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Back up and verify the data you want to keep, remove the accounts and cards that should not go with the phone, then use its built-in factory erase. The exact steps differ between iPhone and Android, and a reset is a practical handoff step—not a claim of certified forensic sanitization.
Before you erase the phone
- Back up and verify your data. Transfer what you need to a new phone or another safe destination, then check that the important information is there before resetting. A reset removes local content and app data. Apple’s handoff guidance and Google’s Android guidance both put data transfer before erasure.
- Make sure you can access your accounts. For Android, have the Google Account username and password and the phone’s screen-lock credential ready. Google advises waiting 24 hours after a recent Google Account password change before factory resetting.
- Prepare connected services. If an Apple Watch is paired with an iPhone, unpair it first. If you are switching from iPhone to a non-Apple phone, deregister iMessage so messages are not routed as though your number still uses iMessage. See Apple’s handoff steps.
- Keep the phone ready to reset. Google recommends at least 70% battery and a Wi-Fi or mobile-network connection before an Android factory reset. Its general guidance says the process may take up to an hour; timing varies by device. Google’s factory-reset instructions note that some steps apply only to Android 14 and later.
Wipe an iPhone or iPad
- Back up and transfer your data, then sign out of iCloud, iTunes, or the App Store as appropriate for your iOS version.
- Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Follow the prompts, entering the device passcode or Apple Account details if requested. If the iPhone uses eSIM and you are selling it, choose the option to erase the device and the eSIM profile when prompted.
- Wait for the erase to finish. Apple says the process removes local content and Apple Pay cards, but does not delete content stored in iCloud. It also turns off Find My and Activation Lock on the device. Apple’s instructions cover the handoff process.
Wipe an Android phone
Android menu labels vary by brand and version, so treat Google’s path as a guide rather than a universal route. If your settings do not match, use the phone manufacturer’s support instructions. Google’s general reset page says a factory reset erases phone data and uninstalls app data: Google Android Help.
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- Confirm your backup and transfer are complete.
- Open Settings > Passwords & accounts and remove each Google Account from the phone. Some devices use different labels; Google’s concise checklist is for people moving from Android to iPhone. Google’s old-device checklist gives this account-removal step.
- Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset), then confirm the reset. If that menu path is not present, check the manufacturer’s instructions for your model.
- Leave the phone connected and allow the reset to complete. The time varies; Google says it may take up to an hour.
Remove SIM cards and check service
- Remove any physical SIM card or memory card that you intend to keep. A SIM ejector tool can help open some SIM trays, but it does not erase data and is not relevant to eSIM-only phones.
- For an eSIM phone, arrange transfer or cancellation of cellular service with your carrier. On an iPhone being sold, select the option to erase the eSIM profile during the reset if offered; carrier steps vary. See Apple’s iPhone handoff guidance and Apple’s SIM and eSIM guidance.
If the iPhone is already gone
If you no longer have the iPhone, Apple says you can erase it using Find Devices on iCloud.com and remove it from your trusted-device list. Changing your Apple Account password alone does not erase local data from the missing phone. Follow Apple’s instructions for a device you no longer have.
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Check the phone before handing it over
After the reset finishes, confirm that the phone displays its initial setup screen. This is a useful handoff check, not proof that the device has undergone a certified forensic wipe. If you are donating, trading in, or recycling it instead, Google likewise advises confirming your copied data and factory resetting first: Google’s old-device checklist.
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