Here is how to sell old phone hardware safely: back up the data, sign out of every account, remove the SIM and cards, factory reset, and confirm the phone is not carrier-locked. Follow that order for a clean device.
The same habits apply when upgrading, and the wider decision about what to buy next is covered in the guide on how to choose a smartphone. This page is an independent informational site and is not affiliated with any phone maker, carrier or resale service mentioned.
Decide how the phone will leave your hands
Selling is only one option. A phone can also be traded in, passed to family, donated or recycled, and the preparation steps are almost the same for all of them. Only the last step changes: a buyer needs a working phone with clear, accurate details, while a recycler mainly needs the data gone.
The US Environmental Protection Agency prefers reuse where it is possible. On its electronics information page it says that donating used (but still operating) electronics for reuse extends the lives of valuable products and keeps them out of the waste stream for a longer period of time. If donation for reuse or repair is not viable, the agency says households and businesses can send used electronics for recycling.
That means a working phone with a few years of life left is usually better sold or donated than recycled. A broken phone is better recycled than left in a drawer, though the personal-data steps below still apply first.
Back up before anything is erased
Erasing a phone cannot be undone, so the first step is a complete backup. The Federal Trade Commission advises in its guidance on removing personal information to back up the phone first so there is a copy of the information, which is also what a new phone will need during setup.
Check that the backup includes photos, messages, authenticator accounts and app data that matter. On an iPhone, Apple explains that erasing a device does not delete content from iCloud, so cloud copies remain available after the reset. On Android, Google notes that data stored in a Google Account can be restored but that all apps and their data will be uninstalled by a factory reset, so confirm which apps keep their data in the cloud.
It is also the right time to move anything stored only on the phone, such as downloaded files, voice memos or screenshots. A final look through the photo and file apps takes only a few minutes and avoids regret later.
- FTC step: back up first: back up so you have a copy
- FTC: SIM may store personal information: remove SIM
- FTC: destroy unused SIM: destroy SIM if not reused
- FTC: SD card: remove SD card
- FTC: erase by reset: reset erases contacts, messages, photos, history
Sign out of accounts and turn off locking features
Account locks are the main reason a sold phone turns out to be unusable for the buyer. They exist to protect the original owner, and they stay in force until the owner removes them.
On an iPhone or iPad, Apple’s support page says to unpair a paired Apple Watch and to sign out of iCloud and the App Store before erasing. Apple also states that when you erase your iPhone or iPad, Find My and Activation Lock turn off, though if Find My was on you might need to enter your Apple Account and password during the process.
On Android, Google’s reset instructions tell users to know the Google Account on the phone, because the account details are needed afterwards. The page says that to restore your data after you reset your phone, you must enter security info. It also advises that if you recently reset your Google Account password, you should wait 24 hours before you perform a factory reset.
For any brand, also remove the phone from any other service that trusts it as a device, such as a smartwatch app, a banking app or a password manager that uses the phone for approvals.
Remove the SIM, eSIM and memory cards
The FTC states that if your phone has a SIM card, it may store your personal information, so you should remove it. If you will use the same number on a new phone you may be able to move the SIM across, and the FTC advises that a SIM you will not reuse be destroyed. For phones with an SD memory card, the FTC says to remove it.
Phones that use an eSIM have no card to pull out, so the profile has to be handled in software. Apple’s page says that if you sell a device that uses eSIM, you should choose the option to erase the device and the eSIM profile when asked. Check with the carrier before erasing if the number is staying with you, because the profile may need to be transferred first.
If the number is changing, the FTC adds that you should update the number on file with any accounts or services that use it to identify you. It also says that if you use an authenticator app to log in to any accounts, you may have to reactivate it on the new phone. Do this while the old phone is still in hand, because some services send a code to the old number.
Run the factory reset
With backups, accounts and cards dealt with, erase the phone. Apple’s instructions are to open Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset, and tap Erase All Content and Settings. Apple states that your device is completely erased, including any credit or debit cards added for Apple Pay, photos, contacts, music and apps.
Google’s reset page says a factory reset erases all your data from your phone. It recommends connecting to Wi-Fi or a mobile network and charging to at least 70% first, because a factory reset can take up to an hour. Menus differ between makers, so Google recommends checking the manufacturer’s support site for device-specific instructions.
After the reset the phone should show a welcome or setup screen. Stop there and do not sign in again, since signing in with your own account would tie the phone to you again. The FTC describes the reset as the step that erases contacts, text messages, photos, videos, search history and browsing history.
Confirm the phone is unlocked from the carrier
A phone that is still locked to one carrier is harder to sell, because buyers cannot use another network. The Federal Communications Commission explains on its cell phone unlocking guide that even when paying full price for a cell phone, it may be locked for a short period of time, such as 60 days. For prepaid plans, it records the industry commitment that carriers will unlock devices no later than one year after initial activation, subject to reasonable time, payment or usage requirements.
The same guide says that, within two business days after receiving a request, carriers will unlock eligible devices, start a request to the manufacturer, or explain why the device does not qualify. A phone that is still being paid off is unlikely to qualify, so clear any balance before listing it.
These are the rules summarised for the United States. Outside it, policies differ by country, so check the local carrier or regulator.
Describe it honestly and choose where to sell
A clear listing sells faster and prevents disputes. Include the exact model name, the storage size, the colour, the condition of the screen and body, battery condition if the phone reports it, and any accessories in the box. State whether the phone is unlocked, and say if it has been repaired.
Specs help a buyer compare, and the processor is one of the details a listing can name. Readers who are unsure what a chip name means can read about smartphone processors before writing the listing. Buyers may also want radio-exposure information, which is covered in the explainer on a phone sar value.
For price, compare completed sales of the same model, storage and condition instead of asking prices, and adjust for the battery and any damage. Trade-in schemes and resale services trade some convenience against price, so decide which matters more before choosing where to list.
Frequently asked questions
Does a factory reset remove everything?
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Google says a factory reset erases all your data from your phone, and Apple says Erase All Content and Settings completely erases the device. Cards that are removable, such as SIM and SD cards, are handled separately, which is why the FTC lists them as their own step.
Should the SIM card be left in the phone?
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No. The FTC advises removing it, since a SIM may store personal information. Keep it if the number is moving to a new phone, or destroy it if it will not be reused.
What if the buyer sees an account sign-in screen?
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That usually means an account lock is still on. For an iPhone, erase it after signing out so Activation Lock turns off. For Android, make sure the Google Account was handled before the reset.
Can a phone still on a payment plan be sold?
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It can be sold, but carriers unlock devices after the postpaid contract, device financing plan or early termination fee has been fulfilled, as the FCC guide describes. Pay off the balance and request the unlock first.
What if the phone no longer works?
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The EPA says that if donation for reuse or repair is not a viable option, used electronics can be sent for recycling. Remove the SIM and any memory card first, and erase the phone if it still powers on.
