Everything you need to know about user accounts

Step 1. Open the "Settings" app.

Step 2. Select your Apple ID/profile at the top.

Step 3. Scroll down and select "Sign Out".

Step 4. Enter your Apple ID password if prompted.

Step 5. Select the data you wish to retain on the device.

Step 6. Select "Sign Out" again to confirm your choice and remove the account.

If your smartphone no longer switches on and you need to remove it from your iCloud account, you can do so using another device or a computer. Here's how.

Step 1. Visit Apple's iCloud site

Step 2. Log in with your Apple ID and password.

Step 3. Select "Find iPhone".

Step 4. Select "All Devices" at the top of the screen.

Step 5. Select the device you wish to remove from your iCloud account.

Step 6. If the device is offline (which will be the case if it doesn't switch on), select "Remove from Account".

By doing this, you will disassociate the device from your iCloud account. Please be aware that this will also deactivate the Find My iPhone feature for that specific device. Don't forget to unregister your device from your Apple ID account to remove it from your trusted devices list as well.

To remove an iCloud account from a MacBook or iMac, follow these steps.

Step 1. Select the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.

Step 2. Select "System Preferences" from the dropdown menu.

Step 3. Select "Apple ID" or "iCloud" depending on your version of macOS.

Step 4. Log in with the Apple ID you wish to remove.

Step 5. Select "Overview" (if available).

Step 6. Select "Sign Out" in the bottom-left corner.

Step 7. You may be prompted to keep a copy of your iCloud data on the Mac. Decide if you wish to keep a copy.

Step 8. If you have any Apple Pay cards set up, you'll be asked to remove them before signing out.

Step 9. Enter the password associated with your Apple ID to switch off Find My Mac and disable iCloud.

Step 10. Now, the log-out process will begin. Once completed, the iCloud account will be removed from your Mac. Good job!

Step 1. Using another device with internet access, visit Apple’s iCloud site

Step 2. Log in with your Apple ID and password.

Step 3. Select "Find iPhone".

Step 4. Select "All Devices" at the top of the screen.

Step 5. Select the MacBook or iMac that you wish to remove from your iCloud account.

Step 6. Select "Remove from Account". Please be aware that as your device won't switch on, it will appear offline.

By removing the device from your iCloud account, you're ensuring that it's no longer linked to your Apple ID and that the Find My service is deactivated for that device. This is especially important if you're planning to dispose of, sell, or give away the Mac, as it prevents future users from encountering activation locks or other restrictions.

Backing up data:

Backing up your data on an Apple device is a straightforward process. Here are the steps to do it using iCloud and iTunes:

Using iCloud

Step 1. Connect to Wi-Fi.

Step 2. Open the Settings app on your Apple device.

Step 3 Access iCloud Settings:

• For iOS 10.3 or later, select your name at the top, then go to iCloud.
• For iOS 10.2 or earlier, scroll down and select iCloud.

Step 4. Scroll to "iCloud Backup" (or "Backup" for older versions) and select it. Ensure "iCloud Backup" is switched on.

Step 5. Select "Back Up Now" to begin the backup process. Stay connected to Wi-Fi until the process is complete.

Step 6. To check the backup, go back to "Settings" > "[your name]" > "iCloud" > "iCloud Storage" > "Manage Storage", and select your device. The backup should appear in the details along with the time and backup size.

Using iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina or later):

Step 1. Update iTunes/Finder: Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes on your computer, or if you're using macOS Catalina or later, make sure your operating system is up to date.

Step 2. Connect Your Device: Use a USB cable to connect your Apple device to your computer.

Step 3. Trust the Computer: If asked, opt to trust the computer.

Step 4. Open iTunes/Finder:

• For iTunes, select your device icon from the top left menu.
• For Finder, select your device from the side panel.

Step 5. Start Backup:

• In iTunes, go to "Backups" "Back Up Now".
• In Finder, go to "General" "Back Up Now."

Step 6. Encrypt Backup (Optional): If you wish to back up your health and activity data, you'll need to encrypt your backup by ticking the "Encrypt [device] backup" checkbox and creating a memorable password.

Step 7. After the process completes, you can check the backup in iTunes by navigating to "Preferences" > "Devices". You'll see your device along with the date and time of the last backup. In Finder, you can see the last backup date and time under the "General" tab when your device is selected.

Deleting data:

Step 1 Before you delete anything, make sure to back up any data you wish to keep. (See above.)

Step 2. Delete your content and preferences by going to "Settings".

Step 3. Select "General".

Step 4. Select "Reset".

Step 5. Select "Erase All Content and Settings".

Step 6. If prompted, enter your device passcode or Apple ID password.

Step 7. Confirm that you want to wipe the device.

 

If you need to delete data from an Apple device linked to an iCloud account that no longer switches on, you won't be able to erase the device directly as it's not working. 

However, you can still take measures to safeguard your data by removing the device from your iCloud account and remotely wiping it if it comes back online. Here's what you can do:

Step 1. Using another device with internet access, visit Apple’s iCloud site

Step 2. Enter your Apple ID and password to log in.

Step 3. Select "Find iPhone" in the main menu.

Step 4. Select "All Devices" at the top and choose the device you want to wipe.

Step 5. Select "Erase [device]" to remotely erase all content and settings. Please be aware that if the device is offline, the remote erase will be pending and will automatically start the next time the device connects to the internet.

Step 6. If you're certain that the device will never switch on again and you want to remove it from your account, select "Remove from Account" after selecting the device in the "All Devices" list.

By remotely erasing the device, you ensure that if it ever does switch on and connect to the internet, it will be completely cleared of your data. Removing the device from your iCloud account also ensures it's no longer linked to your Apple ID. Well done.

 

Step 1. Go to “Settings” on your Samsung smartphone or tablet.
Step 2. Scroll down and select “Accounts and backup”.
Step 3. Select “Accounts” or “Samsung Account”.
Step 4. Select the account you wish to remove.
Step 5. Select "Remove Account" or "Sign Out".
Step 6. Confirm by selecting “Remove Account” again or inputting your password if prompted.

Step 1. Visit Samsung’s "Find My Mobile" site
Step 2. Log in with the Samsung user account you wish to remove.
Step 3. Select the device in question.
Step 4. Use the “Erase Data” feature to initiate a factory reset — this will remove the user account and data stored on the device.

Step 1. Open "Settings".
Step 2. Select "Accounts".
Step 3. Find the user account under "Your info" or "Email & accounts".
Step 4. Select the user account and choose "Manage" or "Remove".
Step 5. Confirm the deletion and follow any additional prompts.
Step 6. Sign out of any Samsung apps on your laptop.

Optionally, delete any remaining Samsung user account files from your device.
I don’t have my laptop or computer, or it no longer switches on.
If your laptop or computer won't switch on, you can't remove your Samsung user account directly from the device. Instead, visit the Samsung account website from another device > sign in with your user account > remove the device. Log in to your Samsung user account

 

Step 1 Back up your data by going to “Settings".
Step 2. Select "Accounts and backup".
Step 3. Select "Backup and restore".
Step 4. Follow the prompts to back up your data to your Samsung account, Google account, or to external storage.
Step 5. Charge your device to above 50% to prevent it from switching off during the reset process.
Step 6. Perform the factory reset by going to “Settings”.
Step 7. Select "General management".
Step 8. Select "Reset" or "Reset options".
Step 9. Select "Factory data reset" or "Reset device".
Step 10. Select "Reset" or "Delete All". If you have a security lock on your device, you must enter your pattern, PIN, or password to confirm that you want to reset your device.
Step 11. Wait for your device to restart. This might take a few minutes.

After the reset is complete, you can set up your device as new or restore your data from the backup you made earlier.

If you only wish to remove specific data rather than a full factory reset, you can manually delete files, uninstall apps, or clear app data in the “Settings” app under “Apps” or “Device care".

Step 1. Ensure your device is fully charged — a flat battery could be why it won't switch on.
Step 2. Try a soft reset by holding the power and volume buttons down for 10-20 seconds.
Step 3. Go to Samsung’s "SmartThings Find" site
Step 4. Log in with your Samsung user account.
Step 5. Select your device and use the "Erase Data" option to remotely carry out a factory reset, which will delete all data.

If the device is still not responding, your best option is to return it to the seller. They can identify the problem and erase the data for you if necessary. You can make this request by logging into your Back Market account and selecting "Ask for Help" in the "Orders" section.

Step 1. Go to the "Settings" app on your device.

Step 2. Scroll down and select "Accounts" or "Accounts and backup".

Step 3. Select "Accounts" again, if you previously selected “Accounts and backup”. 

Step 4. Find and select the Google account you wish to remove.

Step 5. Select "Remove account". Please be aware that if you have a security lock on your smartphone or tablet, you may be asked to enter your pattern, PIN, or password.

Step 6. Select "Remove account" again when prompted.

Step 1. Go to your Google account settings

Step 2. Log in with the Google account you wish to remove.

Step 3. Go to "Security".

Step 4. Scroll down and select "Your devices".

Step 5. Select "Manage devices".

Step 6. Select the non-working smartphone or tablet from the list. Please note that it should include the model of the smartphone/tablet and the last time it was used with your Google account. Step 7. Select "Sign out".

Step 1 Open your web browser and navigate to the Google homepage.

Step 2. Select the user icon in the top right corner of the page — it should have your profile picture or an initial.

Step 3 Select "Sign out" or "Sign out of all accounts". Please note that if you're logged into multiple Google accounts, you'll need to log out of each one individually.

Step 4. If you wish to completely remove the account from your browser, go to your browser's settings or preferences.

Step 5. Look for a section related to accounts or synchronisation settings and select it. This will vary depending on the browser you're using (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.).

Step 6. In the accounts or sync section, you should see a list of Google accounts that are associated with your browser. Find the account you wish to remove and look for an option to "Remove" or "Sign out" from the account.

Step 7. Confirm your selection if prompted, and the account will be removed from your browser.

Please note that removing a Google account from your browser doesn't delete the account itself — it only removes access to the account from that particular browser. You can still log in to the account on other devices or browsers.

If you're using Google Chrome and you wish to completely remove the account from the browser, you may also need to clear your browsing data. Here's how to go about it.

Step 1. Navigate to Chrome settings by searching for “chrome://settings/” in the address bar of your Chrome browser.

Step 2. Find "Privacy and security" and select "Clear browsing data".

Step 3. Select the time range and tick the boxes for the types of information you wish to remove (e.g., cookies, cached images, and files).

Step 4. Select "Clear data".

If your laptop or computer no longer switches on, you won't be able to directly remove a Google account from the device because you need to access the operating system to sign out or remove accounts.

However, you can still make sure that your Google account is secure and that no one can access it from the device if it were to be switched on by someone else.

Here are a few things you can do:

• Change your Google account password: To sign out of all devices, including those that won't switch on, log in to your Google account and change your password. 
• Review your Google account security settings: Whilst signed into your Google account, check your security settings and review any devices that are connected to your account. You can revoke the access of the device that won't switch on.
• Two-factor authentication: If you haven't already, set up two-factor authentication for your Google account. This adds an additional layer of security for all your linked devices.
• Revoke access: If you're worried about the device ending up in the wrong hands, you can revoke access to your Google account for that specific device through your account's security settings. This will stop the account from being automatically logged in if the device is repaired.
• Remote wipe (if applicable): If you've set up management software that allows for remote wiping of the device (like Google's Find My Device for Chromebooks), you can use that feature to erase your data remotely.
  
  

Here's what you should do:

Back up any data you wish to keep. 

Go to "Settings" > "System" > "Backup". Ensure “Back up to Google Drive” is switched on > “Back up now”.

Remove your Google account.

Go to “Settings” > “Accounts” or “Users & accounts” > the Google account you wish to remove > “Remove account”. 

If this is the only Google account on the device, you might need to enter your device's pattern, PIN, or password for security.

Factory reset the device.

Step 1. Go back to the main "Settings" menu.

Step 2. Select "System".

Step 3. Select "Reset options" or search for "Factory reset" in the settings search bar.

Step 4. Select "Erase all data (factory reset)" or "Factory data reset".

Step 5. Select "Reset smartphone" or "Reset device". You may need to input your PIN, pattern, or password. Step 6. Confirm you wish to proceed with the reset by selecting "Erase everything".

After these steps, the device will restart and begin the process of erasing all data. This can take from a few minutes to over an hour, depending on the device and the amount of data stored on it.

If your Android device linked to a Google account no longer switches on and you wish to delete its data, you can carry out a remote wipe via Google's "Find My Device" service. Here's how.

Step 1. Visit the "Find My Device" site

Step 2. Log in with the relevant Google account.

Step 3. Look through the list of devices linked to your account and select the device you want to erase.

Step 4. The interface will display the approximate location of your device and provide you with several options. Select "Erase Device".

Step 5. You'll be asked to confirm your selection. Once you confirm, the remote erase command will be dispatched to your device. Take note that if the device is offline, the erasure will take place as soon as it comes online again.

Please be aware that this action will factory reset your device, wiping all data, including apps, settings, and personal files such as photos and messages. If the device never switches on again or never connects to the internet, the data will remain on the device, but it will be inaccessible without physical access to the device.

If you're worried about data security and the possibility of the device turning on in the future, you can change your Google account password and revoke access to that device to prevent unauthorised access to your Google account.