Sign out of iCloud and your Apple Account on a Mac

Why it happens

Signing out disconnects this Mac from your Apple Account and iCloud services such as iCloud Drive, Photos and Find My. Before it finishes, your Mac asks which things, like contacts and calendars, to keep a copy of. Find My Mac needs your password to turn off, so nobody else can remove your Mac from your account.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click your name at the top of the sidebar.

2. Scroll to the bottom and click the Sign Out… button.

   Apple Account›Sign Out…

3. Tick the things you want to keep a copy of on this Mac. If you're selling or giving the Mac away, untick them all.

4. When asked, type your Apple Account password to turn off Find My Mac, then confirm.

5. Wait a moment. When it's done, your name no longer appears at the top of the sidebar.

Still not fixed?

1. Forgot your password? You need it to turn off Find My Mac. Reset it at iforgot.apple.com from any device, then try again.

2. If Sign Out… is greyed out and the Mac belongs to a school or company, they may have blocked it. Ask whoever manages the Mac.

3. Selling or giving the Mac away? After signing out, erase it with Erase All Content and Settings in General > Transfer or Reset, so the next owner starts fresh.

   macOS 26 Tahoe General›Transfer or Reset›Erase All Content and Settings

   macOS 27 Golden Gate General›Transfer or Reset›Erase All Content and Settings…

4. If the Mac was set up with someone else's account, like a former employee's, they need to sign out with their password or remove the Mac from their account at iCloud.com/find. If you can't reach them, contact Apple Support with the Mac's proof of purchase. They can help remove the Activation Lock.

5. If signing out fails again and again, check your internet connection and that the date and time are right, then contact Apple Support.