Remove Apple TV or Mac From iPhone: Step-by-Step

This guide shows you how to remove an Apple TV or a Mac from the list of devices linked to your iPhone. This is useful when you sell or give away a device, when you no longer use it, or when you want to stop it from receiving your messages and calls. The steps below work for the latest versions of iOS and iPadOS, and they cover the two main places where these devices appear: in your Apple Account (formerly Apple ID) device list and in the Home app.

What You’ll Need

Your iPhone with the latest iOS version installed.
The Apple ID password and, if two-factor authentication is on, access to a trusted device or phone number.
For an Apple TV: if you still have it, the TV itself and its remote to sign out of your account on the device. If you don’t have it, you can still remove it from your account list, but it may remain linked to your purchases until you do a factory reset.
For a Mac: if you still have it, the Mac’s login password. If you don’t have it, you can still remove it from your account list, but the Mac may remain linked to your iCloud data until you sign out there.

Step-by-Step

The process differs slightly depending on whether you want to remove the device from your Apple Account (which controls iCloud, Find My, and purchases) or from the Home app (which controls smart home access). Start with the Apple Account method, as that is the most common reason.

Removing a Device from Your Apple Account

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap your name at the very top of the screen. This opens your Apple Account settings.
Scroll down and tap Find My. If Find My is off, you will need to turn it on temporarily to see the device list, or skip to step 6 if you don’t use Find My.
Tap Find My iPhone (even though you are looking for a Mac or Apple TV, the menu is named this).
You will see a list of all devices associated with your account. Find the Apple TV or Mac you want to remove and tap its name.
On the device details page, scroll to the bottom and tap Remove This Device. Confirm when prompted. This removes it from Find My and from your trusted device list.
Go back to the main Settings page (tap < Back twice).
Tap your name again, then scroll down to the list of devices under your name. You will see your iPhone, and any other devices signed into your Apple Account.
Tap the Apple TV or Mac you want to remove.
Scroll to the bottom and tap Remove from Account. Enter your Apple ID password if asked, then confirm.

Removing a Device from the Home App

If the Apple TV or Mac is set up as a home hub in the Home app, you may want to remove it from there as well.

Open the Home app on your iPhone.
Tap the Home icon (the house shape) in the top-left corner, or tap the ellipsis (…) button.
Tap Home Settings.
Tap Hubs & Bridges. You will see a list of devices acting as home hubs.
Tap the Apple TV or Mac you want to remove.
Tap Remove Hub from Home and confirm. This stops it from controlling your smart home accessories.

If You Still Have the Device (Sign Out Directly)

This is the cleanest method because it fully unlinks the device from your account.

On the Apple TV: Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > select your account > Sign Out. Then go to Settings > System > Reset > Reset All Settings if you are selling it.
On the Mac: Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS) > click your name at the top > scroll to the bottom > click Sign Out. Choose whether to keep a copy of iCloud data on the Mac, then confirm.

Common Mistakes

Only removing it from Find My, not from the account. If you skip the “Remove from Account” step in the device list, the device still appears under your Apple ID and may still receive iMessage and FaceTime calls.
Forgetting to sign out on the device itself. If you don’t sign out on the Apple TV or Mac, it remains linked to your iCloud data and purchases, and the next user may see your information.
Removing the wrong device. The device list shows all your devices, and names can be similar. Double-check the model and serial number before removing.
Not checking the Home app. If the device was a home hub, removing it from your Apple Account may not remove it from the Home app. You need to do both separately.
Assuming it’s instant. After you remove a device, it can take a few minutes for the change to sync across all your devices and Apple’s servers.

Tips

Before selling or giving away an Apple TV or Mac, always sign out of your Apple Account and perform a factory reset. This protects your personal data and prevents the next owner from accessing your purchases.
If you are removing the device because it was stolen, do not remove it from Find My. Instead, mark it as Lost in the Find My app so you can track it.
After removing a Mac, check that it no longer appears in your iMessage and FaceTime settings. Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive and Settings > FaceTime to confirm your phone number is not still associated with that Mac.
If you are removing an Apple TV that was used for purchases, your purchased movies and shows will still be available on your other devices, but they will no longer be on that Apple TV after it is reset.

Troubleshooting

The “Remove from Account” button is greyed out. This usually happens when the device is currently signed into your account and has Find My enabled. You must first sign out on the device itself, or if you don’t have it, erase it remotely via iCloud.com. Go to iCloud.com/find, sign in, select the device, and choose Erase This Device. After it is erased, you can remove it from your account.

The device still shows up after you removed it. Wait 10-15 minutes and pull down on the device list to refresh. If it still appears, restart your iPhone (press and hold the side button and volume button, then slide to power off). If it persists, sign out of your Apple Account on your iPhone entirely (Settings > your name > Sign Out), then sign back in. This forces a full refresh.

You don’t have the Apple ID password. You cannot remove a device from your account without the password. If you have forgotten it, go to iforgot.apple.com to reset it. If you are trying to remove a device that belongs to someone else (e.g., a family member), you need their permission and their password.

The Apple TV or Mac is not in the list at all. It may have already been removed, or it was never signed into your Apple Account. Check if it appears in the Home app instead. If it was only used for AirPlay, it won’t appear in your device list at all.

Removing the device from the Home app fails. Make sure your iPhone has an internet connection. If the hub is offline, you may need to reset the Apple TV or Mac to factory settings first, then remove it from the Home app. If it still fails, restart your iPhone and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will removing my Mac from my iPhone also delete my files on the Mac?
A: No. Removing it from your iPhone’s device list only unlinks the account. Your files remain on the Mac. To delete them, you must erase the Mac separately.

Q: Can I remove an Apple TV that I no longer own?
A: Yes. If you don’t have the device, you can still remove it from your Apple Account list. However, if Find My was enabled, you may need to use iCloud.com to erase it first, which requires the device to be online.

Q: What happens to my iMessage and FaceTime calls after I remove a Mac?
A: The Mac will stop receiving your iMessage texts and FaceTime calls. Your iPhone will continue to work normally. It may take a few minutes for the change to take effect.

Q: Does removing an Apple TV from my account cancel my Apple TV+ subscription?
A: No. Your Apple TV+ subscription is tied to your Apple ID, not to a specific device. Removing the device does not affect your subscription or any other Apple services.

Q: I removed the device, but it still shows up in my Home app.
A: The Home app has a separate device list. Follow the steps above under “Removing a Device from the Home App” to remove it there. If it still appears, the device may be offline; wait until it comes online and try again.

Q: Is there a way to remove multiple devices at once?
A: No. Apple does not offer a bulk removal option. You must remove each device individually from the Settings app.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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