How to Deactivate Your iCloud Account

If you’re suddenly fed up with Apple — or you want to start using non-Apple devices — it might be time to close down your iCloud account. While there isn’t currently an option to permanently delete your iCloud or Apple ID account, you can take steps to distance or remove yourself from the Apple ecosystem.

If you’re not concerned with actually deleting your iCloud account, you can simply turn off all of iCloud’s features.

iOS

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap on the iCloud option.
3. Turn off all of the iCloud features, this includes iCloud Drive, Photos, Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Safari, Notes, News and Wallet.
4. Turn off Backup and Keychain.
5. Turn off Find my iPhone — although an extremely useful feature, if you’re opting out of all iCloud services, turn this off.
6. Go back to Settings.
7. Tap on iTunes & App Store
8. Turn off Automatic Downloads for Music, Apps, Books and Updates.
9. Alternatively, you can Sign Out of iCloud from the iCloud tab.

Mac

1. Open Launchpad.
2. Launch the System Preferences app.
3. Click on the iCloud icon.
4. Turn off all of iCloud’s features. This includes iCloud Drive, the Photos app, Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, and Find My Mac.
5. Alternatively, click on Sign Out.

This allows you use your iOS or Mac device without the automatic syncing of data.

This could be helpful with those concerned about their privacy. Maybe you don’t want Apple automatically syncing your personal data across all of your devices — in case those devices fall into the wrong hands. Alternatively, if you’re at all nervous about the security of Apple’s cloud, this could be a viable option as well.

You should still be able to use your Apple phone, tablet or computer for all of the basic features — such as calling, sending SMS text messages, using social media, or simply browsing the web.

An important thing to note, especially if you’ve switched from an iPhone to a device running a different operating system, is that you won’t be able to receive certain messages as they’ll still be sent to your iMessage account

To ensure that you receive all messages

1. Go to selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage
2. Enter the phone number you wish to de-register to request a confirmation code.
3. Apple will send a verification code to that phone to ensure you’re the actual owner.
4. Type that confirmation code into the field.
5. Your phone number will be de-registered, and you should receive all SMS text messages normally.

While you can’t actually delete an Apple ID from any device, you can always call Apple’s Customer Service and ask them to delete the account for you — if you ask them the right way, that is. It might take some careful convincing — as Apple representatives will try to talk you into keeping your account open, as they don’t want to lose a customer. But it’s worth a shot.