Why Can’t I Sign Out of My Apple ID and How to Fix It

Quick Tips

• There could be two key reasons that can stop you from signing out of Apple ID.
• One, it’s a bug- or setting-related issue. For that try restarting or updating your device. You can also try resetting the network settings.
• Two, the feature has been blocked due to Screen Time or your company/university. You can disable Screen Time or talk to the IT department to fix the issue.

Why Is My Apple ID Sign Out Greyed Out

If your sign-out option is greyed out, alongside a ‘Sign Out is not available due to restrictions’ message, it might be because of the following reasons:

• Screen Time is turned on with account restriction.
• A company profile is installed on your iPhone.

If so, follow the instructions below to check for restrictions to fix the Apple ID option greyed-out issue. However, if you don’t see a restriction message, try some basic fixes first.

Basic Fixes

• Restart your iPhone or iPad – Restarting your iPhone or iPad might be the most common troubleshooting method, but it’s also one of the most effective ones to fix a simple bug.
• Check Apple system status – If Apple ID or iCloud is down from Apple’s side, it might prevent you from signing out of Apple ID on your iPhone and iPad. You can check it by visiting the Apple support website and see if any related service is off.
• Update your iOS and iPadOS – There is a probability that a system bug is causing the issue. If so, updating your iPhone or iPad might do the trick. Go to Settings > General > Software Update > tap Download and Install (if an update is available).

Fix 1. Turn Off Content & Privacy Restrictions

You can do several things with Screen Time, from blocking apps to setting time limits for an app. However, Content and Privacy Restrictions can sometimes grey out the iPhone sign-out option.

So, here’s how to check and turn off Screen Time on the iPhone.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Screen Time. Scroll down and tap ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions‘.

Step 2: Turn off the toggle for ‘Content and Privacy Restrictions‘.

Now, go to Settings > Apple ID > and see if you can sign out of the Apple ID. You can tap ‘Turn Off Screen Time‘ to see if it fixes the problem.

Note: If you can’t remember your Screen Time passcode, follow this guide to reset your Screen Time password on iPhone and Mac.

Fix 2. Remove Screen Time From the Parent Device

Screen Time doubles as a parental control measure, allowing parents to restrict the time their child spends on the iPhone or iPad. So, maybe the Apple ID sign-out is greyed out because a parent or guardian has imposed a limit.

In this situation, turn off the Screen Time from the Guardian/parent device. Go to Settings app > Family > select the child’s name > tap Screen Time.

Next, tap ‘Turn off Screen Time’ → enter Screen Time passcode → again tap ‘Turn Off Screen Time’ to confirm.

Fix 3. Remove MDM

When a company, school, or university gives you a device, MDM, aka Mobile Device Management software, is usually installed on the device. It enables them to restrict certain features, track the device, and more.

However, the MDM profile also means you can’t log out of the Apple ID. And that’s probably why the SignOut button is greyed out on your device. To check whether your device has a profile, go to Settings > General > ‘VPN & Device Management‘.

If you spot an MDM profile, contact the device manager or IT department to remove the profile.

Fix 4. Reset Network Settings

If none of the above solutions worked, the last solution is to reset the network settings on your iPhone or iPad. This will, in turn, reset any bug or error stopping you from signing in to your Apple ID.

However, doing so will also reset other settings like Wi-Fi networks and passwords, VPN, and APN settings, so you should save the Wi-Fi password or other details before you reset the network settings on your iPhone and iPad.

To do so, go to Settings > General > ‘Transfer or Reset Settings‘ > Reset > Reset Network Settings > enter your password to confirm.

How to Log Out Despite Apple ID Sign-Out Greyed Out

There are two ways to force sign out of Apple ID:

• Remotely remove the iPhone from Apple ID – You can remove any device from your Apple ID via iCloud or any other Apple ID. This remotely disconnects your device from the Apple ID by signing you out of the Apple ID.
• Reset your iPhone – Well, this might sound like a desperate measure, but as they say, desperate situations require desperate actions. However, if you’re selling off the iPhone or passing it on to someone, this is a reasonable solution.