Before an old phone leaves your possession, protect both your saved information and your ability to sign in to important accounts. Selling, donating, and recycling all require attention to personal data. A broken screen or an agreement to recycle the phone does not prove its storage has been erased.

1. Back up, then check the copy

Copy the photos, contacts, files, and app information you want to keep. Open several important items on another device and check that recent files are included. Review messaging apps, local downloads, recordings, and any app with its own transfer process. Keep the old phone until the replacement works and the backup has been checked.

For Android, consult Google’s factory-reset preparation guide and the phone manufacturer’s instructions. A reset removes local data, so do not start while you are still relying on the old phone as the only copy.

2. Transfer account access before erasing

Keep two-factor authentication enabled. Move your authenticator or register a replacement sign-in method, then test access to important accounts from the new device. Confirm recovery options and store recovery codes securely somewhere other than the phone you plan to erase. Do not turn off SMS authentication until another working method and account recovery are confirmed.

With Google Authenticator, codes can sync through the signed-in Google Account, or be transferred using its export/import process. Verify the transfer before resetting. Do not share export QR codes. Deleting synced codes can remove them from other synced devices too; do not delete them merely to clean up the old phone.

3. Follow the official iPhone handoff procedure

Use Apple’s sale, gift, and trade-in checklist for your iOS version. Back up and transfer first; unpair an Apple Watch if applicable. Complete the prescribed sign-out and erase process. The erase option is under Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings; newer software can also offer an erase option during sign-out.

Do not manually delete synced photos or contacts while signed into iCloud: that can delete them from iCloud and your other devices. When selling an eSIM-equipped phone, follow the erase prompts for the eSIM after arranging your replacement service. Remove a physical SIM. Complete Apple’s account and trusted-device removal steps so the next owner can activate the phone. If switching away from Apple, follow its iMessage deregistration instructions.

4. Follow the Android manufacturer’s reset procedure

After checking backups and replacement sign-in access, follow Google’s old-device reset instructions: remove Google accounts from the old device before the factory reset. Also follow the manufacturer’s steps for its own account or device-protection features. Menu names vary; use the exact model’s instructions.

Do not reset first and then try to encrypt the erased phone. Do not assume a third-party multi-pass wiping app is required or can guarantee erasure. If the phone is unusually old, modified, or cannot complete its official reset, ask the manufacturer or an accountable data-destruction provider about that specific model before releasing it.

5. Remove personal cards and check the handoff state

Keep your physical SIM and removable memory card. A phone reset is not proof that a separate memory card was erased. Transfer mobile service as instructed by the carrier, and confirm how to remove the old eSIM without disrupting the replacement. Do not give a buyer your account password or authentication codes.

Confirm that the phone returns to its initial setup screen and that the manufacturer’s ownership-release procedure is complete. The setup screen alone does not prove an activation lock has been removed. Do not sign back into personal accounts just to demonstrate the phone; resolve remaining account locks through official support.

6. Clean and inspect without damaging the phone

Follow your model’s cleaning guidance. Power it off and disconnect cables before cleaning. Use a soft, lint-free cloth, keep moisture out of openings, and avoid spraying liquid directly on the device. Apple specifically advises against compressed air; do not use a generic port-cleaning routine for every phone.

7. Choose a suitable reuse or recycling program

A usable, safely erased phone may be suitable for sale or donation; check the recipient’s acceptance rules. For recycling, use an electronics or battery program that accepts the device. The U.S. EPA says lithium-ion batteries and devices containing them must not go in household trash or ordinary recycling bins.

If the battery is swollen or damaged, stop using or charging the phone and contact the manufacturer or a qualified recycler for handling instructions. Do not puncture it or try to remove a sealed battery yourself. Ask about damaged-battery acceptance before transport or shipping. For a non-working phone with unverified erasure, explain the data concern and request documented handling rather than assuming recycling solves it.

Final handoff check

Confirm these items before releasing the phone: the backup opens; replacement authentication works; account recovery is available; official erasure and ownership release are complete; SIM and memory cards are handled; the recipient accepts the device’s condition. Record the condition, included accessories, and transfer receipt. Keep any serial-number record private rather than putting account details into a public sales listing.

Illustrations are explanatory and are not screenshots of the reset menus. Follow the current instructions for your exact model if the menus differ.