Before you sell, donate, or recycle an old phone, back up what you need, remove the SIM or memory card, sign out of the accounts that keep the device tied to you, and then use the phone’s full erase option. The initial setup screen shows that the erase step is complete; also check that the relevant accounts and device protections have been removed. A reset that only changes Wi-Fi or display preferences is not the same thing as erasing your personal data; Samsung distinguishes reset-settings options from Factory data reset.
Decide what happens to the phone after the wipe
A phone that still works can be passed to another person or set aside for a new single-purpose use. If you are not keeping it, do the same privacy preparation whether it goes to a neighbor, a donation program, or a recycler. The Federal Trade Commission says to remove personal information before a phone is traded in, sold, given away, or recycled. The FTC’s phone-disposal guidance puts backup, card removal, and a restore or reset in that sequence.
Save the data you actually want to keep
Make a backup or transfer the files you want before touching the erase command. Think beyond photos: check downloaded files, notes stored only on the phone, message attachments, authenticator-app access, and contacts that are not synced elsewhere. Apple tells owners to create a backup and transfer information before removing personal information from an iPhone or iPad. Apple’s current preparation guide also says that erasing the device does not delete content from iCloud.
If you are replacing the phone, work through the new device first. The FTC notes that an authenticator app may need to be reactivated when a phone number is no longer kept. Its guidance also calls out updating the phone number used by accounts or services. That check prevents a login problem from becoming a last-minute reason to delay the wipe.
Remove the physical cards before the reset
Take out the SIM card and any removable SD or memory card. A SIM can hold personal information, and an SD card may contain files outside the phone’s internal storage. The FTC explicitly lists both cards before the reset step. Put them somewhere you will not confuse with the phone being handed off.
Erase an iPhone from its settings
On a current iPhone, sign out of your Apple Account in Settings first. Then go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Erase All Content and Settings and follow the prompts. Apple’s instructions say that this erase removes cards in Apple Pay, photos, contacts, music, apps, and turns off services such as iMessage and FaceTime on that device.
If the phone uses an eSIM and is leaving your possession, select the option to erase the device and its eSIM profile when the phone asks. Apple’s preparation page identifies that separate choice. Let the phone restart, and do not sign in again after the initial setup screen appears. If you are moving from iPhone to a non-Apple phone, Apple also points to iMessage deregistration.
Erase an Android phone without leaving account protection behind
For Android, start by confirming you know the Google Account on the phone and its password. Android Help says a factory reset erases all phone data, while apps and their data are uninstalled; it also directs owners to their device maker for model-specific instructions. Google’s factory-reset guide is the right starting point when menu labels differ.
Remove the Google Account from the device before handing it off. Google explains that removing the account turns off device protection; otherwise, a reset device can require a previously used account during setup. Android’s device-protection guidance explains that relationship. On a Samsung Galaxy phone, the current path is Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset, then Reset and Delete all. Samsung’s support page notes that menu screens can vary by model and software version.
Do one final handoff check
Look for the welcome or initial setup screen, not your home screen, before the phone leaves your hands. Do not enter a password, add an account, or restore a backup after that point. Keep the SIM card, removable memory card, case, and charger unless you have separately decided to include them. If a phone was paired with an Apple Watch, Apple says to unpair it before removing personal information from the iPhone.
For another way to keep an old device in use, see this site’s guide to turning an old phone into a universal remote or its old-phone security-camera setup. A full erase is an optional clean starting point when you want to remove old data; back up first, then sign in only to the accounts that project needs.
Recycle a phone through the right collection route
Do not put a phone containing a lithium-ion battery in household trash or a curbside recycling bin. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says such devices should go to a certified electronics recycler that accepts batteries, a takeback service, or a local household hazardous-waste collection program. EPA’s battery guidance explains that damage or crushing during collection can create a fire hazard.
Do not try to remove a built-in battery. EPA says not all batteries are removable or serviceable by the user; for a damaged battery, contact the device or battery manufacturer for handling information. The same EPA guidance recommends a separate bag for each battery or battery-containing device when a collection program instructs you to transport it.
If the phone is already out of your hands
Do not treat a password change as a replacement for erasing a phone you no longer have. Apple directs an owner without the old iPhone or iPad to try asking the new owner to erase it, erase a lost device through iCloud, remove it from trusted devices, and remove cards and passes from Wallet. Apple lists those recovery steps for devices that are already gone.
For an Android device, Google Account Help says you can sign out remotely when you believe your account remains signed in on a device you no longer have. That action is an account safeguard, not proof that files on the phone have been erased. Check whether the manufacturer’s service offers remote erase for that phone.
FAQ
Is removing a SIM card enough before giving away an old phone?
No. Removing the SIM card does not erase the information stored on the phone itself. The FTC advises removing SIM and SD cards and then restoring or resetting the phone to erase personal information. Read the FTC’s checklist.
Should I reset an old phone if I plan to keep it as a remote or camera?
Not necessarily. Reset it only when you want to remove old data or create a clean starting point, and finish a backup first. If you keep the existing setup, review the accounts and files already on the phone. Then add only the account and app required for that role. See the site’s universal-remote guide for the next setup step.
What should I do with a phone that has a damaged battery?
Do not place it in trash or curbside recycling and do not try to remove a battery that is not user-serviceable. EPA directs owners of damaged lithium-ion batteries to contact the device or battery manufacturer for handling information. EPA’s battery guidance has the collection and handling details.
Last updated: 2026-09