Prepare Your Phone Safely Before Selling It

Before you sell: make a backup you can actually restore

Start while the phone still turns on and you can unlock it. Check that your photographs, contacts, messages, notes and important files have transferred to your new phone or a backup you can access. Cloud backup is useful, but not every app transfers its local data. Check banking apps, password managers, authenticator apps, downloaded files, chat histories and any work profile separately. Do not erase the old device until you have tested access to the accounts and files you need on another device.

If the phone is used for two-step verification, move your authenticator or passkey access before wiping it. Update the recovery phone number on important accounts if your number is changing. Apple Watch owners should follow Apple’s unpairing instructions before selling their paired iPhone. A backup may contain sensitive personal data: store it securely and never send it to a buyer or repair shop.

iPhone: prepare your Apple Account and Activation Lock

Apple recommends backing up your iPhone, unpairing an Apple Watch if relevant, signing out of your Apple Account and erasing all content and settings before transfer. On current iOS versions, the normal erase route is Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the on-screen prompts for your Apple Account and passcode. Completing the official erase process removes Find My Activation Lock when the required account authentication succeeds. Do not simply delete photos or contacts one by one while still signed in to iCloud: that can also affect synchronised copies.

If you use an eSIM, arrange your mobile service transfer with your network before wiping. Follow the erase prompts carefully and confirm whether you are keeping or deleting the eSIM profile. The right choice depends on whether you are transferring the number to a new device. If you cannot sign out or clear Activation Lock, recover access through Apple’s official process before handing the phone over; do not share your Apple Account password with a buyer.

Source: Apple Support UK — sell, give away or trade in your iPhone.

Android: remove account protection before factory reset

Android phones can use Factory Reset Protection (FRP) to prevent unauthorised reuse after certain resets. Before selling, verify you know the Google account credentials and remove the accounts from the phone using its Settings menu as directed by its manufacturer. Then use the normal Factory data reset / Erase all data option in Settings. Menu names vary between Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android models. A reset performed using recovery buttons can leave the new owner facing an account-verification prompt.

On many Samsung phones, the account route is Settings → Accounts and backup → Manage accounts; the reset route is Settings → General management → Reset → Factory data reset. Check the instructions for your specific model and Android version rather than guessing. Remove a physical SIM and microSD card if fitted. If the device is managed by an employer or school, ask its administrator to remove management restrictions before sale.

Source: Android’s UK reset guide · Source: Samsung UK reset and FRP instructions.

Make the handover safe and straightforward

• Confirm the erase: after resetting, the phone should show its initial welcome or setup screen. Avoid signing back in. If possible, verify the next owner will not be asked for your account credentials.
• Remove accessories containing data: take out your SIM and removable memory card; arrange eSIM transfer where applicable. Check any paired watch or other accessories.
• Check ownership: settle any outstanding finance or contractual restrictions, and ensure the device has not been reported lost or stolen. Keep proof of purchase or ownership if available.
• Describe condition accurately: disclose cracked glass, battery issues, liquid damage, charging faults, replaced parts or other defects. Record the exact model, storage and relevant condition before agreeing a valuation.
• Keep transaction records: obtain a receipt or written record of the sale. Do not send identity documents, passwords or banking credentials through an unsecured chat.

What if the screen is broken or the phone will not start?

Do not assume a phone is wiped merely because the screen is black or it no longer charges. If you cannot access the official reset process, seek manufacturer advice or ask for a repair assessment before transfer. Do not attempt account-lock bypasses. For business-owned phones or highly sensitive information, follow the organisation’s device disposal and sanitisation policy rather than relying on a standard consumer reset.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre explains why deleting individual files is not a substitute for the built-in erase function and recommends preparing backups and account access first. Its advice also notes that erasure methods are not an absolute guarantee against specialist recovery in every circumstance.

Source: NCSC — erasing devices.

Selling a phone in Bristol: what to do next

Once your device is ready, use our Bristol device selling guide to understand the local valuation route. If you need advice about a faulty device, contact the team or check our two Bristol store locations before travelling. A valuation depends on the exact model, condition, ownership status and current demand; no price or same-day acceptance is guaranteed by this article.

Editorial review: 23 October 2026. This article provides general consumer guidance, not a guarantee of secure erasure for every device or a substitute for the manufacturer’s model-specific instructions.