How to Remove iCloud Activation Lock Before Selling
By The BuyBackBear Team · Published June 1, 2026 · Updated June 1, 2026 · 4 min read
Activation Lock ties an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch to your Apple ID. If you sell it without removing the lock, the buyer can't use it, and you won't get paid. Here's how to clear it.
Key takeaways
- •Activation Lock ties your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch to your Apple ID, preventing a buyer from using it if you don't remove it first.
- •To remove Activation Lock on the device itself, go to Settings, tap your name, sign out, then erase via Transfer or Reset.
- •If you've already shipped the device, you can remotely erase it and remove Activation Lock through iCloud.com's Find My feature.
- •Unpairing an Apple Watch from your iPhone automatically backs it up and removes its Activation Lock.
On the device (best)
Go to Settings → [your name] → Sign Out. This disables Find My and removes Activation Lock. Then erase the device via Settings → General → Transfer or Reset.
Remotely, if you already shipped it
On a computer or another device, go to iCloud.com → Find My (or Find Devices), select the device, choose Erase, then Remove from Account. Once removed, Activation Lock is cleared.
Apple Watch and iPad
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