Currently, smartphones and tablets contain a lot of personal information - financial data, photos and videos, personal correspondence, passwords for Internet services, applications and digital documents. Therefore, before you sell your device, you need to erase all content from your iPhone and iPad.
When preparing to sell or transfer your mobile device to another user, you may need to delete all or some of the files. In this case, you must first create backup copy content and disable some features and services. We recommend that you complete all the necessary steps in the order below.
If you still have an iPhone or iPad
Before you give your gadget to another user, make sure that you have deleted all personal data from it. To protect your content and restore your device to factory condition before handing it over to a new owner, follow the steps below.
Create a backup. To do this, open iTunes and connect your gadget to your computer and click on its icon on the left top corner. Scroll down and click "Create a copy now."
Depending on the amount of data stored on the device, creating a backup may take up to 10 minutes. It will contain all your files and personal information located in this moment on mobile device. After purchasing a new device, you will need to do the same sequence of actions on it, but use the “Restore from copy” button.
Disable Apple services. To avoid SMS delivery issues, you need to sign out of iMessage. To disable iMessage, go to Settings -> Messages and move the “iMessage” toggle switch to the “Off” position. It is also recommended to disable the FaceTime service in Settings -> FaceTime.
Sign out of iCloud. Your account may store a large amount of personal information, including photographs, documents, and mail. To delete all iCloud data from your gadget and disconnect from account, you need to go to Settings, select the iCloud tab and click the “Sign Out” button. This way you will delete all personal information, but at the same time it will be stored in remote storage and will become available again after entering account parameters on a new device.
Erase the contents of your device. To delete content from iPhone and iPad, select Settings –> General –> Reset, and then select “Erase content and settings”. The operating system will warn you: “Are you sure you want to continue? All media files, data and settings will be erased. This action is irreversible." This will remove all data from your device, including photos, contacts, music, apps, and any credit or debit cards you added to your device. Apple Pay. All services will be disabled. When you delete data from your device, its contents will not be deleted from iCloud storage.
After turn on iPhone or the iPad will ask the new owner to perform activation, as on a new device after purchase.
If you no longer have an iPhone or iPad
If you have not completed the instructions above before selling or giving your device to another person, please follow the steps below.
Ask the new owner of your iPhone or iPad to erase all content and settings as described above. If you use iCloud and Find My iPhone is turned on, you can erase your data remotely and remove the device from your account. To do this, go to icloud.com/find, select your gadget and click the “Erase” button. After deleting the data, click the “Remove from account” button. After you delete content, you must wait 24 hours before you can activate iMessage on your new device.
If you can't complete the suggested steps, change your Apple ID password. Changing your password doesn't delete any personal data stored on the device, but it does make it impossible for the new owner to delete the information from iCloud.
If you use Apple Pay, you can also delete your credit or debit card information on iCloud.com. To do this, tap Settings to view iPhones that use Apple Pay, then select the device and tap the Remove button next to Apple Pay.
If you are going to purchase new smartphone If you want to sell your old one at a profit, it’s useful to learn how to delete data from an iPhone before selling it. The fact is that a modern mobile gadget is a deeply personalized device.
And this personalization especially applies to Apple technology. If to completely clean Android it is enough to reset the settings to factory settings, then the pre-sale preparation of the iPhone involves a sequence of operations to break connections at several levels.
If you do not delete the data on the device, two problems arise at once, both for the seller and for the buyer.
- The seller's personal (and even commercial) data will become publicly available and vulnerable.
- The new owner will not be able to fully unlock the full potential of the device, since using the iPhone requires identification in various Apple services.
That is, the owner of the gadget is assigned to perform certain actions, but there is no clear determinism of goals and objectives - why exactly such actions and why?
Agree, it is much more effective to act if you clearly understand the meaning of your actions. A clear understanding of goals gives you self-confidence and helps you avoid fatal mistakes.
Therefore, first, let's figure out what the goals of iPhone pre-sale preparation are.
iPhone Personalization Levels
Speaking in simple words To clear all data from iPhone, you need to remember what you did after purchasing the device in order to become the full owner and gain access to all the features.
Therefore, do everything the other way around - break all connections, unsubscribe from services, exit registrations.
The nice thing is that there is no need to comb through the smartphone’s memory, sequentially manually deleting data; all iPhone cleaning procedures are provided at the development level.
- Apple ID account.
- iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center accounts.
- Registration in iTunes and App Store.
- Integration with Apple Watch(if there is).
- Personal settings and user content in local memory.
That's all the items on the list and will need to be deleted and disabled.
Some operations can be carried out through cloud services Apple even after you have already transferred the devices into the wrong hands. This will come in handy in case you forget to do something in a hurry.
Before you start deleting data from your iPhone, you might be interested in knowing:
- Find out in case you want to transfer all your personal data to a new device.
- What to do if your iPhone is lost or stolen.
Step-by-step instructions for deleting data from iPhone
We already have a list of tasks, so let’s start implementing it right away.
- Make a backup - this will save you from the tedious manual work of filling out data on a new device.
- Break the connection between iPhone and .
Quit everyone Apple services– iCloud, iTunes and others on the list where you checked in. 
To do this, do the following:
- Go to Settings.
- Find the “Log Out” menu item.
- Enter your Apple ID password and click Sign Out or Turn Off, depending on your smartphone model.
Removing Content
Follow the chain “Settings” – “General” – “Reset” – “Erase settings and content”.
If the Anti-Theft function has been enabled, you will need to provide a password and ID.
Summing up
As you may have guessed, all these operations destroy the connection of the smartphone to your identity, your Apple ID and the iCloud account where your payment information is stored.
After purchasing a new device, you will need to re-link all these services to the new iPhone.
A short but very useful video - “How to delete all data before selling your iPhone/iPad”:
No matter how old your iPhone is, it is still worth money. Remember, there is always a person who wants to join the world of Apple technology, but still does not have enough money to buy a new device. And although your smartphone model may already be a couple of years old, and there may already be quite a few new models on the market, rest assured that there will definitely be a buyer for your model. But before you throw your battered iPhone on online platforms or take it to a store, you need to take care of something. So what should you do with yours? old iPhone before sale? This is exactly what we will tell you about in our material today.
In general, smartphones cost a lot more money if you don't buy them from a specific carrier. This has not yet become widespread in our country. But in Europe, buying smartphones with a package of services from some mobile operator can help save quite a considerable amount of money. If you bought an unlocked smartphone, then you can safely skip this point. But if you bought your iPhone from AT&T, Verizon, or another carrier in the world, you'll have to request it be unlocked directly from the company. Each carrier has different rules, including contract status and sometimes fees for breaking the contract. Check your carrier's terms and conditions to see what their unlocking policy is.
If you're not sure whether your iPhone is unlocked, contact your current carrier and ask customer service to clarify the status.
Step 2: Disconnect your Apple Watch from your smartphone
Before your iPhone can pass on to another happy owner, you must disable your Apple Watch so that you can easily pair it with another iPhone without having to go through a bunch of unnecessary steps.
To disconnect Apple Watch from iPhone, you need to do the following:
- Run Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap My Watch at the bottom of the screen.
- Click "Watch".
- Click the "Information" button to the right of "Watch Details." It looks like an “i” with a circle around it.
- Click Disconnect Apple Watch.
- Click "Disconnect [watch name]" to confirm.
- When prompted, enter your Apple ID password.
- Click Disable.
Step 3: Backup your iPhone
It's important to have the latest version of your iPhone - a backup - before you delete everything from your smartphone. This ensures that you can easily upgrade to a new iPhone without wasting a ton of your time.
How to Manually Run an iCloud Backup
If you back up your iPhone data to iCloud, it happens automatically when your device is online and connected to local Wi-Fi. However, you can manually run a backup at any time.
- Open the app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap your Apple ID banner at the top of the screen.
- Click iCloud.
- Launch the Settings app, then tap the Apple icon, then tap iCloud.
- Tap iCloud Backup.
- Click "Back".
- Click iCloud Backup, then click Back Up
How to manually run a backup through iTunes
If you use iTunes on your computer for Reserve copy of your iPhone, you will need to run one final backup before you disable it completely.
- Connect iPhone to Mac computer or Windows using a Lightning cable.
- Launch iTunes.
- Click on the iPhone icon in the menu bar when it appears.
- Check the "Encrypt backup" checkbox and add a password.
- Click "Back".
- Confirm that you want to back up apps if asked.
- Tap the phone icon, then tap Encrypt Backup, then tap Back.
Step 4: Sign out of your iCloud account
To ensure that no one can access your iCloud data after you sell your iPhone, you should sign out of everything associated with your Apple ID. Although we recommend that you erase everything on your iPhone in the next step, you must sign out of iCloud first.
To sign out of your iCloud, you need to follow these steps:
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap your Apple ID banner.
- Scroll down and click Sign Out.
- Launch Settings, then click the Apple icon, then click Sign Out
Note that if you use a separate account for iTunes and the App Store, be sure to sign out of them. To do this, go to Settings> Apple ID banner> iTunes and App Store> your Apple ID> Sign out.
Step 5: Clean up your iPhone
Once you've set up a backup and signed out, it's time to make your iPhone look like new again. That is, clean it completely!
Step 6: Clean up the outside of your iPhone thoroughly
To get the most out of your product, you need to keep your iPhone looking as new as possible. You may not be able to get rid of all the scratches and scuffs (or cracked screens), but you can get it nice and shiny with a good cleaning.
Step 7: Gather all accessories (especially cables)
If you're selling your iPhone yourself, you'll be able to charge top dollar for your device as long as you include all the original peripherals, e.g. lightning cable(unused) EarPods and power adapter. Still have the original box? It is even better. If you have additional accessories that you do not want to use with your new iPhone, then add it to the lot with a smartphone. If you sell it at an online auction, you may be able to get a little more money when you include your case or other accessories.
Summary
That's all you need to successfully prepare your iPhone for sale. Now all you have to do is just take the plunge and sell it :) Rest assured that you won’t have to wait long for an offer to purchase. The most important thing is to delete all your personal data very carefully so that it does not fall into the wrong hands. That's all. Thank you for being with us and good luck with your transactions.
New ones have just been released iPhone models, attracting with their improved characteristics. Of course, the first thought of any user will be: “Buy it quickly!” But before that, you need to decide what to do with your old iOS device, which is in good condition? It’s a pity to throw it away, sell it for spare parts, or simply put it on the back of your home shelves, so the most common solutions are sale and gift. But before selling or transferring your iPhone, you need to take care of two important things: 1) create a backup copy of all your data so that you can later restore it to your newly purchased device; 2) erase all confidential data from your iPhone and reset it to factory settings, i.e. actually bring it closer to original condition. It is the second task that will be discussed in our article. How to erase an iPhone before selling or transferring it, how to reset all iPhone settings, how to use iTunes and iCloud for these purposes, how to erase data if you forgot your password - read on.
4 Ways to Erase iPhone Data
Method 1. How to erase content on iPhone
One of the most simple ways will use the settings of the device itself. This function, like others basic settings, originally installed on the phone. For this method You don’t have to install any programs on your PC or remember complex schemes, but you need to remember your device password or Apple ID account password. So, to erase content through iPhone settings, follow the instructions below.
Step 1: On your device, go to Settings > General > Reset.
Step 2: Select the “Erase content and settings” option.
Step 3: When prompted, enter your device password or Apple ID account password.
Step 4: Click "Erase iPhone" to confirm the task of erasing all data from the device, then simply wait for the process to complete.
Step 5: Once your iPhone has restarted, you will need to activate it (which will require Internet access). Of the two options: “Set up iPhone as new” or “Restore from backup” – you need to select the first one and wait until the device settings are completed.
Method 2. How to Erase iPhone Content Using iTunes
You can also reset your iPhone and erase personal files using your computer. To do this, you will need to use the iTunes program, well known to users of Apple products, which is usually used for file sharing various types between Apple devices and PC. To erase iPhone using iTunes, follow the instructions below. Before you start, make sure you have installed latest version iTunes programs.
Step 1. Connect your iPhone using a USB cable to the PC where you previously synchronized with the phone, and launch iTunes on the PC.
Step 2. Select your device in the window that opens by clicking on its icon at the top of the screen.
Step 3: In the left pane of the window, select the “Browse” tab and click on the “Restore iPhone” button located on the right side of the screen. At this point, you may see a warning that you need to disable Find My iPhone.
Step 4. After disabling this function on your phone (to do this, go to Settings > iCloud > Find iPhone on your phone), you will be asked to confirm starting the process. Click on the “Restore” button again. After this confirmation, all personal data will be erased, and the latest version of the system will be installed on the iPhone itself.
Step 5: Open the page in your web browser cloud storage icloud.com and enter your Apple ID account password. In the Find My iPhone section, remove this device so that it is no longer tied to your Apple account.
Method 3. How to erase iPhone data using Find My iPhone app
If the Find My iPhone function is set up on your iPhone, then you can erase personal data stored on it without even picking up the device! To do this, you will need to go to the Find iPhone app on iCloud.com. In this case, activation lock will remain enabled on the device itself, and to reactivate it you will need your Apple ID and password for it. To remotely erase the contents of your iPhone, follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Open your web browser to iCloud.com, sign in to your account, and select the Find My iPhone app.
Step 2. Select “All devices”, click on your iPhone icon.
Step 3: In the device information window, select Erase iPhone.
Step 4: Enter your Apple ID account password. At this stage, security questions may appear or a verification code may be sent to another device. If you want to avoid this step in subsequent operations, select “Trust”. If you are using someone else’s computer or do not want to be linked to your computer, select “Do not trust.” Then wait until the phone data deletion process completes.
Method 4. How to Erase iPhone Contents Using ReiBoot
Users of Apple devices will undoubtedly appreciate the program, with which you can also reset current iPhone settings to factory defaults and deleting personal files. At the same time, a very important and often very necessary ability of this utility is the ability to work even with a disconnected device (for example, if you forgot your password or the lock screen is frozen). To erase all content on your iPhone using ReiBoot, follow the steps below.
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to PC using a USB cable. Launch the program.
Step 2. Select the "Fix" option Operating System(Solve all iOS freezes."
Step 3. In the next window, click on “Deep Recovery”.
Step 4. Click on “Start” to fix the system problem.
Step 5. Check your device model information and select “Download” to download the firmware package. Once the firmware package is downloaded, click “Start Recovery.”
Step 6: Once the restore process is complete, your iPhone will be restored to factory settings and all sensitive data on the device will be completely erased. Click "Finish" to finish working with the program.
So, in this article we offer you the simplest and most effective ways erasing your iPhone data if you plan to sell it or give it to a loved one or friend. Some of them can be used if the phone is in your hands, with the help of others (for example, via iCloud), files can be deleted even remotely, and, for example, the ReiBoot program allows you to erase your iPhone and restore the original settings even when the phone screen is locked . And, of course, do not forget to sign out of iCloud, iTunes and the App Store on your iPhone before transferring the phone to another person.
how to erase an iPhone before selling or transferring itHave you decided to purchase a new gadget model from Apple, and sell or give the old device to another person for use? To do this, you need to properly prepare it: delete personal information, save and protect your data from use by third parties.
Saving personal data from an iOS device
To avoid regrets when your contacts, personal photos or important documents disappear without a trace, make a backup copy of all contents of the device before wiping your device for sale. There are 4 ways to do this, which are described below.
iCloud
Wait for the backup process to complete in iCloud
iTunes
To use iTunes to copy your data, follow the instructions:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using USB.
- Launch iTunes on your computer.
- Select your iPhone from the list of connected devices.
- Click "Create a copy now."
Enable iTunes backup feature
Mac FoneTrans
You can also use Mac app FoneTrans:
iMazing
You can also create a copy of your files from your iOS device through iMazing:
To reduce the chance of losing or corrupting data from your device, save it using several of the methods described above.
Cleaning your iOS device
Cleaning an iOS device can occur in two scenarios. In the first, the device is still in your possession and you can perform certain manipulations with it; in the second, the device has already been sold or lost and you do not have access to it.
If you have access to the device
Before selling your device, it is important to erase all data on it so that no one can view or use your content later.
If you still have the device, you need to follow these steps to clean it:
- if necessary, break the pair between your device and Apple watch Watch;
- create a backup copy (the creation methods are given above);
- exit iTunes and App Store;
- delete iCloud data;
- delete all data from the device.
To sign out of iTunes and the App Store, in your device settings, select: iTunes Store / App Store - Apple ID - “Sign Out”.
To remove data stored in iCloud from your device, do the following:
Select the "Remove from iPhone" option to wipe your device
To delete all data from your device, you need to follow these steps:
Video: how to delete data from an iOS device before selling it
If you don't have access to the device
Even if you've already sold or given away your device without first wiping it, you can delete all content and personal information remotely. To do this, follow these steps:
- If your device uses Find My iPhone and iCloud, go to the Find My iPhone website or app on another device.
- Select the required (your) device and click “Erase”.
- After that, click “Remove from account.”
If you are unable to delete information using the described method, block the ability to view your content on your device. To do this, change your Apple ID password. The data on the device will not be deleted, but the new owner will not be able to view or use your information and content.
On the iCloud website, you can also delete the debit or credit cards you used for Apple Pay.
Before you give away or sell your iOS device, make sure you remove all sensitive information from it. This is quite easy to do. Also, don’t forget to back up your content so you don’t regret losing it later. important information or your favorite photos and videos. Good luck!
