Sometimes we forget that our old phones are worth anything, and suddenly you have a drawer of phones collecting dust that you don’t know what to do with. Whatever the reason, if you have a phone lying around you, it may be worth some money. But before you go to sell your phone, there are a few things you should consider first. Here are five steps to take first before you turn in that phone for good.
1. Backup your device first
Our phones contain our entire lives in one place. Pictures, contacts and other important personal information are all stored on that one piece of technology. Losing it can be devastating. Prevent any lost data by backing up your device before you go to sell it. Here’s how: On iPhone
Open SettingsTap iCloudSelect iCloud BackupTurn on iCloud BackupPress Back Up Now
On Samsung
Go to SettingsSelect your nameChoose Back up dataChoose the data you’d like to back upSelect Back upTap Done when it’s finished syncing
On Google Pixel
Open the Settings appChoose SystemSelect BackupTurn on backup service
If you choose to back up your device to the cloud, it might cost a monthly fee to cover extra storage space from the provided free amount. You’re better off using a backup service that you can trust. We recommend our sponsor, IDrive. IDrive lets you back up all of your devices, whether you have a Mac, PC, Android, iPad or iPhone, and you can conveniently manage your backups through a single online account. Get 90% off 5TB of cloud backup at IDrive.com when you use promo code, Kim, at checkout.
2. Factory reset your device
Backing up your data is essential, but you don’t want the new user of your device to have your data either. You’ll want to factory reset your phone to ensure all your personal stuff stays, well, personal. On iPhone
Open SettingsSelect GeneralTap ResetSelect Erase All Content and SettingsWait for your device to erase
On Samsung
Open SettingsChoose Factory data resetSelect Factory data reset againSwipe and tap resetTap Delete allYour phone will now reset
On Google Pixel
Open SettingsChoose SystemSelect AdvancedTap Reset OptionsClick Erase everythingChoose restart
3. Protect your personal information
Along with factory resetting your phone, your iCloud or GoogleDrive stays linked unless you manually unlink it. This is another pesky way for people to get your personal info. Remove personal info from iPhone
If you’ve paired an Apple Watch with your iPhone, unpair your Apple Watch.Sign out of iCloud and the iTunes & App Store. If you’re using iOS 10.3 or later, tap Settings > [your name]. Scroll down and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off.If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, tap Settings > iCloud > Sign Out. Tap Sign Out again, then tap Delete from My [device] and enter your Apple ID password. Then go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > Sign Out.Go back to Settings and tap General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. If you’ve turned on Find My [device], you might need to enter your Apple ID and password. Forgot your Apple ID or your Apple ID password?If asked for your device passcode or Restrictions passcode, enter it. Then tap Erase [device].If you’re switching to a non-Apple phone, deregister iMessage.Contact your network provider for help transferring service to a new owner. If you aren’t using a SIM card with your device, you can contact them to get help transferring service to the new owner.Remove your old device from your list of trusted devices.
Unlink Google Drive
Open the Settings appTap Users & accountsTap the account you’d like to removeTap Remove accountTo confirm, tap Remove account
4. Clean your device
You wouldn’t buy a dirty device, so you shouldn’t sell one dirty either. It can be hard to clean your phone correctly without damaging it. You can pay for a service to do it for you, but that can be pricey. For tips on how to clean your phone correctly before you sell it, tap or click here. Don’t forget to remove your Sim card and any external microSD cards.
5. Check the value of your device
Finally, before you sell your device, double-check you’re getting the best value for your device. You can check Apple’s current trade-in value program or reputable sites like Decluttr to make sure you are getting the best price. If you like the phone you have, but haven’t figured out how to use it yet, here are 15 tech tricks you’ll wish you knew sooner.
