Complete Guide: How to Erase Your iPhone Before Selling
Your iPhone contains your life: photos, texts, credit cards, passwords. You cannot just hand it over. You need to "nuke" it—digitally speaking.
The "Oh No" Mistake: Manually Deleting Photos
STOP! Do not manually delete photos or contacts while signed into iCloud.
- If you delete them on your phone, you delete them from the cloud too. You will lose them forever.
- Always sign out or use the "Erase All Content" button, which handles this safely.
Step-by-Step Prerequisite: Unpair Apple Watch
If you have an Apple Watch:
- Keep watch and phone close.
- Open Watch app > All Watches.
- Tap info (i) button > Unpair Apple Watch.
- (This creates a backup of your watch on your phone).
The Main Event: Wiping the Phone
iOS 15 and Later (Most people):
- Go to Settings > General.
- Scroll to bottom > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Follow the screen prompts. It will ask for your passcode and likely your Apple ID password to turn off "Find My".
- Wait for the Apple logo and progress bar.
Verification
How do you know it worked?
- When it restarts, you should see the "Hello" screen in multiple languages.
- That means it's fresh, clean, and safe to sell.
What if I forgot my passcode?
You'll need a computer (Mac or PC/iTunes).
- Put phone in Recovery Mode (button combo depends on model).
- Connect to computer.
- Choose Restore.
Need help? We can help you wipe your device securely during our meetup!
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