How to remove an old Mac from your Apple Account

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The surest way to remove an old Mac from your Apple Account is to sign out on the Mac itself. Apple says that's how to remove a device permanently. If the Mac has already gone, you can remove it remotely from your devices list, and remove it from Find My and clear Activation Lock at iCloud.com/find.

Quick answer

On the old Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click your name, then Sign Out. If you no longer have it, open System Settings on another Mac, click your name, click the old Mac in the device list and choose Remove from Account. To clear Activation Lock, erase it in Find My or at iCloud.com/find, then choose Remove.

Why remove an old Mac from your Apple Account?

Apple says devices signed in to your Apple Account could be used to change your password, receive two-factor authentication verification codes, edit personal information and sync with iCloud, depending on the device type. That's a lot to leave with a Mac that's no longer yours.

There are three separate lists to think about, and Apple handles each one differently:

  • Your Apple Account device list, which shows every device signed in with your account.
  • Find My, which shows the devices you can locate, lock or erase.
  • Activation Lock, which ties the Mac to your account so nobody else can set it up.

Signing out on the Mac deals with all three. The remote routes below deal with them one at a time.

How do you remove a Mac you still have?

Sign out on the Mac. Apple says that to permanently remove an Apple device from your account, you go to Settings on that device and sign out.

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
  2. Click your name.
  3. Click Sign Out.
  4. If you want to keep a copy of your iCloud data on the Mac, select the tickboxes, then click Keep a Copy.
  5. Click Sign Out. If you use Apple Pay, click Sign Out and Remove Cards.

Apple says signing out of your Apple Account on a device also signs you out of iCloud, the App Store and other Apple media services, iMessage and FaceTime. Apple's Find My guide lists signing out as one way to remove Activation Lock.

If you're selling or trading the Mac in, there's a quicker route: Erase All Content and Settings. Apple says it signs you out of Apple services such as iCloud, and turns off Find My and Activation Lock, so the Mac is no longer associated with you. The full steps are in how to wipe a MacBook before selling it.

How do you remove a Mac from your devices list remotely?

Use another signed-in device or the web. Apple calls this signing out of your Apple Account remotely.

On your new Mac:

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
  2. Click your name, then scroll down to see a list of devices.
  3. Click the old Mac's name to see its information.
  4. Click Remove from Account, review the message, then confirm.

On iPhone or iPad: open Settings, tap your name, scroll down to the list of devices, tap the Mac, then tap Remove from Account.

On the web: sign in at account.apple.com, select Devices, click the Mac (you may need to click View Details to authenticate first), then click Remove from Account.

Apple says removed devices won't have access to iCloud, Find My or other Apple services, and two-factor verification codes won't be displayed on them. One catch: if you're still signed in on the Mac, Apple says it may reappear the next time it connects to the internet. That's why signing out on the Mac itself is the permanent fix.

How do you remove a Mac from Find My?

You can do it in the Find My app on another Mac, or at iCloud.com/find. The Mac has to be offline for a straight removal.

In the Find My app on your Mac:

  1. Make sure the old Mac is turned off.
  2. Open Find My and click Devices.
  3. Select the old Mac, then click the More button.
  4. In the Settings section, click Remove.

Apple says the device is removed after 30 days, and that it reappears in your Devices list the next time it comes online if it still has Activation Lock.

At iCloud.com/find: sign in, select the Mac, then select Remove This Device. Apple says that if the device is offline, Activation Lock is removed immediately and the device leaves Find My after 30 days. If it's online, it can't be removed, but you can prepare it for service: select Continue and it's marked as Ready for Repair or Trade In for the next 30 days.

How do you remove Activation Lock from a Mac you no longer have?

Erase it remotely, then remove it. Apple gives this route for when you forgot to turn off Find My before you sold or gave the Mac away.

  1. Open the Find My app on your Mac, or go to iCloud.com/find and sign in.
  2. Select the old Mac.
  3. Choose Erase and follow the onscreen instructions. Apple says that because the device isn't lost, you shouldn't enter a phone number or message.
  4. If the Mac is offline, the erase starts the next time it connects. Apple emails you when it's done.
  5. When it has been erased, choose Remove (Remove This Device on iCloud.com).

Apple says all your content is erased, Activation Lock is removed, and someone else can now activate the Mac. For the background on how the lock works, see Mac Activation Lock, explained.

If you need help and have proof of purchase, Apple says you can start an Activation Lock support request. If the Mac belongs to a business or school, Apple says to contact the IT department or manager.

Where Failshot fits

With the old Mac off your account, the new one is the Mac signed in to everything. Your password is the first layer. Failshot is the second: while it's on, it photographs whoever unlocks your Mac, then, with Pro, records a 5-second video. For macOS 14 or later. Free to download. It's free to use. Pro adds video, email alerts and the encrypted vault, and you can try Pro free for 7 days. Your card is taken at sign-up and charged on day 8 unless you cancel. The trial is on failshot.app, for the Mac.

More questions

Does removing a Mac from my Apple Account erase it?

No. Apple describes removing it from your device list as signing it out remotely, and erasing is a separate step in Find My. Apple says that after you remove a device from Find My, it may need to be reset, erased or restored before another Apple Account can use it.

Why does my old Mac keep coming back in my device list?

Apple says that if you're still signed in on the device, it may reappear the next time it connects to the internet. To remove it permanently, sign out on the Mac itself.

Can I remove Activation Lock without the Mac?

Yes. Erase the Mac in Find My or at iCloud.com/find, then choose Remove once the erase has finished. Apple says Activation Lock is then removed and someone else can activate the Mac.

Will signing out of my Apple Account delete my iCloud data?

Apple says information stored in iCloud remains available in iCloud. Your iCloud data is removed from that device unless you choose to keep a copy when prompted.

Do I need to remove my Mac before an Apple Trade In?

Apple says to remove Activation Lock before you sell, give away or trade in a device. On macOS 27 or later, Apple's trade-in steps may ask you to use Ready for Repair or Trade In instead: see how to wipe a MacBook for trade-in.

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