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. Choose the data you want to keep on the device.

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

If your smartphone no longer turns 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. Go to 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 want to remove from your iCloud account.

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

By doing this, you will disassociate the device from your iCloud account. Note that this will also disable 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 want 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 want to keep a copy.

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

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

Step 10. Now, the sign-out process will begin. Once completed, the iCloud account will be removed from your Mac. Nice work! 

Step 1. Using another device with internet access, go to 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 want to remove from your iCloud account.

Step 6. Select "Remove from Account". Note that since your device won't turn 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 disabled for that device. This is particularly 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, tap on your name at the top, then go to iCloud.
• For iOS 10.2 or earlier, scroll down and tap iCloud.

Step 4. Scroll to "iCloud Backup" (or "Backup" for older versions) and select it. Make sure "iCloud Backup" is turned on.

Step 5. Select "Back Up Now" to start the backup process. Stay connected to Wi-Fi until the process completes.

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 with the time and backup size.

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

Step 1. Update iTunes/Finder: Ensure you have the latest version of iTunes on your computer, or if you're using macOS Catalina or later, ensure 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, choose 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 sidebar.

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 want to back up your health and activity data, you'll need to encrypt your backup by selecting the "Encrypt [device] backup" checkbox and creating a memorable password.

Step 7. After the process finishes, you can verify the backup in iTunes by going 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.

Removing data:

Step 1. Before you delete anything, be sure to back up any data you want 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 erase the device.

 

If you need to remove data from an Apple device connected to an iCloud account that no longer turns on, you won't be able to erase the device directly since it's not operational. 

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

Step 1. Using another device with internet access, go to 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 erase.

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

Step 6. If you're certain that the device will never turn 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 erasing the device remotely, you ensure that if it ever does turn on and connect to the internet, it will be wiped clean of your data. Removing the device from your iCloud account also ensures it's no longer linked to your Apple ID. Nicely 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 want to remove.
Step 5. Select “Remove Account” or “Sign Out”.
Step 6. Confirm by selecting “Remove Account” again or entering your password if prompted.

Step 1. Go to Samsung’s "Find My Mobile" site
Step 2. Log in with the Samsung user account you want to remove.
Step 3. Select the device in question.
Step 4. Use the “Erase Data” feature to trigger 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 select "Manage" or "Remove".
Step 5. Confirm the removal and follow any additional prompts.
Step 6. Sign out of any Samsung apps on your laptop.

Optionally, delete any leftover Samsung user account files from your device.
I don’t have my laptop or computer, or it no longer turns on.
If your laptop or computer won't turn on, you can't remove your Samsung user account directly from the device. Instead, go to the Samsung account website from another device > log 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 turning 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 reboot. This can take a few minutes.

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

If you only want 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. Be sure your device is fully charged — a depleted battery could be why it won't turn 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 perform a factory reset, which will delete all data.

If the device is still unresponsive, your best bet is to return it to the seller. They can diagnose the problem and wipe the data for you if necessary. You can make this request by logging in to your Back Market account and selecting “Ask for Help” in the “Orders” section.

Step 1. Go to your device’s "Settings" app.

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 want to remove.

Step 5. Select "Remove account". Note that if you have a security lock on your phone or tablet, you may be prompted 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 want 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 in the list. Note that it should have the model of the phone/tablet and the last time it was used with your Google account. Step 7. Select "Sign out”.

Step 1. Open your web browser and go 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''. Note that if you're logged in to multiple Google accounts, you'll need to log out of each one individually.

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

Step 5. Look for a section related to accounts or sync 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 want to remove and look for an option to "Remove" or "Sign out" from the account.

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

Please note that removing a Google account from your browser does not 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 want to remove the account from the browser completely, you may also need to clear your browsing data. Here’s how to do so. 

Step 1. Go 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. Choose the time range and select the boxes for the types of information you want to remove (e.g., cookies, cached images, and files).

Step 4. Select "Clear data".

If your laptop or computer no longer turns 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 ensure that your Google account is secure and that no one can access it from the device if it were to be turned on by someone else.

Here are a few things you can do:

• Change your Google account password: To sign out of all devices, including the ones that won’t turn on, log in to your Google account and change your password. 
• Review your Google account security settings: While signed in to your Google account, check your security settings and review any devices that are connected to your account. You can remove the access of the device that won't turn on.
• Two-factor authentication: If you haven't already, set up two-factor authentication for your Google account. This adds an extra layer of security for all your linked devices.
• Revoke access: If you're concerned about the device falling into the wrong hands, you can revoke access to your Google account for that specific device through your account's security settings. This will prevent the account from being automatically logged in if the device is repaired.
• Remote wipe (if applicable): If you 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 to do:

Back up any data you want to keep. 

Go to “Settings” > “System” > “Backup”. Make sure “Back up to Google Drive” is turned on > “Back up now”.

Remove your Google account.

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

If this is the only Google account on the device, you may 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 phone” or “Reset device”. You may need to enter your PIN, pattern, or password. Step 6. Confirm you want to do the reset by selecting “Erase everything”.

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

If your Android device connected to a Google account no longer turns on and you want to remove its data, you can perform a remote wipe through Google's "Find My Device" service. Here's how. 

Step 1. Go to the "Find My Device" site

Step 2. Log in with the Google account in question. 

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

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

Step 5. You'll be prompted to confirm your choice. Once you confirm, the remote erase command will be sent to your device. Note that if the device is offline, the erase will occur as soon as it comes online again.

Please note that this action will factory reset your device, erasing all data, including apps, settings, and personal files like photos and messages. If the device never turns 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 concerned about data security and the device potentially turning on in the future, you can change your Google account password and revoke access to that device to prevent unauthorized access to your Google account.