How to remotely erase an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with the Find My app

Apple’s Find My iPhone app is a handy way to locate your lost or stolen iOS or Mac devices. The app is now simply called “Find My” as it combines the features of the Find My iPhone and Find My Friends apps, and you can find it pre-installed on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. The single app now helps you share your location with your friends and family, keep up with the location shared by others, and also see the last known location of your own iOS and Mac devices.

If, for any reason, you have lost access to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, such as in the case of a theft or burglary, and you’re worried about your personal data stored on the device getting into the wrong hands, you can remotely erase the data on your device using the Find My app. Similarly, if you have given or sold your iOS or Mac device to someone but forgot to erase it, you can remotely wipe all your data from the device without needing physical access to it. You can erase an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with the Find My app as long as the following conditions are met:

1. You are using an iCloud account on the device you want to erase, and Find My iPhone is enabled on the device. To check this, open the Settings app, tap on your iCloud account name at the top, then tap Find My and check if Find My iPhone is enabled. We recommend activating the ‘Find my network’ and ‘Send Last Location’ options as well.
2. The device you want to erase is connected to the internet at the time of sending the request.
3. You are signed in with the same iCloud account on the device you are using the Find My app.

How to remotely erase an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with the Find My app on iOS or Mac:

1. Launch the Find My app or the Find My iPhone app.
2. Tap the Devices tab and select the device you want to erase. If you don’t see the device listed here, check whether the three conditions listed above are satisfied.

3. Scroll down a bit and tap Erase This Device.

4. Tap Continue.
5. When your device connects to the internet, it will automatically start erasing all data stored on it.

How to remotely erase an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with the Find My app on iCloud.com:

1. Open your browser and visit https://www.icloud.com/find/
2. Sign in with the same iCloud account that is active on the device you want to erase.
   

3. Click All Devices at the top center of the window, and select the device you want to erase.
4. Click the Erase option.
   

5. To confirm the action, click the Erase button on the prompt.
   

6. When your device connects to the internet, it will automatically start erasing all data stored on it.