Wiping your data before selling your phone or computer

First of all: back up

Once the device is wiped, nothing can be recovered. Check that your photos, contacts and conversations are backed up, in the cloud or on another device, before you touch anything. If you are moving to a new phone, transfer your data first, then wipe the old one.

iPhone and iPad

1. Unpair your Apple Watch, if you have one.
2. Sign out of your Apple Account: Settings, tap your name, then Sign Out, and follow the steps.
3. Erase the device: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
4. With an eSIM, choose the option that also erases its profile, and check with your carrier about your plan.

Erasing turns off Find My and Activation Lock: that is what lets the buyer set up the iPhone in their own name.

Android phone

1. Remove your Google account: Settings > Accounts (or Passwords and accounts) > your account > Remove account. Do the same for the manufacturer's account, Samsung for example.
2. Factory reset the phone from Settings. The path depends on the brand: search for "reset" in the Settings search bar.
3. Take out the SIM card and the memory card.

Google advises charging the phone to at least 70% before the reset, which can take up to an hour.

Mac

On a Mac with Apple silicon or a T2 chip, running macOS Monterey or later: Apple menu > System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. The assistant erases your data, settings and apps, and signs you out of Apple services.

For an older Mac, follow Apple's instructions for selling or giving away a Mac, listed in the sources.

Windows PC

Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC, then "Remove everything". Also choose the option that cleans the drive: Microsoft intends it for selling or giving away the PC, and it takes longer.

Microsoft points out that this wipe does not meet professional standards. For a computer that held sensitive data, call in a specialist.

Before handing over the device

• It starts on the welcome screen, like a new device.
• It no longer appears in the device list of your Apple or Google account.
• The SIM card and memory card have been removed.
• You have kept the receipt and the box: they help the sale.

If you are buying

An iPhone that asks for someone else's Apple Account, or an Android that demands a Google account after a reset, stays locked. Don't buy it unless the seller unlocks it in front of you, and read our guide to checking that an item isn't stolen.