Trying to sign out of your Apple ID in the App Store but running into issues? You’re not alone. Many users have difficulty fully signing out of their Apple ID from the App Store app and website. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the most common reasons you may be unable to sign out of your Apple ID from the App Store and provide troubleshooting tips to help you successfully sign out.
What does it mean to sign out of your Apple ID in the App Store?
When you sign out of your Apple ID in the App Store, you are dissociating your account from the App Store on that device. This means:
- You will no longer be able to download previous purchases or use other features linked to your Apple ID like iCloud.
- Your account will essentially be “deactivated” on the App Store on that device.
- Your Apple ID won’t automatically log back in next time you access the App Store – you’ll have to manually sign in again.
Signing out can be useful if you are selling or giving away a device and want to unlink your Apple ID before the new user takes over. Or you may want to sign out if you need to associate a different Apple ID with the App Store on that device.
Common roadblocks to signing out of your Apple ID in the App Store
There are a few common reasons you may be unable to fully sign out of your Apple ID from the App Store:
You’re signed into other Apple services
Even if you sign out of your Apple ID in the App Store, you may still be signed into other Apple services like FaceTime, iMessage, iCloud, iTunes, or the Apple TV app using the same Apple ID. Signing out of your Apple ID only signs you out of the App Store – you would need to sign out of each service independently to fully unlink your account across Apple’s ecosystem.
You’re still logged into iCloud
Similar to the issue above, if you’re still logged into iCloud on your device, your Apple ID will remain linked in some capacity. Make sure to sign out of iCloud under Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
You have auto sign-in enabled
If you have App Store auto sign-in enabled under your Apple ID account settings, your Apple ID may automatically sign back in soon after you sign out. You’ll want to disable this option first before trying to sign out.
You need to revoke App Store trust on the device
Even after signing out of your Apple ID, the App Store app retains some trust of your account to allow automatic downloads and updates. You’ll need to fully revoke the App Store’s trust to complete the sign out process.
You still have App Store purchase history on the device
If download histories and previous App Store purchases made with your Apple ID remain on the device, your account will still be partially linked. You may need to erase your purchase history along with signing out.
You need to restart your device
In some cases, you may need to restart your iPhone, iPad or Mac after signing out of your Apple ID for the changes to fully take effect across Apple’s system services.
You have parental controls enabled
If you have parental controls set up on your child’s device using your Apple ID as the guardian account, your Apple ID will remain linked to that device for management purposes. You would need to remove parental controls or switch to a different guardian account first before fully signing out.
How to sign out of your Apple ID from the App Store
On iPhone or iPad
To sign out of your Apple ID from the App Store on an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store app
- Tap on your profile icon in the top right
- Scroll down and tap Sign Out
- Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and sign out of iCloud
- Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store and turn off App Store automatic downloads
- Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy to reset the App Store
- Restart your device
This will sign you out of the App Store app, disable auto sign-in, revoke App Store trust permissions, and clear cached account data to complete the sign out process.
On Mac
To sign out of the App Store on a Mac, use these steps:
- Open the App Store app
- Click on your Apple ID profile name in the bottom left
- Choose Sign Out
- Go to System Preferences > Apple ID and sign out of iCloud
- Go to System Preferences > App Store and disable automatic downloads
- Launch Keychain Access, search for “AppleIDAuthenticationAuthority” and delete the keychain item
- Restart your Mac
As with iOS, this will sign you out of the App Store, revoke permissions, disable auto sign-in, and clear out account data from your system to complete the sign out process.
On the App Store website
To sign out from the App Store on the web:
- Go to https://appleid.apple.com
- Click on Manage Your Apple ID and sign in
- Under Security, click Sign Out of All Browser Sessions
- Go to appleid.apple.com again, click Manage your Apple ID and sign in
- Under Apple ID, click on Media & Purchases
- Click the Sign Out button next to App Store
This will invalidate your sign in session and sign you out of the App Store across all browsers.
Troubleshooting tips for signing out of your Apple ID in the App Store
If you’re still having issues fully signing out of your Apple ID from the App Store after following the steps above, try these troubleshooting tips:
Make sure you sign out of all Apple services
Don’t forget to sign out of every Apple service tied to that Apple ID, including iCloud, FaceTime, iMessage, iTunes, Apple Books, and Find My. Sign out on all devices linked to your account.
Turn off auto sign-in
Disable the App Store automatic sign-in option under your Apple ID account settings and within your device Settings app to prevent automatically signing back in.
Revoke App Store trust
On iOS, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy to reset the App Store and remove lingering account trust. On Mac, delete the AppleIDAuthenticationAuthority keychain item.
Remove your account from Family Sharing
If part of Family Sharing, you may need to remove your account from the family group before you can fully sign out.
Delete purchase history
Erase your download history and purchases made from the account under your Apple ID account settings to remove remaining account ties.
Contact Apple Support
For persistent issues signing out, reach out to Apple Support for assistance removing your Apple ID from a device. They can perform a remote sign out on their end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to sign out of the App Store?
The main reasons to sign out of the App Store include:
- You’re selling or giving away your device and want to unlink your account
- You need to associate a different Apple ID with purchases on that device
- You want to create a new account and start fresh
- You’re experiencing issues with your account and want to try re-linking it
What happens when I sign out of my Apple ID in the App Store?
Signing out will:
- Remove your account association from that device
- Disable access to previous App Store purchases
- Require you to manually sign back in next time
- Revoke App Store permissions granted to your account
However, your Apple ID will still be valid and apps you’ve downloaded can still remain on the device.
Can I sign out of the App Store without signing out of iCloud?
While you can sign out of just the App Store, your Apple ID will still be partially linked to the device through iCloud. To fully dissociate your account, you need to sign out of both the App Store and iCloud.
What should I do before signing out of the App Store?
Before signing out, you may want to:
- Turn off Find My iPhone if enabled
- Back up your data to iCloud
- Deauthorize any computers linked to your Apple ID in iTunes
- Update apps and download anything else you may want to re-download later
Is it safe to sign out of my Apple ID on a public device?
It’s not recommended to sign into your personal Apple ID on a public device. If you need to, make sure to sign out properly after using it. Also turn on two-factor authentication for your account.
Conclusion
Signing out of your Apple ID in the App Store can sometimes be tricky due to how integrated Apple services are across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. By signing out correctly, toggling off auto sign-in, revoking App Store trust, and clearing your account data, you should be able to fully dissociate your Apple ID from the App Store on any given device. Just be diligent and patient during the process. If you continue having issues, contact Apple support for help removing your stuck account from a device.