How to Prepare Your iPhone for Trade-In or Sale

Why preparation matters

Handing over an iPhone that's still linked to you causes problems on both sides. If Find My is still on, the next owner can't activate the phone because of Activation Lock, and a trade-in program may reject it. If you skip the backup or the erase, you risk losing your own data or leaving it behind for a stranger.

Doing it in the right order takes a little patience, but it's not complicated. Here's the sequence.

Step 1: Decide whether to fix damage first

Trade-in programs and private buyers both grade on condition. A cracked screen, cracked back glass or a camera lens that's shattered will usually lower the offer noticeably. Before you start erasing, get two numbers: what you'd be offered with the damage, and what you'd be offered in good condition. If the gap is bigger than a repair quote, it's worth fixing first. Repair before you erase, since the technician will need to test the phone with you.

Step 2: Back up everything

Choose one, or both for extra safety:

• iCloud: go to Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now. Stay on Wi-Fi until it finishes.
• Computer: connect to a Mac and use Finder, or on Windows use the Apple Devices app or iTunes. Choose an encrypted backup if you want saved passwords and health data included.

Before moving on, open any authenticator apps you use for two-factor sign-ins and transfer or export their accounts to your new phone. These codes don't always move with a regular backup, and losing them can lock you out of accounts.

Step 3: Set up your new phone

If you're moving to a new iPhone, use Quick Start or restore from the backup you just made. Check that your photos, messages and apps arrived and that you can sign in to banking and work apps on the new phone before wiping the old one.

Step 4: Unpair your Apple Watch

If you have an Apple Watch, unpair it from the old iPhone before erasing. Open the Watch app, go to All Watches, tap the info button next to your watch and choose Unpair Apple Watch. This also removes Activation Lock from the watch. While paired, Apple Watch data is backed up to the iPhone automatically, so it's included in the iPhone backup you made in Step 2.

Step 5: Sign out of your Apple Account and Find My

Go to Settings › [your name], scroll down and tap Sign Out. You'll be asked for your Apple Account password (formerly called Apple ID) to turn off Find My. This is the step that removes Activation Lock, so don't skip it.

If you're switching to an Android phone, also deregister your phone number from iMessage, using Apple's online deregister tool if the old phone is no longer available, so texts from iPhone users reach your new phone.

Step 6: Erase all content and settings

Go to Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings. If your iPhone uses an eSIM, you'll be asked what to do with it. If the phone is leaving your hands, erase the eSIM too, but contact your carrier first if you need to move that line to your new phone. When the erase finishes, the phone restarts to the Hello screen, ready for the next owner.

Step 7: Remove the SIM card

If your iPhone has a physical SIM tray, use the SIM tool to eject it and take your card out. Put it in your new phone or keep it safe until your carrier confirms your service has moved.

Step 8: Final checks before you hand it over

• Confirm the phone shows the Hello screen and doesn't ask for your Apple Account.
• Check the phone no longer appears in your device list in Apple Account settings on another device.
• If the phone has already left your hands without being erased, use Find My on another device to erase it and remove it from your account.
• Check that the phone is unlocked if you're selling privately. In Canada, carriers must unlock phones free on request. See phone unlocking in Ontario.
• Remove your case and screen protector if they're scratched, and gently clean the phone.
• Find the original box and cable if you have them; some buyers value them.

Quick checklist

1. Repair damage if the numbers make sense
2. Back up to iCloud or a computer
3. Move authenticator codes
4. Set up and test your new phone
5. Unpair your Apple Watch
6. Sign out and turn off Find My
7. Erase all content and settings, including eSIM
8. Remove the SIM card

Selling privately? Our used phone buying guide shows what careful buyers check, so you can prepare for their questions.

Need a hand?

If a cracked screen, worn battery or faulty charging port is holding back your trade-in value, a certified woman technician can come to your home, workplace or condo lobby and give you a free quote before any work starts. She confirms timing with you when she quotes, and you can test the phone together before you erase it. Call or WhatsApp (365) 351-4247, or book online. See iPhone repair and the areas we serve.

Frequently asked questions

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