Selling or trading in an old phone is a good way to recover some money, but handing it over without wiping it properly can leave your photos, messages, saved passwords and accounts exposed. A factory reset is the standard answer, yet it only works well if you do a few things first. This guide walks through the whole process for iPhone and Android in plain steps.
Why a factory reset is not the first step
Many people go straight to the reset button. The problem is that a reset on its own can leave the phone tied to your account, which causes headaches for the buyer and can mean your sale falls through. Before you erase anything, take care of backups and sign-outs. Doing things in the right order saves a lot of trouble.
Step 1: Back up what you want to keep
Once the phone is wiped, your data is gone, so check your backup carefully. On an iPhone, you can use iCloud backup (Settings, then your name, then iCloud) or connect to a computer and back up there. On Android, Google One backup is usually the simplest route, and many manufacturers such as Samsung offer their own backup tool as well. Photos are the item people most often forget, so open your gallery or photo app and confirm they appear on another device or in the cloud. Our guide to backing up your phone photos covers this in more detail.
Also think about things that do not always back up automatically: chat history in some messaging apps, authenticator codes, game progress and saved files. Authenticator apps matter most. If your two-factor codes live only on the old phone, you could be locked out of accounts afterwards, so move them first. Our two-factor authentication guide explains how to do that safely.
Step 2: Sign out of your accounts
This is the step that causes most failed sales. Both Apple and Google use a lock that links a phone to its owner, designed to deter thieves. If you leave it switched on, the next owner may be unable to set the phone up.
On an iPhone, sign out of your Apple Account in Settings and turn off Find My iPhone. Apple generally prompts for your password to do this. On Android, remove your Google account (and any manufacturer account such as Samsung) in Settings before resetting, which switches off Factory Reset Protection for that account. Menu names differ slightly between brands and software versions, so if you cannot find an option, use the search box at the top of Settings.
Step 3: Remove your SIM, eSIM and memory card
Take out the physical SIM and any microSD card. If your phone uses an eSIM, remove the eSIM profile from the phone settings, or ask your network to deactivate it, because a reset may not always cleanly free it. If you are keeping your number, check with your network how to move it to your new phone. Our eSIM explainer covers how switching works in the UK.
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Step 4: Run the factory reset
On an iPhone, go to Settings, General, then Transfer or Reset iPhone, and choose Erase All Content and Settings. On most Android phones, go to Settings, then System (or General management), then Reset options, and choose Erase all data (factory reset). You will be asked for your PIN or password to confirm. The phone restarts and may take several minutes, so keep it plugged in or well charged.
Modern iPhones and Android phones encrypt their storage by default, which means a standard reset is generally considered enough for an ordinary sale. If you are handling very sensitive information, or the phone is quite old, you may want to check your manufacturer’s guidance on whether additional steps are advised.
Step 5: Check the result
After the reset, the phone should show the welcome or language screen as if it were new. Do not sign in to anything. If you see a message asking for the previous owner’s account, you missed a sign-out step, and you will need to restore access and repeat the process. Take a few photos of the phone for your listing before packing it.
Selling safely
Use a reputable marketplace or trade-in service and avoid sending the phone before payment has properly cleared. Be wary of buyers who ask you to move the chat away from the platform or who send unusual payment links. Our guide to spotting fake websites includes habits that help with fake payment pages too. Keep the box, charger and receipt if you have them, since they can raise the price. Consumer rules for private sellers differ from those for businesses, so check the platform’s policy on returns and disputes.
Quick checklist
Back up your photos and files. Move your authenticator codes. Sign out of your Apple Account or Google account and turn off Find My. Remove the SIM, eSIM and memory card. Erase all content and settings. Confirm the phone shows the welcome screen. Following this order keeps your data private and makes the sale smooth for the buyer.
Finally, remember that device software changes often, so menu wording may differ on your phone. If in doubt, Apple Support and your Android manufacturer’s support pages give current instructions for your exact model.
