Before you sell your old Android or iPhone, you should remove all sensitive data from the device. To do this, you can perform a factory reset on your phone. In this article, we’ll show you how to perform a full factory reset, returning your phone to factory settings.
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You should remove as much data as you can manually from your device before selling it. A factory data reset is a useful way to do this, but it may not be enough on its own.
Sometimes a simple factory data reset won’t completely erase all the data on your Android device or iPhone, and the new owner of your device might easily restore your files, messages and even photos. Some apps and browsers might also store your login details and passwords.
Before performing the factory reset, we recommend that you remove all applications from your device; that’s right, you should even delete VPN apps if you’re going to sell your device. So before you trade away your device, make sure that you follow these steps to carry out a factory reset and wipe it completely.
Whether or not you’re going to perform a factory reset, returning your phone to factory settings, here are some things you should do before trading in your Android phone.
If your phone came with an older operating system, you can skip to the next step. If you are unsure which version your phone is running, you can find that out by going to “Settings” > “About device/phone” > “Software info.”
Before you perform a factory reset and wipe your Android phone, it’s important to backup your files.
Android 8.1 or later automatically backs up your text messages (but not your call log). If you want a more secure way to save your text messages and your call log, you can use third-party tools to do so.
You should also sync your apps with your Google account. Normally, Google apps will sync with your account automatically, but if this doesn’t happen, you can sync them manually:
Please note that to sync other apps, you will have to check individual app settings and sync them manually.
Keep in mind, however, that Google Photos is not the best choice in terms of privacy. If you are looking for something more private, check our list of more private photo apps.
The same goes for Google Drive. While it can be a useful back-up tool, there are many privacy-focused Google Drive alternatives.
If you have an Android phone that runs Android 8.1 or later, your text messages (but not your call log) will be backed up automatically. If you want a more secure way to save your text messages and your call log, you can use SMS Backup & Restore, a Google app that will back everything up on your Gmail account. For a step-by-step guide, click here.
The steps for carrying out a factory reset vary slightly depending on the device manufacturer. The steps below should act as a guide for many phones, but will not match perfectly onto every Android device.
Lastly, remove the device from your Google account. Head to the Recently Used Devices section in your Google account. Once you log in, you’ll be able to see which Android devices are connected and linked to your account. Find the phone you are selling, click on it, and then click “Remove.”
Check out our video on wiping your Android phone below.
Before trading in your iPhone, take some steps to remove all the data from the device. Performing a factory reset can do this for you, but you can also manually clean your personal info from the iPhone, using the following tips.
Before wiping your phone clean, back up any data and personal information you want to keep. Remember, after a factory reset, all the data on the device is erased.
For extra security, you can encrypt your backup by doing the following:
You must be signed in to your iCloud account to perform these steps. iCloud synchronizes and stores all your data in a virtual drive. You can also choose which apps to use with iCloud in “Settings”. You can back up text messages, contacts, and emails this way.
If you want to back up your call logs, you can only do so by using third-party software. If you have photos or music that you would like to keep, sync your phone with iTunes. For a step-by-step guide, visit Apple’s Support page.
When you’re ready to carry out a factory reset on your iPhone, follow these instructions to return the device to factory settings.
If you forgot your Apple login details, you can reset it by going to your account page, clicking on “Forgot Apple ID or password?” and following the required steps. If you cannot retrieve your Apple password, you can still wipe your phone:
Be aware that erasing your iPhone this way doesn’t delete all your data and settings completely. The deleted information cannot be accessed via the iOS interface, but it stays on your device and could be accessed by an experienced technician or hacker. To erase your data completely, you have to overwrite it using a third-party app. Just make sure you use a reliable program that respects your privacy.
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