How to Erase Your Smartphone (Android & iPhone) (2024)

Do you want to wipe your Android or iPhone before selling it?

You should manually delete as much data as possible from your device before selling it. A factory reset is a useful way to do this, but on its own it may not be enough.

Sometimes a simple factory reset doesn't completely erase all the data on your Android device or iPhone and the new owner of your device can easily recover your files, messages and even photos. Some apps and browsers may also store your login information and passwords.

Before performing the factory reset, we recommend that you uninstall all applications from your device; That's right, you should even do thatRemove VPNapps if you want to sell your device. So before you trade in your device, make sure you follow these steps to factory reset and completely wipe the device.

What to do before trading in your Android phone

Whether or not you want to perform a factory reset and return your phone to factory settings, here are some things you should do before trading in your Android phone.

• Delete saved passwordsfrom your browsers and apps. Sync them from linked accounts.
• Remove your SIM card and any external storage.
• Sign out of your Google account. Go to "Settings" > "Users & accounts" and select your accounts.
• Click "Remove". If you have a Samsung device, also delete accounts from your phone and tablet.
• Remove all payment cards linked to your Android phone. Go to the Google Play Store app. Tap “Menu” > “Payment Methods” > “More Payment Options”.
• If necessary, log in to pay.google.com. Select the payment method you want to delete and press "Delete".
• Disable Factory Reset Protection (FRP). If your Android phone came with the 5.0 Lollipop operating system or higher, so does your phoneAndroid-apparaatbescherming of FRP. You must disable it, otherwise the new owner will not be able to use your phone.

If your phone came with an older operating system, you can skip to the next step. If you're not sure which version your phone is running, you can find out by going to “Settings” > “About device/phone” > “Software info”.

• Disable FRP:
  1. Go to Settings".
  2. Select "Accounts".
  3. Tap your account.
  4. Select "Delete account".
• Sign out of Android Beta if you have Pixel or Nexus phones.
• Encrypt your data. A simple factory reset will not guarantee thiseverything is swept awayfrom your phone so that all your files can be recovered easily. Encrypted data means that even if the new owner of your device tries to recover all your data, he or she will not be able to access it.
  1. Go to 'Settings, security and location'.
  2. Tap 'Encryption & Credentials'.
  3. Tap 'Encrypt phone'.
• Upload dummy data. For an extra layer of security before wiping your Android phone, you can upload unwanted data to your phone before performing a factory reset. If you want to use unwanted data, simply upload a few video files or other data to fill your internal phone storage. This method makes it virtually impossible to recover the sensitive data you have already encrypted.

Back up your Android device

Before you perform a factory reset and wipe your Android phone, it is important to backup your files.

How to backup your files on Android

1. Go to Settings".
2. Click 'Google' > 'Backup'.
3. 3. Click "Back up now".

Android 8.1 or later automatically backs up your text messages (but not your call log). If you want a more secure way to store your text messages and call logs, you can use third-party tools to do so.

How to sync Google apps

You should also sync your apps with your Google account. Normally, Google apps automatically sync with your account, but if this doesn't happen, you can sync them manually:

1. Go to Settings".
2. Tap About Phone > Account Sync.
3. Tap More > Sync Now.

Please note that if you want to sync other apps, you will need to check the individual app settings and sync them manually.

Back up your Google Photos

1. Open the 'Google Photos' app.
2. Log in ind.
3. Click on your profile icon in the top right corner.
4. Tap Settings > Backup.
5. Enable "Backup".

However, keep in mind that Google Photos is not the best choice in terms of privacy. If you're looking for something a little more private, check out our listingGoogle photo options.

The same goes for Google Drive. While it can be a useful backup tool, there are manyprivacy-oriented Google Drive alternatives.

Back up your messages on Android

If you have an Android phone running Android 8.1 or later, your text messages (but not your call log) will be backed up automatically. If you want a more secure way to save your text messages and your call log, you can use this oneSMS backup and restore, a Google app that backs up everything in your Gmail account. For a step-by-step guide, clickher.

How to erase your Android

The steps to perform a factory reset vary slightly depending on the device manufacturer. The steps below should work as a guide for many phones, but may not be perfect for all Android devices.

1. Go to 'Settings' > 'System'.
2. Tap 'Reset Settings'.
3. Select 'Erase all data (factory reset)'.
4. Tap 'Reset phone'.
5. Tap 'Delete all'. Your phone will be returned in the same condition as when you purchased it.

Finally, remove the deviceyour Google account. Go to the Recently used devices section of your Google account. When you log in, you can see which Android devices are connected and linked to your account. Find the phone you're selling, click on it, then click "Remove."

Watch our video on how to wipe your Android phone below.

What to do before trading in your iPhone

Before you trade in your iPhone, you will need to take some steps to delete all data from the device. Performing a factory reset can do this for you, but you can also clean your personal data from iPhone manually using the following tips.

• If you have an Apple Watch, disconnect it from your device. Clickherto find out how.
• Log out and disable services such as:
  • iMessage: Go to “Settings” > “Messages” > disable the “iMessage” option.
  • Wallet & Apple Pay: "Settings" > "Wallet & Apple Pay" > click on your card > "Remove card".
  • Find My Phone feature: Settings > your name > Find My... > Find My iPhone > slide the switch for Find My iPhone and turn on Find Offline.
  • Your Apple ID: Go to "Settings" > your name > "Sign Out". You will be asked to enter your password.
• Log out of apps that store your login information, such as your Facebook and Gmail account, and make sure they don't store that information.
• Sign out of iTunes, the App Store, and iCloud, as well as other stores and accounts.
• Delete all saved passwords from your browsers.
• Remove your device's serial number from your Apple Account profile.
• Go to appleid.apple.com, log in to your account and scroll down to 'Devices'. Here you will see all the devices associated with your Apple ID. Click on the device you want to sell and click 'Remove'.
• Remove your SIM card.

How to Back Up an iPhone

Back up any data and personal information you want to keep before cleaning your phone. Please note that after a factory reset, all data on the device will be deleted.

1. Tap 'Settings'.
2. Click on your name.
3. Log in to your account if you haven't already done so.
4. Click on 'iCloud Backup'.
5. Turn it on by pressing the button on the right.
6. Click "Ok" to confirm.
7. Click "Back up now".

For extra security, you can encrypt your backup as follows:

1. Open iTunes and connect your phone to your computer.
2. Click the button with the small phone icon.
3. Go to 'Overview' and click 'Encrypt iPhone Backup'.
4. Create a password for the backup.
5. iTunes will now backup your phone and encrypt your backup.

You must be signed in to your iCloud account to complete these steps. iCloud syncs and stores all your data on a virtual drive. You can also choose which apps you want to use with iCloud in 'Settings'. This way you can backup text messages, contacts and emails.

If you want to backup your call logs, you can only do it using third-party software. If you have photos or music you want to keep, sync your phone with iTunes. For a step-by-step guide, visitApples support side.

How to dry an iPhone

When you're ready to factory reset your iPhone, follow these instructions to reset the device to factory settings.

1. Go to Settings".
2. Scroll down to "General".
3. Press "Reset".
4. Tap “Erase All Content” and “Settings”.
5. Click "Remove Now". Press again to confirm.
6. Enter your password.
7. Enter the Apple ID password to erase the phone.

How can I erase my iPhone without an Apple ID password?

If you've forgotten your Apple credentials, you can reset them by going to your account page and clicking "Forgot Apple ID or Password?" to click. and follow the necessary steps. If you can't figure out your Apple password, you can still wipe your phone:

1. Connect your iPhone to a computer and open iTunes.
2. Click the button with the small phone icon.
3. Go to "Overview" and click on "Restore iPhone".

Please note that wiping your iPhone this way will not completely erase all your data and settings. The deleted information cannot be accessed through the iOS interface, but remains on your device and can be accessed by an experienced technician or hacker. To completely erase your data, overwrite it with a third-party app. Make sure you use a reliable program that respects your privacy.