Before You Trade In a Phone

Protect your information and make sure nothing important disappears before you sell, trade, recycle, or give away a phone.

1. Confirm everything is backed up

Check photos, videos, contacts, messages, notes, authenticator apps, and files. Open a few items from the backup instead of assuming the backup completed.

2. Move authentication safely

Transfer authenticator apps, passkeys, banking access, and account-recovery methods before wiping the old phone.

3. Verify the new phone

Confirm calls, texts, voicemail, mobile data, email, apps, Bluetooth accessories, and important accounts work correctly.

4. Remove account locks

Turn off Find My iPhone or the Android equivalent, sign out of the manufacturer account, remove eSIMs when appropriate, and confirm the device no longer appears as protected.

5. Erase the phone

Use the built-in factory reset. Do not manually delete photos or contacts while cloud syncing is still active.