How Do I Erase My Old Phone Before I Give It Away or Sell It?

What this helps with: Wiping your old iPhone or Android phone clean before you give it to someone, sell it, trade it in, or recycle it, so no one can see your photos, texts, or accounts.

The short answer: First make sure your new phone has everything. Then back up the old phone, unpair your watch, and sign out of your accounts. Then do a factory reset. That erases everything and makes the phone like new. Last, take out the SIM card.

Before you start

Give yourself about an hour. Have these ready:

• Your new phone, if you got one. Check it first (see Step 1).
• The old phone’s passcode or PIN (what you use to unlock it).
• Your account password. On an iPhone, that’s your Apple Account password. On Android, it’s your Google Account password (usually your Gmail). If you can’t remember it, reset it first. On Android, Google says to wait 24 hours after a password change before you reset the phone.
• A charger. Google says to charge the phone to at least 70%, and to stay connected to the internet.

Step 1: Check that your new phone has everything

Don’t erase the old phone until you’ve checked. Once it’s erased, you can’t get anything back from it. On the new phone, open these and look:

• Photos: your recent pictures and albums.
• Contacts: your family’s numbers.
• Messages: your texts.
• Your important apps: bank, pharmacy, email.
• Make a test call from the new phone.

Haven’t moved your things yet? See How Do I Set Up a New iPhone? or How Do I Set Up a New Android Phone?

Step 2: Back up the old phone

A backup is your safety net. It saves a copy of your things in your account.

• iPhone: Open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then iCloud Backup, and tap Back Up Now.
• Android: Open Settings, tap Google, then All services, then Backup, and tap Back up now. On a Samsung, look under Accounts and backup.

Want your photos kept safe for good? See How to Back Up Your Phone’s Photos.

Step 3: Unpair your watch

Have a smartwatch? Unpair it before you erase the phone.

• Apple Watch: On the iPhone, open the Apple Watch app. Tap My Watch, then All Watches. Tap the i button next to your watch, then Unpair Apple Watch. Type your Apple Account password when asked. This also turns off the watch’s lock, so the next owner can use it.
• Other watches: Open the watch’s app on your phone and look for Disconnect, Unpair, or Forget.

Step 4: Erase an iPhone

1. Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out. Follow the steps. If it asks, choose to sign out of iCloud and Store. Type your Apple Account password if asked.
3. Go back to Settings and tap General.
4. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
5. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
6. Type your passcode if asked, then tap Erase iPhone.
7. If you use an eSIM (a digital SIM) and you’re selling the phone, choose to erase the eSIM too.

Erasing also turns off Find My and Activation Lock. That’s the lock that stops anyone else from using your phone. If it stays on, the next owner can’t use the phone.

Switching to an Android phone? Turn off iMessage before you erase (Settings, Apps, Messages, turn off iMessage), so your texts reach your new phone.

Step 5: Erase an Android phone

First, remove your Google Account. Android phones have a lock called Factory Reset Protection. If your account is still on the phone, the next owner may be asked for your Google password, and they won’t be able to use the phone.

1. Open Settings, then tap Passwords & accounts (or Accounts, or Manage accounts).
2. Tap your Google Account, then Remove account. Tap Remove account again to confirm.
3. Do the same for any other accounts listed.

Then reset the phone (most phones, like a Google Pixel):

1. Open Settings and tap System.
2. Tap Reset options.
3. Tap Erase all data (factory reset), then Erase all data.
4. Type your PIN if asked, and tap Erase all data again.

Have a Samsung Galaxy?

1. Remove your accounts: Open Settings, tap Accounts and backup, then Manage accounts. Tap your Google account, then Remove account. Do the same for your Samsung account (tap Sign out and type its password).
2. Reset: Open Settings, tap General management, then Reset, then Factory data reset. Tap Reset, then Delete all.

Samsung says you may need your Samsung account password and an internet connection to finish. The words can be a little different on your phone.

Step 6: Take out the SIM card and memory card

• SIM card: This small card holds your phone number. Use the little pin tool to pop out the tray on the side, and keep the card. Many newer phones use an eSIM instead, with no card at all.
• Memory card: Some Android phones have a tiny memory card (SD card) in the same tray. A reset may not erase it. Take it out and keep it.
• Case: Take off your case too, and anything you tucked inside it, like a card or a note.

Not sure about your phone number or eSIM? Call your carrier or visit their store.

Step 7: Decide where it goes

• Give it to family: The phone is now like new. They can set it up with their own account.
• Trade it in: The phone maker, your carrier, or a big store may give you credit toward a new phone. Erase it yourself first, even if they say they’ll do it. Google says to use the reset in Settings for trade-ins.
• Recycle it: Many phone makers, carriers, and electronics stores take old phones for free.

Stay safe

• Erase it yourself. Don’t hand your unlocked phone to a stranger to “wipe it for you.”
• Never share your passcode or account password with a buyer, or with anyone who calls, texts, or emails out of the blue. That’s a common scam. See How to Spot a Scam Call, Text, or Email.
• Selling to a stranger? Meet in a busy public place, like a bank lobby or a police station’s safe-trade spot. Be wary of a buyer who wants to pay with gift cards, or who sends a check for more than the price and asks for the extra back. Those are scams.

Official sources

• Apple: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad
• Apple: Unpair and erase your Apple Watch
• Google: Reset your Android device to factory settings
• Google: Add or remove an account on Android
• Google: Factory reset your Google Pixel phone
• Samsung: Perform a factory reset on your Galaxy phone or tablet
• Samsung: Remove accounts from your Galaxy phone or tablet

Last checked: Oct 30, 2026

This is general help, not personalized tech support. Screens can look a little different depending on your phone’s brand and software version.