How do you wipe your data before selling your old phone?
Resetting to factory settings isn't enough on its own. The right order: sign out of your accounts, encrypt, then reset — otherwise the data can be recovered.
The most common mistake when selling a phone is going straight to “reset to factory settings”. This deletes the record of the files, but on some devices the data can be brought back with recovery software. What's more, if you reset without signing out of your account, the device may not open for its new owner because of an account lock.
The right order is this: backup first, then signing out of your accounts, then encryption, and resetting last.
- Time30 minutes
- DifficultyMedium
- Steps7
🧰 What you need
- The phone itself
- Somewhere to keep your backup (a computer or the cloud)
- Your account passwords
Steps
- Take your backupTransfer your photos, contacts, notes and WhatsApp backup to the cloud or to a computer. Confirm from another device that the backup was really taken.💡 WhatsApp's backup is separate: don't reset without taking a Chat backup from inside the app.
- Move your two-step verificationIf you use an authenticator app, transfer your codes to the new device. Otherwise you won't be able to get into your accounts.💡 If this step is skipped, the account recovery process after you've sold the phone can take days.
- Sign out of your accountsRemove your Google account (Android) and your Apple ID (iPhone) from the device. On iPhone, turn off “Find My iPhone”; on Android, remove the Google account.
- Make sure the device is encryptedMost current phones are encrypted by default. On an older Android, turn on encryption under Settings → Security. On an encrypted device, recovering data after a reset becomes practically impossible.
- Take out the SIM and the memory cardPhysically take out the SIM card and, if there is one, the micro SD card. Don't leave the card to the new owner.
- Reset to factory settingsSettings → System/General → Reset → Erase all data. When the process is finished, the device should start up on the welcome screen.
- Final checkLeave the device on the setup screen and don't sign in to an account. After the sale, look at the “my devices” list in your account and confirm that the phone isn't on the list.
⚠ This guide is general information. Yudum cannot be held responsible for the outcome of following it; for official procedures always rely on the institution's own statement. Steps and fees change over time.
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