Back up, sign out of your Apple ID, then go to Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings. Remove the phone from your Apple account and remove any eSIM or physical SIM.
Erasing the phone protects your data and makes the next owner's setup easy. Do it in the right order.
Step by step
- Back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer.
- If you have an Apple Watch paired, unpair it first.
- Sign out of your Apple ID in Settings and turn off Find My.
- Go to Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter your passcode and Apple ID password when asked.
- Remove your physical SIM, or erase the eSIM when asked.
Check Activation Lock
Make sure the phone is removed from your account at appleid.apple.com or iCloud.com. A locked phone is useless to the next owner and may block your trade-in.
Phone not working normally?
If the screen is faulty or you've forgotten the passcode, you can erase the phone using a computer in recovery mode, or remotely through Find My. Trade-in values are lower for faulty phones, but the phone can still have value.
Frequently asked questions
Can I erase without my passcode?
Yes, through recovery mode, but you'll need the Apple ID to remove Activation Lock.
Is a reset enough for privacy?
Yes, Erase All Content and Settings encrypts and wipes your data.
Sources
Find Next Phone is an independent retailer. Apple, iPhone and iOS are trademarks of Apple Inc. Illustrations are our own and are not Apple product images.