off

On the iPad, check the setting directly:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap your name, then tap Find My.
3. Tap Find My iPad and confirm that the switch is off.

If the switch is off and the iPad accepted the Apple Account password, Find My is disabled on that device. If you are checking from another Apple device, open the Find My app, select Devices, and look for the iPad. You can also check your devices through your Apple Account online. After the change reaches Apple's servers, the iPad should no longer be available as an active Find My device.

An offline iPad cannot receive the change immediately. If you still have the iPad, connect it to the internet, unlock it, and complete the Settings steps directly.

If the iPad is lost or inaccessible, use Find My to mark it as lost or erase it remotely. After a remote erase finishes, select the iPad in Find My and choose Remove This Device when that option appears. If the iPad is already erased, open Find My or your Apple Account device list, select the iPad, and choose Remove This Device if available. Removing it from the device list releases it for another person; simply hiding an offline device is not enough.

If the iPad still appears as pending or offline, wait until the erase or removal request reaches the device. Do not hand it over until it no longer requires your Apple Account during setup. A new owner should reach the normal setup screen without an Activation Lock request for your account.

Conclusion

For a sale or gift, finish the process before the iPad leaves your hands: back up your data, turn off Find My, erase the iPad, and confirm that it no longer appears as an account-linked device. For repair, disable Find My and keep the device data unless the repair provider specifically requires an erase. If the iPad asks for your Apple Account after someone else begins setup, it has not been fully released yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off Find My iPad without the Apple Account password?

Normally, no. Apple requires the password for the account linked to the iPad because disabling Find My removes Activation Lock. Recover or reset the account password before selling, giving away, or sending the device for repair.

Does turning off Find My erase my iPad?

No. It removes Find My and Activation Lock, but your local data remains on the iPad. Back up your data, then use Erase All Content and Settings separately before selling or giving away the device.

What if the iPad is offline or already erased?

If you still have it, connect it to the internet and turn off Find My in Settings. If it is inaccessible or already erased, use Find My or your Apple Account device list to erase it if necessary, then choose Remove This Device when available. Do not hand it over until it no longer requests your Apple Account during setup.