Forum Discussion
How to erase everything on iphone before trade in
Alright, trading in my iPhone soon. I need a definitive guide to nuke all personal data from this device. I want zero chance of recovery by the next owner. Can someone confirm the absolute correct me...
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):
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Go to the My Watch tab, tap All Watches, and tap the 'i' (info) button next to your watch.
- 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):
- Go to Settings > Tap [Your Name] at the top.
- Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
- 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!