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Edwin Chang
User level: Level 1 (11 points)

Unable to remove Find My item shared from a closed account

I cannot remove an item from Find My that was shared from an account that is now closed. When I try, I get "Find My Unavailable. Unable connect to server. Please try again later." All other Find my items do not give this error, and this happens when trying to remove this item from all other accounts it was shared with.


When I try to recover the closed account, it says the account is not valid or not supported.


How can I get rid of this?? It's ridiculous that when an account is closed the items associated with it are not closed as well, and unremovable items are left behind on other accounts.

Posted on Nov 6, 2026 4:06 PM

5 replies

Limnos
User level: Level 10 (462,771 points)

Nov 6, 2026 5:14 PM in response to Edwin Chang

I suspect the not valid account message is because the account no longer exists, since you say it was closed.


Apple can completely reset a device if a person can provide sufficient evidence of valid ownership. Read the requirements and steps for an Activation Lock support request at: https://al-support.apple.com/#/additional-support and links at the bottom right for the type of service requested. Apple says they “may” require "proof of purchase documentation” and that you need “proof of ownership documentation”, but does not detail what currently constitutes proof other than it “must include the product serial number, IMEI or MEID.” User reports on this community and chat with Apple indicate that typically Apple will absolutely require, and ONLY accept, an original receipt issued by Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller. Presumably this is the only kind Apple can authenticate against fraud since Apple is not involved in third party sales. Apple recommends that you "Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device" --> https://support.apple.com/HT202711





MrHoffman
User level: Level 10 (169,253 points)

Nov 6, 2026 4:49 PM in response to Edwin Chang

Edwin Chang wrote:
I've tried many times. They've told me to reset wifi settings, which did nothing. Now they tell me to restore the account as a legacy contact, which I can't even do since it's closed, and you need a death certificate! The account holder isn't dead, the account was just closed.

The only folks that can resolve this are Apple, which means providing them with the details of what has been tried, and has failed. If not via remote support, then via an Apple Store.

MrHoffman
User level: Level 10 (169,253 points)

Nov 6, 2026 4:12 PM in response to Edwin Chang

Contact Apple Support.

MrHoffman
User level: Level 10 (169,253 points)

Nov 6, 2026 6:51 PM in response to Limnos

Limnos wrote:
I suspect the not valid account message is because the account no longer exists, since you say it was closed…

This isn’t the usual case for a device associated with a deleted account.


This is somebody else with a now-dangling legacy-contact reference to a now-deleted account.


Somebody at Apple missed a clean-up case for the account deletion process.

Edwin Chang Author
User level: Level 1 (11 points)

Nov 6, 2026 4:37 PM in response to MrHoffman

I've tried many times. They've told me to reset wifi settings, which did nothing. Now they tell me to restore the account as a legacy contact, which I can't even do since it's closed, and you need a death certificate! The account holder isn't dead, the account was just closed.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256390032