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Removed MBP from iCloud but still showing under Find my mac?

irock101

irock101

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 26, 2011
363
64
Hi,
I recently did a factory reset on my macbook pro and sold it. It doesn't show under my devices when I check my Icloud, but when I go to 'Find my' I can see the Macbook (including how the new buyer has named it).
How do I get rid of it completely? I am afraid he might be able to see my iCloud content as well.

Please advice.
 
DiCaprioAngel said:
You will need to log into you iCloud in iCloud.com. Go to find my app, all my devices, and remove from account. It will remove your iCloud completely
Click to expand...

If I go to my iCloud account, it doesn't show under my devices, but if I click on 'Find my' in the same browser session, I can see his macbook location
 
What I usually do is use my iPhone. In settings, click on your name/profile and it should show your devices. Click on the device and click on the MBP and select "Remove from account". That always takes it off.

I'm not sure why logging out on the actual device and restoring it doesn't always remove it, but removing it using my iPhone always seems to work for me.
(Your profile says you have an iPhone which is why I'm recommending trying that.)
 
smbu2000 said:
What I usually do is use my iPhone. In settings, click on your name/profile and it should show your devices. Click on the device and click on the MBP and select "Remove from account". That always takes it off.

I'm not sure why logging out on the actual device and restoring it doesn't always remove it, but removing it using my iPhone always seems to work for me.
(Your profile says you have an iPhone which is why I'm recommending trying that.)
Click to expand...
Thanks! Ironically the Macbook doesn't show up there either. It's only in 'Find my' where I can see it. Super akward.
Will have to call apple support I think. Afraid he can suddenly see my iCloud content or something.
 
irock101 said:
Thanks! Ironically the Macbook doesn't show up there either. It's only in 'Find my' where I can see it. Super akward.
Will have to call apple support I think. Afraid he can suddenly see my iCloud content or something.
Click to expand...
The same happened twice to me, but with an Apple Watch in my case - didn't show up anywhere anymore, just in "Find My".
Simply deleted the Watch in the "Find My" App and all was well.
 
irock101 said:
If I go to my iCloud account, it doesn't show under my devices, but if I click on 'Find my' in the same browser session, I can see his macbook location
Click to expand...
That’s where I’m saying you need to remove it from. Click on it and remove it from your account through find my. That will completely remove the iCloud. Removing it from device list does not take it off find my
 
bricktop_at said:
The same happened twice to me, but with an Apple Watch in my case - didn't show up anywhere anymore, just in "Find My".
Simply deleted the Watch in the "Find My" App and all was well.
Click to expand...
Remove it as in 'erase' ?
 
If I erase it in the 'Find my' option it will remove all contents from his macbook, no?
 
irock101 said:
If I erase it in the 'Find my' option it will remove all contents from his macbook, no?
Click to expand...
That will happen if you choose this option. But in the devices overview, there should be a button besides the MacBook with an „x“ on it… that will just remove it from your devices in Find My
 
It doesn't show up under devices. That is the awkward part. Only under find my..
 
Oh how interesting. I just checked Find My and ... I have a ton of old devices listed. Removing them now lol.

Edit: I can see all the members of my family too - and their old devices showing as well (that we've traded in, given away).
 
BigMcGuire said:
Oh how interesting. I just checked Find My and ... I have a ton of old devices listed. Removing them now lol.

Edit: I can see all the members of my family too - and their old devices showing as well (that we've traded in, given away).
Click to expand...
How do you remove them? Are they listed under devices? I can only see the macbook under 'Find my' and see it's actual location.
 
irock101 said:
How do you remove them? Are they listed under devices? I can only see the macbook under 'Find my' and see it's actual location.
Click to expand...
Right - I went to Find My --> Devices Tab -- saw a device that I know doesn't exist anymore (I sold it a long time ago) - then I click that device and it gives me a screen like this:

1622217537314.jpeg


Then clicking Remove This Device:

1622217554942.jpeg


Then it asks for Apple ID username/password - poof it's gone.
 
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irock101 said:
It doesn't show up under devices. That is the awkward part. Only under find my..
Click to expand...
The reason it doesn't show up under Devices is because it is no longer signed into the iCloud account. However, Find My is a separate feature, which will remain "On" even after a device is erased.

Find My is designed to persist after an erase - otherwise, all a thief would have to do is erase a stolen device to evade the feature and use the stolen device.

If you had turned off Find My prior to erasing, this wouldn't be a problem.
 
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Jinx.. it's popping back up even after I removed it. If I click on ERASE it will wipe his macbook I think?
 
irock101 said:
Jinx.. it's popping back up even after I removed it. If I click on ERASE it will wipe his macbook I think?
Click to expand...
Wow that's unfortunate. The ones I removed yesterday are still gone.

I don't think I'd risk an Erase lol. I'd just let it be - All these years I had those devices sitting in my Find My - didn't bother me (and wasn't an issue).
 
nicho said:
Expected. Look back at the last screenshot you posted.
Click to expand...
Good point! I missed that! Ha! "This Mac will reappear if it connects to the internet and Find My is turned on" - so that device that the OP has needs to log in with that Apple ID and turn off Find My.
 
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Sorry can you elaborate on that please? Do I login to my system prefs icloud or actually icloud.com and if I turn off 'find my' then it turns it off for all my devices or not?
 
irock101 said:
Sorry can you elaborate on that please? Do I login to my system prefs icloud or actually icloud.com and if I turn off 'find my' then it turns it off for all my devices or not?
Click to expand...
It turns it off for whatever device you select. So when you log into your iCloud on iCloud.com and go into Find My and all my devices, remove the suspected MacBook from the account. That will deactivate find my on that device. This is how customers who foolishly don’t remove their iCloud accounts before returning the device back to the company I work for are able to remove their account remotely. Once you remove it from the account, it shouldn’t reappear if it’s done right.
 
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It keeps re-appearing unfortunately.. tried every way described so far.
 
I have the exact same problem here. I reset my Macbook Pro and sold it some time ago. I keep getting it back under "Find My". If I do "Remove Device" it gets removed, but next day it's right back on the list.

I guess I'll try and contact Apple Support for this.
 
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