If you want to sell your iPhone and don’t know how to delete your personal data, we are going to help you out. When you buy a new Apple device you may want to get rid of the old model.
You can keep it in a drawer, give it to an acquaintance or family member, or donate. You can also sell your phone to a private individual. In any case, you should delete your personal data, files, and content before selling it.
The process is relatively simple, but you should follow certain steps to move your data to your new iPhone or Apple device and delete it on the old device. It won’t take long, you’ll keep your settings and content, and you’ll also prevent a third party from accessing that data on your old phone.
How to delete personal data before selling an iPhone?
Backup your data
The first thing we’ll do is make a backup of your old iPhone content. You’ll probably save photos, videos, conversations, browsing histories, application, and system settings. So you need to sync your iPhone with iCloud to keep those data up to date in the Apple cloud.
From Settings > Your Name > iCloud, click on Backup and then on Back Up Now. The process will take some time but you will have all your data safe. However, use the WiFi connection to make this backup or you will sacrifice your mobile data plan. When it’s done, you’ll see the date of the last backup.
Log out of iCloud
We have made a backup of the iPhone through iCloud, but now it’s time to log out. So we go back to Settings > Your name and, at the bottom of everything, click Logout. Your iPhone may ask you for your Apple ID password to confirm. Enter it and finally click Disable.
If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, you’ll need to sign out of iCloud as well as the iTunes Store and App Store separately. First, Settings > iCloud > Sign out. Then, Settings > iTunes Store and App Store > Apple ID > Sign Out.
Delete your personal data
All that remains is to delete the data from the iPhone. From Settings > General > Reset you must click on the option Delete contents and settings. You may have to enter your Apple ID. If you have activated Search my device you will be asked for your Apple credentials.
Additionally, if you have several Apple devices associated with your Apple ID, you can remove your old iPhone from the list. You can do this from any iPhone, iPad, or Mac. In iOS, from Settings > Your Name. Then select the device and click on Remove from the account.
On your Mac, you will find this option in Apple > System Preferences. Within your Apple or iCloud ID, depending on the version of macOS, you will find the list of devices. Select the one you want to delete and then click the corresponding option. From your Apple ID website, log in with your Apple ID, and from Devices, you can do the same.