How to wipe your phone before selling (iPhone and Android)

To wipe your phone properly before selling, do three things in this order: back up your data, sign out of the accounts tied to the device, then run a factory reset. On a modern iPhone or Android phone, a factory reset done after signing out wipes the device securely, because the storage is encrypted and the reset throws away the key.

The part people get wrong is the account removal. Skip it and the phone stays locked to your Apple Account or Google account after the reset, which leaves the next owner with an unusable handset and can stall or void your sale. This guide ties the whole process together and points you to the device-specific steps for each platform.

Why deleting your files is not enough

Dragging photos to the bin or deleting apps does not remove your data. It only hides it and frees the space to be overwritten later, so much of it can still be recovered. A proper wipe is different.

Modern iPhones (iOS 8 and later) and modern Android phones (Android 6 and later) encrypt everything in storage by default. When you factory reset one of these phones, it does not scrub every file individually. Instead it discards the encryption key, which makes all the remaining encrypted data unreadable. That is why a factory reset on an encrypted phone counts as a secure wipe: without the key, the leftover data is just noise. The catch is that the reset only clears your accounts if you removed them first, so the order matters.

The correct order to wipe any phone

Whether you are on iPhone or Android, the sequence is the same. Do not jump straight to the factory reset.

1. Back up first. A reset is permanent. Copy your photos, messages, contacts, and app data to a cloud account or a computer before you wipe anything.
2. Sign out of your accounts and clear the device lock. On iPhone that means signing out of your Apple Account and turning off Find My, which lifts Activation Lock. On Android that means removing your Google account, which clears Factory Reset Protection (FRP).
3. Factory reset. Only once the accounts are gone should you erase the phone. Now the reset clears everything and leaves a clean device.

Get this order wrong and you can end up resetting a phone that is still account-locked, which is the exact problem you were trying to avoid. If you want a single tick-list that covers backup, accounts, SIM, and packaging, our prepare your phone for sale checklist walks through all of it.

How to wipe an iPhone to sell

For iPhone the three steps look like this:

1. Back up. Settings, tap your name, iCloud, iCloud Backup, Back Up Now. Or connect to a computer and back up through Finder or iTunes.
2. Turn off Find My and sign out. Settings, tap your name, scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple Account password to confirm. This removes your Apple Account and turns off Activation Lock so the next owner can set the phone up.
3. Erase All Content and Settings. Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings. The phone restarts to the Hello screen, ready for its new owner.

Each of these has its own detailed guide. See how to sign out of iCloud before selling your iPhone for the account side, and how to factory reset your iPhone before selling for the erase step. The most common mistake is running the reset without signing out first, which leaves the phone Activation Locked.

How to wipe an Android phone to sell

Android works the same way, with Google's Factory Reset Protection playing the role that Activation Lock does on iPhone.

1. Back up. Settings, Google, Backup (the exact path varies by manufacturer), then back up to your Google account. Photos sync through Google Photos.
2. Remove your Google account. Settings, Accounts (or Passwords and accounts), tap your Google account, then Remove account. This clears FRP so the phone will not demand your Google login after the reset. If you have more than one Google account on the phone, remove all of them.
3. Remove any manufacturer account. On Samsung, also remove your Samsung account under Settings, Accounts, so Reactivation Lock does not block the next owner. Other brands have their own equivalents.
4. Factory reset. Settings, System, Reset options, Erase all data (factory reset). On Samsung the path is Settings, General management, Reset, Factory data reset.

For the full account-removal walkthrough, including how to handle multiple accounts, see how to remove your Google account from Android before selling. As with iPhone, removing the account before the reset is what makes the reset safe to hand over.

What data remains, and how to be sure it is gone

After a reset on an encrypted phone, the internal storage is wiped in the way that matters: the key is gone, so the old data cannot be read. But two things live outside that internal storage and survive a reset.

• Your SIM card. It holds your number and sometimes contacts and texts. Pop it out before you post the phone. If your phone uses an eSIM, delete the eSIM profile in your settings (on iPhone, Settings, Mobile Service; on Android, Settings, Network and internet, SIMs) or ask your network to transfer it to your new device.
• A microSD card. Many older Android phones take a memory card that stores photos and files. Remove it, or wipe it separately if you are selling it with the phone.

If you simply want extra peace of mind, you do not need third-party wiping apps for a modern encrypted phone: the built-in factory reset is the secure method, and running it twice changes nothing. The one thing it cannot do is remove your accounts for you, which is why the sign-out step comes first.

What Cash My Tech does on top of your wipe

Every device that arrives at Cash My Tech goes through a certified data wipe in line with UK GDPR and the WEEE Regulations 2013, on top of whatever you did at home. That gives you a documented record that the phone was properly erased. It is an extra layer, not a replacement for signing out: we cannot lift your Activation Lock or clear your FRP, so those account steps are still yours to do before you send the phone in.

Common questions

Does a factory reset securely delete everything?

On a modern iPhone or Android phone, yes. The storage is encrypted, and the reset discards the encryption key, which makes the remaining data unreadable. Just remember the reset does not remove your accounts, so sign out first.

What happens if I forget to remove my account before resetting?

The phone stays locked to your Apple Account or Google account after the reset, so the new owner cannot set it up. You can usually fix it remotely: for iPhone, remove the device at appleid.apple.com; for Android, remove it from your Google account at myaccount.google.com under your devices.

Do I need to wipe a phone that has a cracked screen or will not turn on?

Try to back up and reset it if you can. If the screen is too damaged to use, you can still remove the account remotely from your Apple or Google account online. Cash My Tech also runs a certified wipe on arrival, and it buys faulty and cracked handsets too.

Should I remove my SIM and memory card?

Yes. A factory reset does not touch your SIM, eSIM profile, or microSD card. Take the SIM and any memory card out before posting, and delete or transfer your eSIM through your phone's settings or your network.

Sell your wiped phone with Cash My Tech

Cash My Tech is a UK postal buyback service. There is no walk-in shop: you get an instant quote online, and if you accept it, the price is locked for five days while you prepare your device. A free prepaid postage label comes with your booking. Send the phone in, and once it is inspected before 2pm on a working day, payment arrives the same day by UK bank transfer.

Every device goes through a certified data wipe in line with UK GDPR and the WEEE Regulations 2013. Cash My Tech buys iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel devices in any condition, including cracked screens and faulty handsets. The service is rated 4.8 out of 5 from over 1,250 verified UK reviews.

Values quoted are estimates rather than guaranteed prices, confirmed once your phone is inspected. Get a quote for your iPhone on our sell Apple page, or see everything Cash My Tech buys over on products.