Sign out by going to Settings on your device
To sign out of Apple TV, open the Settings app on your device, find the account section (labeled differently depending on whether you use an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV box), and select the option to sign out. The exact steps vary by device type, but the principle is the same: you navigate to where your account information lives, then choose to remove it.
Signing out removes your Apple ID from that device and stops playback of shows and movies tied to your account. You will need to sign back in with your Apple ID and password if you want to watch again on that device later. This is useful if you are selling the device, letting someone else use it, or straightforward want to disconnect your account for privacy reasons.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out to disconnect your Apple TV account.
- On Mac, open System Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, or use the Apple TV app menu directly.
- On an Apple TV box, navigate to Settings > Users and Accounts > [Your Account] > Sign Out.
- Signing out removes your account from the device but does not delete shows you have downloaded or watched.
- You can sign back in at any time using your Apple ID and password.
Sign out on iPhone or iPad
Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top of the screen. Scroll down and tap Sign Out at the bottom. You will be asked to enter your Apple ID password to confirm. After you enter it, your account is removed from the device.
If you do not see your name at the top of Settings, your device may not be signed in yet. In that case, there is nothing to sign out of. If you are using a shared device and want to remove only the Apple TV app from your account, you can also open the Apple TV app itself, tap the account icon in the bottom right, and choose Sign Out from there — this removes your account from the app without affecting your overall device sign-in.
Sign out on Mac
On a Mac running macOS Ventura or later, open System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, and scroll down to find Sign Out. Click it and enter your password when prompted. On older versions of macOS, the same option appears under System Preferences > iCloud.
Alternatively, if you use the Apple TV app on Mac, you can sign out directly from the app. Open Apple TV, click the account icon (usually in the top right or in the menu bar), and select Sign Out. This removes your account from the app without signing you out of your entire Mac.
Sign out on an Apple TV box
On a fourth-generation Apple TV or later, go to Settings > Users and Accounts. Select your account name, then choose Sign Out. Confirm when prompted. Your account will be removed from the box.
If multiple people use the same Apple TV box, each person has their own account listed under Users and Accounts. You can sign out of just your account without affecting others. If you are the only account on the device and you sign out, the next person to use the box will need to sign in with their own Apple ID before they can watch anything.
What happens after you sign out
Once you sign out, your personal information, watch history, and recommendations are removed from that device. Any shows or movies you downloaded to the device will remain there, but you will not be able to play them without signing back in. Your account data is not deleted — it stays on Apple's servers and will be there if you sign back in later.
If you sign out on a shared device, the next person to use it will see a fresh Apple TV experience with no watch history or recommendations from your account. They can sign in with their own Apple ID to see their own library and recommendations.
Sign back in later
To sign back in on any device, open Settings (or the Apple TV app), select Sign In, and enter your Apple ID email and password. If you have two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID, you will also need to enter a verification code sent to a trusted device. After you sign in, your watch history, saved shows, and recommendations will appear again.
If you forget your Apple ID password, you can reset it at iforgot.apple.com before you try to sign back in. This saves time and prevents you from getting locked out of the device.
Why you might want to sign out
The most common reason to sign out is before selling or giving away a device. Signing out ensures the new owner cannot access your account, watch history, or payment information. It is a security step that takes less than a minute and protects your privacy.
You might also sign out if you are troubleshooting playback problems — sometimes signing out and back in refreshes your connection and fixes streaming issues. Or you may straightforward want to disconnect your account from a device you no longer use regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will signing out delete my watch history and saved shows?
No. Your watch history and saved shows stay on your Apple account and will reappear when you sign back in. Signing out only removes your account from that specific device.
Can I sign out without knowing my password?
On most devices, you will need your password to confirm the sign-out. If you do not remember it, reset it at iforgot.apple.com before you sign out. On some older Apple TV boxes, you may be able to sign out without a password, but this is less common.
What if I sign out by mistake?
straightforward sign back in with your Apple ID and password. Your account information, watch history, and saved shows will return when ready. There is no penalty for signing out and back in.
Does signing out of Apple TV sign me out of other Apple services?
No. Signing out of the Apple TV app or account section only affects that service. Your iCloud, App Store, or other Apple services remain signed in unless you sign out of those separately.
Can I sign out of Apple TV on a family account?
Yes. Each family member can sign out of their own account on a shared device. The account organizer can also remove other family members from the device through Settings, but that requires the organizer's password.