Cell phones have become an extension of our lives. Even more than laptops and computers, your phone likely has a combination of sensitive personal and professional information. I know I couldn’t possibly do my work without my phone at my side at all times.
However, there are always new models of cell phones coming out every time we turn around, and should you decide to sell, recycle, or donate your old cell phone, you’ve got to always take the necessary steps to clear the data.
One of the single biggest mistakes that I learned is thinking that deleting the contents on your old phone is the same as wiping the data. Deleted data can be recovered by the next stranger who gets your old phone in their hands.
Table of Contents:
How to transfer or back up your old phone
Many carriers allow you to bring the old phone in after you purchase the new one it is replacing. In that case, you can directly transfer data from your old phone to your new device. If, however, you need to give up your old phone at the time of trade-in, sale, recycling or donating, then you need to back up the phone before getting rid of all data.
Each brand and type of phone has different requirements and steps for backing up phones. Please find below the general steps based on your phone type:
How to securely get rid of data on your iPhone
- Make sure to unpair devices such as your Apple Watch from your phone.
- Transfer data directly to the new device or back up your old device via iCloud or iTunes.
- On your old device, sign out of iCloud, iTunes, and the App Store. The following steps are for signing out if you’re using iOS 10.3 or later:
- Tap on the ‘Settings’ icon
- In Settings, click on Your Name or your Apple ID
- Then on your Apple ID page, scroll down to the bottom
- At the very bottom, tap Sign Out
- Put in your Apple ID password, then click Turn Off
Switching to a non-Apple phone?
- Make sure to deregister iMessage first. Keep it unchanged if getting a new iPhone
- Follow the steps below to reset your device:
Please note: If your device uses eSIM which is a newer virtual SIM card technology that replaced a physical SIM card, erase your device and the eSIM profile when asked. You may be asked to input your passcode when you hit ‘Erase’.
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- Go to Settings then scroll down and tap General
- Scroll down & tap Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Now tap Erase All Content and Settings
If you’re not using a SIM card, contact your carrier to help transfer the service to the new owner. Don’t forget to remove the iPhone you just reset from your list of trusted devices.
How to securely get rid of data on Android
- Go to Settings/System Settings
- Select System then Advanced
- Under the Reset options, select Erase all data (factory reset)
- You will get a prompt that will ask if you’re okay with erasing the list of data. Click Reset Phone. You may be asked to input your pin or other security info. You will get a warning prompt asking if you are sure.
- Click Erase Everything
How to securely get rid of data on Samsung
- Go to Settings
- Select General Management
- Tap Reset
- Select Factory data reset
- Under ‘Factory data reset’, click Reset then Delete All
Best ways to get rid of your old phone or tablet
Now that your old phone has been ‘wiped’ clean, you’re ready to sell, recycle or donate your old device.
Best ways to sell your old device
Instead of adding your old phone to your pile of unused tech, consider selling it now that it is wiped clean.
Amazon’s Trade-In Program
Amazon’s Trade-In Program is a quick and easy way for you to earn something from your old and unused electronics. Most older electronics decrease in value as time goes on, so it’s not likely that you’ll be able to earn a ton of money by selling them. Sure, you could always give your old item to a friend or family member if it’s still in good shape. However, if they are going to want to use something newer as well, then this is the perfect way for you to recycle your items and earn money back at the same time. Follow these steps on how this program works.
Best way to recycle your old device
Because most cell phones contain hazardous materials such as heavy metals, avoid simply throwing them away. Many carriers, electronic stores, and other organizations have recycling or donation programs at no cost to you. The Environmental Protection Agency has a list of donation and recycling programs listed.
Were these tips helpful? Feel free to reach out if you have any other concerns.
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