This article provides information and answers to common questions about deleting your Apple ID account. Make sure you read this entire page to understand what happens when your Apple ID is deleted.
About deleting your Apple ID
When your Apple ID account is deleted, your account details and the data associated with your Apple ID are permanently deleted from Apple’s servers. You can't sign in to your account, and you won’t be able to access any data, content, or services that were associated with your Apple ID.
Photos, videos, documents, and other content that you stored in iCloud are permanently deleted; you can't receive any messages or calls sent to your account via iMessage, FaceTime, or iCloud Mail; and you can't sign in to or use services such as iCloud, the App Store, iTunes Store, Apple Books, Apple Pay, iMessage, FaceTime, and Find My iPhone. In addition, any Apple Store appointments and AppleCare support cases are canceled.
Deleting your Apple ID is permanent. After your account is deleted, Apple can't reopen or reactivate your account or restore your data. If you aren’t planning to use your account for now but may consider returning to it in the future, we recommend temporarily deactivating your account (where available) instead of deleting it. A request for anonymization will be treated as a request for deletion and follows the same procedure.
Before you request deletion of your Apple ID
We recommend that you take a few steps before you request deletion of your Apple ID.
- Back up the data that you store in iCloud—including content for any Apple or third-party apps that store data using iCloud—to a place that doesn’t use your Apple ID for access.
- Download apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, books, and audiobooks that you don’t have copies of.
- Review any active subscriptions. When your account is deleted, subscriptions are canceled at the end of their billing cycles.
- Pay off any remaining loan installments that you have with Apple Pay Later.
- Save copies of any Apple-related information that you currently need or expect to need.
- Make sure that you sign out of all your devices to avoid issues with apps that use your Apple ID account or iCloud. After your account is deleted, you can't sign out of iCloud or turn off Find My iPhone Activation Lock on your devices. If you forget to sign out, you might not be able to use your device when your account is deleted.
How to permanently delete your Apple ID
Sign in with your Apple ID at privacy.apple.com on a Mac, PC, iPhone, or iPad, and select “Request to delete your account”.
When you request account deletion, you'll receive a unique alphanumeric access code. Make sure that you keep this access code in a safe place. For a short period of time while your request is being processed, you can contact Apple Support, provide your access code, and we’ll help you cancel your request so you can resume using your Apple ID.
After you request deletion of your Apple ID
After you request deletion of your Apple ID account, we verify that you are the account-holder who made the request. After this verification is complete, account details and data associated with your Apple ID are permanently deleted from Apple’s servers. At that point, you can no longer sign in to your account or access any data, content, services, or appointments that were associated with your Apple ID.
When you delete your Apple ID, Apple makes our best effort to delete all personal data associated with your account. However, we are required to retain past transaction information for financial reporting purposes, and we may be required to retain certain information to comply with a court settlement or other ongoing legal procedure. We also retain a record of the deleted account to comply with legal obligations, and for so long as necessary for the legitimate interests of account security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I change my mind after I have requested that my account be deleted?
While your request is being processed, you can contact Apple Support with the unique alphanumeric access code you received, and we’ll help you cancel your request. After your account is deleted, Apple can't cancel the request, reopen your account, or restore your data.
What happens to my iCloud mail and messages when my Apple ID is deleted?
When your Apple ID is deleted, all of your iCloud email and messages are permanently deleted as well. Any messages sent to you via iCloud (Mail and iMessage) are not delivered.
What happens to music, movies, TV shows, books, and apps that I purchased with my account?
When you delete your account, you can't access any App Store, iTunes Store, or Apple Books services with this Apple ID. These services include, but are not limited to:
- Updating purchased apps
- Downloading previously purchased items
- Syncing DRM-protected purchased items to iOS devices
- Copying DRM-protected purchased items from one computer to another
- Playing rented items
- Authorizing computers to play DRM-protected purchased items
- Accessing iTunes Match, if you are subscribed
- Accessing iTunes Season Passes
Content without Digital Rights Management (DRM), such as iTunes music purchases, continue working normally after you delete your Apple ID. However, any DRM-free content stored in iCloud Music Library is not accessible or able to be played. You should download all DRM-free purchases, iTunes Match tracks that you don’t have copies of, and any other music and media before deleting your account.
Any content with DRM protection that you have purchased—such as movies, TV shows, or apps—stops working or stops updating depending on the content type.
What happens to my App Store or iTunes Store credit when I delete my account?
Any unused credit balance in your account isn't redeemable or refundable after your Apple ID has been deleted. You can either spend your balance or contact Apple Support to request a refund before deleting your account. Similarly, if you have a balance due to Apple, you must clear this balance before we can delete your account.
What happens to my subscriptions?
Any subscriptions that you have for services such as Apple Music, iCloud storage, AppleCare+, or third-party services that you have subscribed to using your Apple ID or that are linked to your Apple ID are canceled at the end of the billing cycles when you delete your account.
What happens to my Apple Pay Later loan?
Before you can delete your Apple ID, any remaining loan installments you have with Apple Pay Later must be paid off.
I subscribed to Apple Music through my mobile network provider. What happens to my subscription?
If you subscribed to Apple Music through a mobile network provider and linked your account to the Apple ID you are deleting, you can still stream music but you lose access to other Apple Music features like iCloud Music Library.
I am a family organizer. How does deleting my account affect my family members?
When you delete your account, your family group is disbanded and all family members lose access to any shared subscriptions or content. Any DRM-protected music, movies, TV shows, books, or apps that have been previously downloaded from other family members’ collections are no longer usable by any family members.
If you’re the organizer of a Family Sharing group that includes a child, the child's account is also deleted. Or you can transfer the child account to another family before you request deletion of your Apple ID.
Can I delete my child’s account?
If you are the organizer of your family, you can delete your child’s Apple ID when you request deletion of your account. Your child can also request deletion of their Apple ID, which requires your approval.
The approval request will be sent via email to the primary Apple ID email address of your family organizer account. When approving the request from this email, you will go through the process of deleting the child account.
Will I still receive the purchases that I made online at apple.com?
Yes. Active online orders are processed normally after your account is deleted.
Will product repairs that I have in progress continue after my account is deleted?
Yes. Deleting your Apple ID does not cancel repairs you already have in progress.
Apple Support is helping me with something right now. Can I still get help after I delete my account?
Apple Support can help you after your account is deleted. However, any currently open cases are canceled, and we can't help you with issues related to your deleted account.
Can I still use my AppleCare+ plan to get service for my device?
If your device is covered by an AppleCare+ plan that is paid in full, you can still use the plan to get service after your account is deleted unless you cancel the plan and request a refund or if you transfer the plan to someone else.
If your device is covered by an AppleCare+ subscription, that subscription will be canceled at the end of the billing cycle when you delete your Apple ID. You can get service for your device until the subscription is canceled.
Are my upcoming appointments at the Apple Store still on the schedule after my account is deleted?
No. Appointments or reservations that you scheduled at the Apple Store are canceled when your account is deleted.
I am enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program. Do I still have to make payments after my Apple ID is deleted?
Yes. If you are enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program, you must continue making payments for your device. However, you may not be able to place subsequent upgrade orders online without your related Apple ID.
What happens to my Apple Card account when my Apple ID is deleted?
When your Apple ID is deleted, you lose access to your Apple Card account. This also closes Apple Card accounts for all other co-owners and participants on your shared Apple Card Family account. Any future statements and communication will be sent to the mailing address on file with Goldman Sachs. If you have an outstanding balance, you must continue to pay at least your minimum due each month until your account balance is settled. To manage your Apple Card account and make payments, contact Goldman Sachs, the issuing bank for Apple Card.
What happens to my Apple Cash account when my Apple ID is deleted?
When your Apple ID is deleted, you lose access to your Apple Cash account. Before deletion, your Apple Cash balance must be spent or transferred to another user or bank account. If you're the organizer for Apple Cash Family, any family members using that service must also spend or transfer their balance. Or you can contact Apple Support to request a check for the remaining funds.
Before you delete your account, verify your identity with the bank that issues the Apple Cash account.* This makes sure that they have sufficient information to open a dispute on your behalf, issue a statement after your account is deleted, or provide access to merchant credits received after the account is deleted.
What happens to my transit cards in Apple Pay when my Apple ID is deleted?
When your Apple ID is deleted, you lose access to transit cards that you set up with Apple Pay. You can choose to spend the balance before deleting, or contact the transit provider to request a refund for the remaining funds. Apple cannot reimburse a balance or refundable service fee associated with a transit card.
I distribute apps and other content on Apple platforms. What happens to my store content when my Apple ID is deleted?
When your account is deleted, you lose access to your store content through App Store Connect and iTunes Connect. If your account is the legal "Account Holder," you will not be able to accept or renew contracts, and your content may lapse and be removed from the store unless you assign a new legal user to your content before you request deletion. Learn more about managing your developer account.
Can Apple still contact me after I delete my account?
When you delete your Apple ID, your associated email and other contact information are removed from all Apple mailing lists after a few days. Deleting your account limits Apple's ability to contact you regarding products, warranties, claims, disputes, or any legal actions under which you may be entitled to compensation from Apple. In some cases, such as if you have emailed us directly about an ongoing issue, we may retain a way to contact you that is not linked to your account.
In addition, if you request deletion of an Apple ID used for a job application or recruiting at Apple, your job seeker profile, the information associated with it, and any pending interviews or appointments are deleted too.
What happens to my reports and complaints after I delete my account?
When you delete your Apple ID, information on your account — including your contact information — is retained only as necessary to process any reports or complaints that you filed on reportaproblem.apple.com or contentreports.apple.com. This information is retained for a period of at least six months following the outcome of any such reports, and only for as long as necessary to allow for the submission or processing of any complaint in relation to this outcome. After you delete your account, you are longer be able to submit additional reports with your account.
Can I use the primary email address for my deleted Apple ID account to create a new Apple ID or with another existing Apple ID account?
No, once your Apple ID is deleted, you can't use the email address that you used with it to create a new Apple ID. In addition, you can't use that email address with another existing Apple ID except as a rescue email. Also, if your primary Apple ID email address is with a Custom Email Domain, it can never be reused to create an Apple ID after your Apple ID is deleted, even if the domain ownership changes.
How do I opt out of direct marketing?
You are automatically removed from all Apple mailing lists when you delete your Apple ID.
Can I contact Apple about how my data is managed?
Yes. If you have questions or feedback about our Privacy Policy or other topics, contact us.
* Sending and receiving money with Apple Pay and the Apple Cash card are services provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more about the Terms and Conditions.