How to delete old iCloud account without password

If your device is signed into an old ID that is an earlier version of the ID you want to sign in with, do the following:

If you are using iMessage and FaceTime, make sure you are signed into these services with your current ID. If they are signed into the old ID, go to Settings>Messages>Send & Receive and Settings>FaceTime, tap the ID, sign out, then sign back in with your current ID.

Then temporarily recreate the old ID by going to https://appleid.apple.com, click Manage my Apple ID and sign in with your current iCloud ID. Click edit next to the primary email account, change it back to your old email address and save the change. (You should not have to verify the old email account so it doesn’t matter if you no longer have access to it.) Now go to Settings>iCloud, turn off Find My iDevice and enter your current password when prompted (even though it prompts you for the password for your old ID). Then save any photo stream photos that you wish to keep to your camera roll (unless you are using iCloud Photo Library). When finished go to Settings>iCloud, tap Sign Out (or Delete Account if you are not running iOS 8) and choose Delete from My iDevice when prompted (your iCloud data will still be in iCloud). Next, go back to https://appleid.apple.com and change your primary email address back to the way it was. Now you can go to Settings>iCloud and sign back in with your current iCloud ID and password (your data will download back to your device).

You're welcome.

i love you man. I was ready to flush my phone down the toilet.

when i use the old id and save it, its showing, "This email address is not available for use as an Apple ID. You may already have an Apple ID associated with this address. Please try again or sign in using your existing Apple ID.".

how should i make it work?

thanks in advance.

randers4, this worked perfectly! Thanks for your help.

i have the same problem but in a

Thanks, this was stumping me as well, but your guidance helped me get into my old iphone 4 and disable Find My iPhone, and then reset the phone to factory settings so I can sell it.

Many thanks!

A million thanks dude!!!! was about to completely snap my carrot until I came across your solution!!!!

LEGEND

Thank you, these instructions were easy to follow and, most importantly, they worked!!

Alas, as of now you have to verify the old email. If you no longer have access, this won't work.

The instructions you are referring to are the old instructions. If the Apple ID that the iCloud account is signed into is the same Apple account - just the previous user ID for that account, then you should be able to sign out using your current password for the Apple/iCloud account.

Cheers,

GB

Worked!!! Thanks so much for your help!

Hi - I have tried this but when I attempt to change my current apple id back to my old one, it is coming up with "An email has been sent with your verification code" and a spot to enter the code. I don't have access to this email anymore (its an old work email address and no longer exists). How can I get around this? Please help 😟

The solution posted by randers4 is an older solution that has been superseded. You simply need to go to Settings>iCloud on the device that you want to sign the old Apple/iCloud ID out of, and scroll to the bottom of the page. Click on Sign Out, and when it asks for a password, type in your current Apple/iCloud ID password.

Cheers,

GB