Old Phone in a Drawer? Sell, Trade, Recycle or Repair

Your four options at a glance

Most households have at least one old phone sitting in a drawer. It still has value: as cash, as credit toward something new, as a backup phone, or as materials that should be recovered rather than sent to landfill. Here's how the options compare.

Step one, whatever you choose: get your stuff off it

Before deciding anything, charge the phone and check what's on it. Old phones often hold the only copy of photos from a few years back, old text threads, or an authenticator app you forgot about. Back up or copy anything you want to keep, then confirm it actually landed somewhere else before moving on.

How to wipe an old phone safely

A factory reset alone isn't enough if accounts are still attached. Theft protection (Activation Lock on iPhone, Factory Reset Protection on Android) can leave the next owner stuck, and a buyer or trade-in program may reject the phone. Follow this order:

1. Unpair accessories. Unpair a smartwatch from the phone first, so its own backup and lock are handled properly.
2. Sign out of your accounts. On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name and choose Sign Out. This also turns off Find My. On Android, remove your Google account in the Accounts section of Settings; on a Galaxy, remove your Samsung account too.
3. Deal with your SIM. Pop out any physical SIM card and, on Android, any microSD card. If your line is on an eSIM, make sure it's working on your current phone before you erase the old one.
4. Erase everything. On iPhone: Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings. On Android: use the factory data reset option in Settings (on many phones it's under System › Reset options, or General management › Reset on a Galaxy).
5. Check the result. The phone should restart to the "Hello" or welcome setup screen with no request for your password.

Selling privately

A private sale usually gets the most for a newer phone, but it takes effort. Take clear photos, list the exact model and storage, and be honest about scratches, battery condition and any repairs. Meet in a busy public place, accept payment you can verify before handing the phone over, and never share verification codes with a buyer.

A carrier-locked phone is harder to sell. Phones sold new in Canada since December 2017 are unlocked, and carriers must unlock older phones free on request. Our post on phone unlocking in Ontario explains how.

Trading in

Manufacturers, carriers and retailers run trade-in programs that give credit toward a new device. You won't usually get as much as a private sale, but it's quick and there's no stranger to meet. Read the condition rules closely: a cracked screen, cracked back glass or a phone that won't power on is often graded much lower or refused.

When a repair raises the value

A phone with a cracked screen or tired battery looks like a problem to buyers, even if everything else works. Sometimes a repair makes sense before selling, especially for a newer model that still receives software updates. Sometimes it doesn't. The simple test:

• Look up what working phones of that model are selling for, and what cracked ones go for.
• Get a repair quote.
• If the gap between "working" and "cracked" is clearly bigger than the quote, the repair pays for itself. If not, sell or trade it as-is and describe the damage honestly.

Repairing can also make sense if the phone is staying in the family. A fresh battery or new screen can turn a drawer phone into a solid first phone for a kid, or a reliable backup for travel. Our used phone buying guide shows what a careful buyer (or family member) will check.

Recycling responsibly

If the phone is very old, no longer gets security updates, or isn't worth fixing, recycle it. Phones contain lithium-ion batteries and metals that should be recovered, and a battery in the garbage truck can start a fire. Don't put phones in the garbage or your blue box.

• Use your region's waste depot or electronics drop-off. Halton and Peel both accept electronics; check your region's website for locations and rules.
• Many retailers that sell electronics also run drop-off bins for old phones and batteries.
• If the battery is swollen, don't press on it or try to remove it. Keep the phone away from heat and tell the drop-off staff.

Need a hand?

Not sure whether your old phone is worth fixing before you sell or pass it on? Woman Wireless On The Go can take a look. A certified woman technician comes to your home, workplace or parked car across our service area, and you get a free quote before any work starts, so you can compare it with what the phone is worth. Call or WhatsApp (365) 351-4247, read about our cell phone repair, or request a visit online.

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