Erase a device in Find My on iPhone

Use the Find My app to erase an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, or Mac. In order to remotely erase a device, you must turn on Find My [device] before it’s lost.

What happens when you erase a device in Find My?

A confirmation email is sent to your Apple ID email address.
When you erase a device remotely using Find My, Activation Lock remains on to protect it. Your Apple ID and password are required to reactivate it.
After you erase a device, you can’t use Find My to locate the device or play a sound on it. However, you may still be able to locate your Mac or Apple Watch if it’s near a previously used Wi-Fi network.
Apple Pay is disabled for your device. Any credit or debit cards set up for Apple Pay, student ID cards, and Express Transit cards are removed from your device. Credit, debit, and student ID cards are removed even if your device is offline. Express Transit cards are removed the next time your device goes online. See the Apple Support article Manage the cards that you use with Apple Pay.

Erase a device

In the Devices list, tap the device you want to erase.
Tap Erase This Device, then tap Erase This [device].
If the device is a Mac, enter a passcode to lock it (you need to use the passcode to unlock it).
If the device is lost and you’re asked to enter a phone number or message, you may want to indicate that the device is lost or how to contact you. The number and message appear on the device’s Lock screen.
Tap Erase.
Enter your Apple ID password, then tap Erase again.

If your device is offline, the remote erase begins the next time it connects to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.

Cancel an erase

If you erase an offline device and find it before it comes online again, you can cancel the erase request.

In the Devices list, tap the device whose erase you want to cancel.
Tap Cancel Erase, then enter your Apple ID password.

If you lose your iPhone, you can erase it using Find My iPhone on iCloud.com.

Helpful?

iPhone User Guide

Erase a device in Find My on iPhone

What happens when you erase a device in Find My?

Erase a device

Cancel an erase