Are you selling or swapping your old mobile phone? Before handing it over, there are three things to do: back up your data, sign out of your accounts and erase everything. It takes a few minutes and avoids two headaches: losing your stuff, or handing over a phone that remains locked to your account. Works for iPhone and Android.
In this article
In the correct order:
- Make a backup (iCloud or Google)
- Sign out of your accounts (iCloud and Find My, or Google account)
- Perform a factory reset
- Remove the SIM card and memory card
1. First, make a backup
Save what you have before erasing:
- iPhone: Settings, your name, iCloud, iCloud Backup, "Back up now".
- Android: Settings, Google, Backup, "Back up now".
If you already have the new phone, you can transfer the data directly. We show how in how to transfer your data to the new phone.
2. Sign out of your accounts (the step everyone forgets)
This is the most important. If you reset without signing out, the phone becomes locked to your account: the recipient cannot use it, and you still receive help requests. Sign out first:
- iPhone: Settings, your name, and tap "Sign out". This disables Find My and the Activation Lock.
- Android: Settings, Accounts, and remove your Google account before resetting. This prevents the Factory Reset Protection (FRP) from remaining active.
It is precisely this lock that a discerning buyer will check. See the other side at how to tell if a used phone is locked.
3. Erase everything securely
Now for real, the factory reset:
- iPhone: Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, "Erase All Content and Settings".
- Android: Settings, System, Reset options, "Erase all data (factory reset)".
Today's phones encrypt everything, so a factory reset makes your data unrecoverable. You don't need special "clean-up" apps for this.
4. Remove the SIM card and memory card
The reset does not erase the SIM card nor the memory card (microSD). Remove them by hand before handing over the phone.
That's how we do it as well: every refurbished phone we sell arrives to you wiped securely and tested by a certified European refurbishing network. No one's data remains inside.
Thinking of swapping for a newer one?
If you're changing phone, our trade-in calculator estimates how much yours is worth and gives you a discount voucher for the next purchase. iOutlet does not buy your phone: the trade-in works as a discount, not as a sale.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an app to securely wipe the phone?
\nNo. As the phone encrypts everything, a factory reset already makes your data unrecoverable.
I reset without signing out. What happens?
\nThe phone becomes locked to your account (Activation Lock on iPhone, FRP on Android) and the recipient cannot set it up. Sign back in, sign out properly, and only then perform the reset.
Does the reset erase the SIM card?
\nNo. Remove the SIM card (and the microSD, if present) by hand.
Does iOutlet buy my phone?
\nWe do not buy from private sellers. The trade-in calculator estimates a value and gives you a discount voucher for your next purchase.
An honest note: each refurbished phone we sell is wiped securely, just as we show you here. We are 100% online and our support is by email, with a response within 48 hours.
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