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Find My iPhone is a tracking feature in Apple devices that helps you to track down your lost or stolen device, using another device logged into iCloud. However, when you want to sell or trade-in your iPhone, you need to turn off Find My iPhone. In normal circumstances, disabling this feature is a breeze. Nevertheless, if you broke your iPhone, the process becomes more complicated. In this post, we’ll discuss the challenge of turning off Find My iPhone on a broken Apple device and provide several methods to get around it.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Turning off Find My iPhone on a Broken Device
Turning off Find My iPhone is essential when getting rid of your old iPhone. Nevertheless, the process becomes challenging if your iPhone is broken, specifically, the issue with turning off the feature is that it requires disabling it from the Settings App on the device. If the screen is broken, you won’t be able to access the Settings to deactivate the Find My iPhone feature.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before we delve into the methods, it’s essential to prep yourself with these requirements:
- A computer that has installed the latest version of iTunes (Download here)
- A USB cable to connect your iPhone to the computer
- Make sure you have a backup for your iPhone data in case the restoration process has potential risks and wipes the device clean.
Method 1: Via iCloud
First on the list is disabling Find My iPhone through iCloud. Here, follow these simple steps.
- On another device, go to iCloud.com and enter your Apple ID and password.
- Click on the "Find iPhone" icon.
- Select the iPhone you want to remove from the account.
- Click "Remove from Account."
- Enter your Apple ID and password once again, then click "Next" to confirm.
Pros:
- Simple and quick.
- You don’t need your physical iPhone to complete the process.
Cons:
- The iPhone must have an internet connection and be signed into iCloud before you can proceed with the steps above.
- If multiple Apple IDs are signed on the device, this method won’t work.
Method 2: Use iTunes to Restore iPhone
An iTunes Restore is an alternative method to turn off Find My iPhone on a broken iPhone. Here are the steps to follow:
- Launch iTunes on your computer and connect your iPhone to it with a USB cable.
- Put your iPhone in recovery mode. You can find the steps here.
- Select the iPhone icon on the iTunes window.
- Click "Restore iPhone"
- Wait for iTunes to finish restoring your iPhone, and then set it up as a new device.
Pros:
- Effective in removing Find My iPhone feature on the device.
- Can also fix other software and performance issues.
Cons:
- This method would erase all the data on the iPhone, so ensure you have a backup beforehand.
- You’ll need a trusted computer that’s used to sync with the device before the iPhone gets broken.
Method 3: Via Siri
The iOS 8 update introduced a security flaw that allows Siri to bypass the device’s security code, making it easier to remove the Find My iPhone feature. Here’s how to do it:
- Press and hold the home button to activate Siri.
- Ask Siri to "Turn on VoiceOver."
- Enable VoiceOver by double-tapping on the "Enable VoiceOver" prompt.
- Locate the "Slide to power off" slider and hold it down for a few seconds.
- Click on "Cancel" instead of sliding to power off.
- You’ll now be on the iPhone’s home screen. Navigate to the Settings app and turn off Find My iPhone.
Pros:
- Simple and fast process to remove Find My iPhone.
- You don’t need any computer backup or connection to Wi-Fi to complete this process.
Cons:
- The method only works on an iPhone running iOS 8 to iOS 10.3.3.
- If Siri is disabled on your iPhone, then this method won’t work.
Method 4: Use Third-Party Software
Several software vendors offer tools to disable Find My iPhone on a broken iPhone, but these tools come with a price. Follow these steps:
- Download and install your preferred third-party software. Some options include ReiBoot or Tenorshare 4MeKey.
- Launch the software and connect your iPhone to your computer.
- Select "Remove iCloud Activation Lock."
- Wait as the software removes Find My iPhone from your iPhone.
Pros:
- Easy to use software that removes the Find My iPhone feature quickly.
- No technical expertise required.
Cons:
- Most third-party software is not free and requires payment.
- You need to download the software from 3rd parties, which can be a security risk.
Why Can’t I Turn Off Find My iPhone on My Broken iPhone?
Here are some possible reasons why you can’t turn off Find My iPhone on your broken iPhone and the fixes:
1. Damaged Touchscreen
It’s impossible to turn off Find My iPhone with a broken touchscreen since you need to access the device’s settings. The fix is to use one of the methods above that don’t require accessing settings on the device.
2. Disabled Find My iPhone
If you enabled lost mode or disabled the Find My iPhone feature from iCloud.com, you won’t be able to turn off the feature from the device itself. The fix is to go to iCloud.com and re-enable Find My iPhone.
3. The device is running iOS 7 or lower
You won’t find the Find My iPhone feature in the "Settings" app on an iPhone running iOS 7 or lower. You can fix the issue by updating your iPhone’s iOS.
Additional Tips
Here are some extra tips to note when turning off Find My iPhone on a broken device:
- Always ensure your data is backed up before attempting any of the above methods.
- Ensure any iCloud or other passwords are available as you move through the process to remove Find My iPhone.
- Be careful when handling a broken iPhone, as the touchscreen may be sharp and cause injury.
5 FAQs about Turning off Find My iPhone
Q1: Can I turn off Find My iPhone without a computer?
A: Yes, Method 1: Via iCloud allows turning off Find My iPhone without the need for a computer.
Q2: Is it possible to turn off Find My iPhone without knowing the password?
A: No, to turn off Find My iPhone, you require the Apple ID and password associated with the device.
Q3: Will the phone be disabled when you turn off Find My iPhone?
A: No, disabling the Find My iPhone feature won’t disable the phone.
Q4: Do you require an internet connection to turn off Find My iPhone?
A: Yes, you need an internet connection to turn off Find My iPhone via the first method.
Q5: Can I turn off Find My iPhone without Siri?
A: Yes, the first method allows you to turn off Find My iPhone without the assistance of Siri, a computer, or an internet connection.
In Conclusion
Turning off Find My iPhone is essential when you want to sell or trade-in your iPhone devices. However, if your device is broken, the process becomes more complicated. We’ve discussed the challenge of disabling Find My iPhone on a broken iPhone, and we have provided four methods to get around it. Use the method that fits your situation and preferences, and also keep in mind the additional tips to make the process easier.