How to erase everything on iphone before trade in

Follow Apple's reccomendations found here: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/erase-iphone-iph7a2a9399b/ios

A factory reset is not far enough to permanently erase everything on iPhone.

Recommend 3 methods for you to erase everything on iPhone before trade in.

1. The "Multiple Language Erase" method. This exploits the setup screen's reset function.

Steps:

• First, erase normally through Settings once (gets you to Hello screen)
• At "Hello" screen (shows in multiple languages)
• Triple-click Accessibility Shortcut if you previously enabled it (can sometimes trigger hidden menus)
• Alternatively, enter wrong passcode at setup 10+ times (may trigger additional wipe protocols)
• Restart during setup 3-4 times (Power + Volume Down) - each restart clears temporary files

2. The "Accessibility Shortcut Wipe" trick. Requires pre-setup first erase everything on iPhone before trade in:

• Before first erase: Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut
• Set to "Erase All Content and Settings" (this adds it as triple-click option)
• Lock screen and triple-click Side button
• Confirm erase via Accessibility shortcut
• On Hello screen, try spamming triple-click - sometimes menu appears briefly

3. The "Repeated Failed Passcode" method. Uses the security lockout feature.

• Steps:
• Set passcode to complex 20-character before first erase
• Erase normally once
• During setup, repeatedly enter wrong passcodes (over 15 times)
• iPhone may enter "Security Lockout" with deeper wipe protocols
• Connect to power during lockout (some reports suggest this triggers more thorough erase)

To erase everything on iPhone before trade in. DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode allows low-level access that can help ensure deeper erasure.

Steps:
1.    First, do normal erase: Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content
2. Enter DFU Mode:

• Connect to computer with iTunes open
• Quickly press: Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold Side button
• When screen goes black, hold Side + Volume Down for 5 seconds
• Release Side but keep holding Volume Down for 10 more seconds
• iTunes/Finder should detect "iPhone in recovery mode"

3. Restore in DFU:

• Click "Restore" (NOT "Update") in iTunes
• This installs fresh iOS, overwriting more system areas

4. Repeat the entire process 2-3 times

By the way. About erasing everything on iPhone before trade in. For 99.9% of users, changing to a complex passcode + normal erase + Activation Lock removal is sufficient against all but state-level forensic attacks. The trade-in company will likely flash the device anyway before resale.

The standard "Erase All Content and Settings" is generally sufficient to wipe your data irreversibly. For the highest security, especially if sensitive data was on the device, restoring through a computer adds an extra layer of certainty. To ensure your iPhone is completely erase everything on iphone before trade in.

If you want to be extra cautious, you could restore your iPhone via iTunes/Finder on a computer:

• Connect your iPhone to a trusted computer.
• Open iTunes (Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (macOS Catalina and later).
• Select your device.
• Click Restore iPhone to erase everything on iphone before trade in and reinstall iOS cleanly.

This method overwrites all data and makes recovery extremely difficult.

For a modern iPhone, the built-in "Erase All Content and Settings" function is considered the gold standard for securely and permanently erase everything on iPhone before trade in. This is because modern iPhones utilize hardware encryption: all user data is encrypted by default using a unique key stored in a dedicated part of the device's chip.

When you perform the factory reset through the Settings menu, the operating system doesn't actually overwrite every bit of data on the storage chip (which would take hours). Instead, it instantly and cryptographically deletes the encryption key needed to decrypt the data. Without this key, the raw data remaining on the device is rendered permanently inaccessible and unrecoverable, even by sophisticated forensic tools.

However, the main risk associated with a simple "factory reset" on an iPhone is not the data erasure itself, but failing to properly disassociate the device from your Apple ID. If you do not manually sign out of iCloud before initiating the reset, the device remains locked via Apple's Activation Lock/Find My feature. This prevents any new owner or trade-in partner from activating or using the phone, which will automatically result in a rejected trade-in.

Erase All Content and Settings. This is the official method for erasing everything from iPhone before selling, which securely deletes all personal data, settings, apps, and media from your device.

1. Go to Settings > General.

2. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.

3. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.

4. Your iPhone may ask you to complete a quick backup before proceeding. If you have already backed up, choose Erase Now.

5. Enter your passcode.

P.S. If you have an eSIM, you will be asked if you want to Erase Mobile Data (which erases the eSIM) or Keep Mobile Data. For a trade-in, you should choose Erase Mobile Data (or contact your carrier if you're concerned about transferring your service).

6. Tap Erase iPhone to start easing everything on iPhone.

The iPhone will restart and display the "Hello" setup screen once the process is complete, confirming the wipe was successful and it is ready for the new owner/trade-in.

Before erasing everything on iPhone, you must first unpair accessories and sign out of your Apple ID to remove the Activation Lock (which would prevent a new owner from using the phone).

Unpair Apple Watch (If Applicable):

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Go to the My Watch tab, tap All Watches, and tap the 'i' (info) button next to your watch.
3. Tap Unpair Apple Watch and follow the prompts. This will create a backup of your watch.

Sign Out of Your Apple ID (iCloud/Find My):

1. Go to Settings > Tap [Your Name] at the top.
2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
3. Enter your Apple ID Password when prompted, and tap Turn Off. This action automatically disables Find My iPhone and removes the Activation Lock.

Remove SIM Card (Physical):

If your phone uses a physical SIM card, use a SIM ejector tool or a paperclip to safely remove it. If you have an eSIM, you will have an option to erase it in the next step.

Once you have done this, you can now safely erase everything on iphone before trade in or selling. Also make sure you have a backup of the important data!