If an item or device is connected to another Apple Account
If you try to set up an Apple device like AirPods, or an item like an AirTag or another Find My network accessory, and see a message that it's paired to another Apple Account, the device or item needs to be removed from that Apple Account before you can pair it with a new account. If there's a previous owner, they might have to follow the steps to unpair.
Remove a device, item, or Find My network accessory from an Apple Account
Use these steps to remove Apple devices such as AirPods and iPhone Leather Wallet, Apple items such as AirTag, or Find My network accessories — including third-party accessories supported by Find My — from an Apple Account.
These steps also unpair the device or item from an Apple Account. When you unpair the device or item from the Apple Account, you also remove Find My Lock, which is the association of the device or item with an Apple Account. Find My Lock needs to be removed before you can pair the device or item with a different Apple Account.
If the device or item is paired with the Apple Account of the previous owner, the previous owner needs to follow these steps to remove the device or item from their Apple Account.
The device or item doesn't have to be connected via Bluetooth to the iPhone or other Apple device that is used to remove it from an Apple Account — but the process might happen more quickly if it's Bluetooth-connected and within Bluetooth range.
These steps are the recommended way to remove and unpair a device or item from an Apple Account, and to remove Find My Lock. Apple can't remove Find My Lock for you.
How to remove AirPods, an AirTag, or another Find My network accessory or device from an Apple Account on an iPhone or iPad
Open the Find My app, then tap Devices or Items.
Tap the device or item that you want to remove, then swipe up on the handle.
Tap Remove Item or Remove This Device, then tap Remove to confirm.
How to remove AirPods or another Find My network device from an Apple Account on a Mac
Open the Find My app.
Click Devices.
Select the device that you want to remove.
On the map, click the More Info button
.Click Remove This Device.
You can't remove items, such as an AirTag or Find My network accessories from an Apple Account on a Mac.
How to remove AirPods on iCloud.Com
Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple Account.
Go to the Find My app (or Find My Devices).
In the All Devices list, find the AirPods that you want to remove.
Tap the name, then tap Remove This Device.
If you can't remove the device or item from an Apple Account
If you can't remove the device or item and unpair it from an Apple Account, you should reset it. While you still won’t be able to pair it with your Apple Account, this prevents the device or item from sharing your location with the previous owner.
