Face ID Not Working – Unable to Sign Out of Apple Account

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Face ID Not Working – Unable to Sign Out of Apple Account

Hello, I need help with an iPhone I recently bought used. I no longer have the purchase receipt because it was lost.

I have access to the Apple Account and the Google account associated with the device, so I can provide proof that I have access to the accounts.

However, Face ID is not working, and because of this I cannot sign out of the Apple Account on the iPhone. Find My iPhone is also enabled.

I want to remove the Apple Account and Find My iPhone from the device without erasing my data or causing Activation Lock.

What is the safest way to resolve this issue?

iPhone 13 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Aug 20, 2026 7:41 PM

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Answer 1

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constantinraot

Level 1

22 points

Aug 20, 2026 8:52 PM in response to sleman16

The issue you are experiencing is likely caused by the Stolen Device Protection feature being enabled on your iPhone. When this feature is active and Face ID is broken or unavailable, iOS restricts sensitive actions—such as signing out of your Apple Account or turning off Find My—to prevent unauthorized access. Try this:

Disable Stolen Device Protection: Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Scroll down to Stolen Device Protection and turn it off.

Wait for the Security Delay: If you are not at a familiar location (like your home), the system will initiate a 1-hour security delay. After the hour passes, you will be prompted to authenticate again using your passcode to successfully turn it off.

Sign out via iCloud Web: Once Stolen Device Protection is disabled, you should be able to sign out using your passcode. If it still fails on the device, log into icloud.com from any browser, select this iPhone, and choose Remove from Account. This will safely disable Find My and the Activation Lock remotely.

Get Face ID Repaired: Since Face ID is critical for iOS security features, you will need to have the hardware inspected at an Apple Store or an Authorized Service Provider to fully restore functionality.

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