Do This Before Selling Your iPhone Or iPad

For iPhone and iPad users looking to sell or trade-in their old devices, it’s important to make sure that all personal data is removed to prevent misuse. Users store a ton of sensitive information on their personal devices, including photos, documents, credit card details, passwords, and much more. An iPhone or iPad that isn’t completely erased and reset can give the new owner access to all this information, plus access to the user’s email and social media accounts.

Given that Apple devices retain their value longer than their Android counterparts, it’s not uncommon for users to sell their iPhones or iPads before upgrading to a new one. While there are several platforms where users can sell old electronics, Apple offers a trade-in program that lets users claim credit for their next purchase or get an Apple Store gift card that can be used in the future. The credit offered ranges from up to $195 for the iPhone SE 2nd-gen, all the way up to $770 for the iPhone 12 Pro Max. For iPads, Apple offers up to $210 for the iPad mini and up to $585 for an iPad Pro.

In case a user decides to sell their iPhone or iPad, Apple lists a few key steps that should be followed to safeguard private information. The first thing to do is transfer data to a new device. After this, users should sign out of their iCloud accounts. To do this, go to Settings, tap on the user name, scroll down and tap ‘Sign out‘. Enter the Apple ID password and then tap ‘Turn off‘. Apple notes that users should not delete contacts, calendars, photos, reminders, and documents while signed in to iCloud, since this will delete them on iCloud servers and the user’s other Apple devices as well. The next step is to deregister iMessage and unpair any synced items like an Apple Watch. After this is done, users can reset their iPhone by going to Settings, tapping on General > Transfer or Reset, and finally Erase All Content and Settings. Users might be required to enter their Apple ID password at this stage, as well as erase the eSIM if applicable. After this, enter the passcode if prompted and click on ‘Erase‘.

Secure Personal Information Remotely

In case a user sells or gives away their iPhone or iPad without removing their personal information, there are a few steps they can follow. The first one is to ask the new owner to erase all their information, provided it’s someone they know. Alternatively, they can sign in to iCloud or the Find My app on another device, locate the old device and click on ‘Erase‘. The device can then be removed from the iCloud account. If these options are not available, users are advised to change their Apple ID password, which will prevent the new owner from deleting their information from iCloud. Users can also remove their debit card and credit cards from iCloud by going to Account Settings, clicking on the device, and removing Apple Pay.

A final step iPhone and iPad users can take is to remove any old devices from their Trusted Devices list. To do this on iOS or iPadOS, open Settings, tap on the user name, and then scroll down to see the list of devices linked to the Apple ID. Tap on any device to view its details, and then click ‘Remove from Account‘. By following these best practices, users can ensure their personal information isn’t compromised when they upgrade to a new iPhone or iPad.

Source: Apple

About The Author

Ketaki Bhojnagarwala
(48 Articles Published)

Ketaki is a Tech Editor for Screen Rant based in Bangalore, India. She’s been writing on tech since 2009, and has worked for major print and digital media publications over the years. She loves smartphones, smart home devices and wearables, and is always up for testing the latest gadget or app. When she isn’t working, you’ll probably find her reading fantasy fiction on her Kindle.

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