How to Back Up Your iPhone Before Selling It

When you erase an iPhone to sell it, everything on the device is gone permanently. Photos, messages, WhatsApp conversations, app data, passwords: none of it survives a factory reset unless you backed it up first. This guide walks through every step so you can sell with confidence, knowing your data is safe before the phone leaves your hands.

Why backing up matters before you sell

A factory reset is irreversible. Apple's "Erase All Content and Settings" overwrites your data, and there is no way to recover it afterwards without a backup. Most people only discover this after the phone has already been wiped and posted off. Taking 20 minutes to back up now can save you from losing years of photos and conversations.

Backing up also makes setting up your next phone faster. Whether you restore to a new iPhone via Quick Start or use iCloud during setup, you can have all your apps, contacts, and settings back within minutes.

Step 1: Back up to iCloud

iCloud Backup is the simplest option and works over Wi-Fi. Here is how to run one manually before you sell:

1. Connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network.
2. Go to Settings, then tap your name at the top.
3. Tap iCloud, then scroll down and tap iCloud Backup.
4. Make sure the toggle is on, then tap Back Up Now.
5. Keep the screen on and stay on Wi-Fi until the progress bar completes.

When it finishes, you will see the date and time of the last successful backup just below the button. Check that it shows today's date before moving on.

What iCloud Backup includes

iCloud Backup covers app data, device settings, your home screen layout, iMessages and SMS messages, ringtones, and Visual Voicemail. It does not include data already stored in iCloud (such as iCloud Photos or iCloud Drive), Apple Pay cards, or Face ID and Touch ID settings, as those are tied to the hardware.

What to do if your iCloud storage is full

Apple gives every account 5 GB of free iCloud storage, which fills up quickly. If you see a message saying there is not enough space, you have two options. First, you can upgrade your iCloud storage plan temporarily in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage. The 50 GB plan costs 79p per month and can be cancelled once the sale is done. Second, you can back up to your computer for free instead, which is covered in the next section.

Step 2: Back up to your Mac or PC (free alternative)

A computer backup is free, stores everything locally, and is often faster than iCloud. It also includes some data iCloud does not, such as locally stored health data and certain app files.

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a cable.
2. On a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, open Finder, then click your iPhone in the left sidebar. On a Windows PC (or older Mac), open iTunes instead.
3. Click Back Up Now. If you want to save Health and Activity data, tick Encrypt local backup and set a password you will remember.
4. Wait until the progress bar in the top bar of Finder (or iTunes) disappears. The backup is complete when the "Last backed up" date updates.

Store the password somewhere safe. You will need it to restore from an encrypted backup.

Step 3: Make sure your photos are saved

iCloud Photos syncs your library to iCloud automatically, but only if it is switched on. Check by going to Settings > Photos and confirming Sync this iPhone is enabled. When iCloud Photos is on, your originals are stored in iCloud rather than on the device itself, so they are not part of the iCloud Device Backup.

If you prefer to keep a copy on your computer, connect your iPhone via cable, open the Photos app on your Mac (or Windows Photos), and import everything. You can also use Image Capture on Mac to copy photos to any folder.

Step 4: Back up WhatsApp separately

WhatsApp chats are not included in a standard iCloud Device Backup. They are stored in iCloud Drive under a separate WhatsApp folder, and you need to trigger the backup from inside the app:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup.
2. Tap Back Up Now.
3. Wait for the backup to complete. You will see the date and size of the last backup once it finishes.

This backup goes to your iCloud Drive and can be restored when you set up WhatsApp on your new phone. Make sure you are signed into the same Apple ID and phone number on your new device.

Step 5: Save your authenticator app codes

Two-factor authenticator apps (such as Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator) generate login codes for your accounts. If you lose access to these before moving to a new phone, you can be locked out of important accounts.

• Authy has a built-in cloud backup. Make sure it is enabled in the Authy settings before you reset.
• Google Authenticator lets you transfer accounts directly to a new phone using a QR code. Open the app, tap the three-dot menu, choose Transfer accounts, then follow the on-screen steps.
• Microsoft Authenticator has a cloud backup option under Settings > Backup.

For any accounts where you are unsure, generate backup codes from the account's security settings before wiping the phone.

Step 6: Confirm everything is backed up

Before you do anything to the phone, spend two minutes checking:

• iCloud Backup shows today's date (Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup).
• iCloud Photos shows "All photos and videos are backed up" at the bottom of Settings > Photos.
• WhatsApp Chat Backup shows today's date.
• Your authenticator codes are accessible on another device or you have transfer codes ready.

If everything checks out, you are ready to move on.

Step 7: Restore to your new iPhone

Once you have your replacement phone, restoring from your backup is straightforward:

Using Quick Start

If you have both phones at the same time, hold them next to each other when setting up the new one. A prompt will appear on your old phone asking if you want to help set up the new device. Follow the on-screen instructions and choose to transfer directly from the old iPhone or from an iCloud Backup. Direct transfer is faster if both phones are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Restoring from iCloud during setup

On the setup screen of your new iPhone, choose Restore from iCloud Backup, sign in with your Apple ID, and select the most recent backup. Leave the phone plugged in and on Wi-Fi while it downloads everything.

Restoring from a computer backup

Connect the new phone to the computer you backed up to, open Finder or iTunes, select the phone, and click Restore Backup. Choose the correct backup by date and enter the password if it was encrypted.

Step 8: Sign out of iCloud and erase, only after backup is confirmed

Once you are satisfied your backup is complete and (if you have your new phone) your data has restored successfully, you can sign out and wipe the old device. The order matters: sign out of iCloud first, then erase. This removes Activation Lock so the buyer can set up the phone without issues.

For the full sign-out and erase steps, see our guide on how to sign out of iCloud before selling your iPhone. You can also find a broader phone preparation checklist covering everything from cleaning to packaging.

Get an instant quote for your iPhone

Once your iPhone is backed up, erased, and ready to go, Cash My Tech makes selling it straightforward. We buy iPhones in any condition, from pristine to cracked, and accept every model. Get an instant quote for your iPhone in seconds: your price is locked for five days, postage is free with a prepaid label, and payment goes to your bank account the same day your phone is inspected before 2pm. Every device goes through a certified data wipe, compliant with UK GDPR and the WEEE Regulations 2013.

Not sure what your phone is worth? You can browse all devices we buy to compare quotes across iPhone, Samsung, and Pixel.