When it is time to upgrade to a new iPhone, one of the things to consider is selling the old one. Selling an old iPhone can generate some cash, making it easier to afford the latest iPhone. However, before selling your old iPhone, it is crucial to delete all the data that is stored on it. Deleting this data ensures that your personal information is not available to the new owner. Here’s how to clear your iPhone to sell it.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of Clearing an iPhone to Sell It
Clearing an iPhone to sell it may seem like a simple task. However, it can be challenging, mainly because of the sensitive information stored on the iPhone. Apple designs iPhones to be secure and protect privacy. Therefore, it’s not as simple as clicking on a few buttons and deleting information.
Things You Should Prepare For
- Backups: Before deleting information from your iPhone, ensure that you have backed up all the essential data. This backup will enable you to transfer important files to a new iPhone.
- Password: Many iPhone users secure their phone with a password, Touch ID, or Face ID. Before clearing the phone, you should have these passwords for deactivation purposes.
- iCloud Account Access: To clear an iPhone, you need your iCloud account information. Ensure that you have access to this account information.
- Charger and Cable: Ensure that your iPhone has enough battery power to complete the deletion process. Having a charger cable and power source is also necessary for a smoothe and error-free deletion process.
Method 1: Restore Your iPhone to Factory Settings
One way to clear the iPhone is to restore it to its factory default settings. This method will erase all your data from the iPhone, leaving only the basic operating system. Here are the steps to restore your iPhone to factory default settings.
- First, back up your phone by connecting the phone to iTunes or iCloud. Select backup and wait for the backup process to complete.
- Open the Settings application, go to General, then scroll down to the bottom and select Reset.
- On the Reset Options screen, select Erase All Content and Settings.
- You will be asked to confirm the action, click on Erase iPhone to proceed with the deletion process.
- Enter your passcode if prompted to complete the deletion process.
Pros:
- It’s a straightforward process.
- Restoring your iPhone to factory settings erases all the data, including apps and private data that may be stored on the phone.
- Most importantly, it’s secure and leaves no room for data retrieval.
Cons:
- If you don’t back up the device before the restoration, you will lose all data permanently, including photos, messages, contacts, and other important information.
- Whatever data you transfer to your new iPhone will have to be redownloaded or reinstalled.
Method 2: Use iCloud to Erase Your iPhone
The second method of clearing your iPhone is by using iCloud. This option allows you to erase your iPhone from a remote location. Here are the steps to erase an iPhone using iCloud.
- First, ensure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.
- On another device, go to icloud.com/find.
- Log in with your Apple ID and select Find iPhone. This will display all the devices associated with your Apple ID.
- Find the iPhone you want to erase and select it.
- Select Erase iPhone.
- A pop-up window will appear to verify the action: click on Erase to remove all data from the iPhone.
Pros:
- You can erase your iPhone from any location using another device.
- You don’t require access to the physical iPhone – all you need is an internet connection and a browser.
Cons:
- You need the iCloud password to log in and carry out the process.
- The phone needs to have an internet connection. Without it, the process won’t be successful.
Method 3: Reset All Settings on Your iPhone
This method of clearing an iPhone involves resetting all the settings, including network settings and keyboard dictionary. This method is an excellent choice if you’re not concerned about the previous owner accessing any information that isn’t already publicly available. Here are the steps to reset all settings on your iPhone:
- Firstly, open the Settings application on your iPhone.
- Scroll down to the bottom and select Reset.
- Select Reset All Settings.
- You will be prompted to enter the iPhone’s passcode. enter it to proceed.
Pros:
- This method erases all the custom settings without affecting the stored files like photos, audio and documents.
- If you own a limited storage iPhone, Reset all settings is an optimum option for freeing up storage space.
Cons:
- Your data is not completely erased by resetting all settings.
- If you aim to sell your iPhone, the user can reverse the settings to get your private data since the process does not involve deleting the data in an iPhone.
Method 4: Delete Your Data using a Third-Party App
There are available third-party applications on the App Store that will delete the files and apps stored on iPhone through specialized deleting algorithms. Here’s how:
- Firstly, download the third-party app that you want to use in the App Store.
- Once the app is installed, launch it and follow the prompt to delete the data stored on the iPhone.
- Depending on the third-party application that you downloaded, there may be a few additional setup steps to initiate the full deletion process.
- Once you have completed the setup, click on the delete button on the app to initiate the deletion process of the data stored on your iPhone.
Pros:
- There are several third-party apps available, which means you can choose one that suits your preference.
- The apps have specialized algorithms that help to ensure that the data will no longer be accessible by a new user.
Cons:
- You need to download and set up the third-party apps before deleting data from your iPhone.
- Third-party apps pose a risk to security because you need to enter personal information to set them up; hence, you should be careful.
Why Can’t I Simply Delete the Files Manually
Manually deleting information on an iPhone seems like a logical choice. However, this method poses a significant risk to privacy. Here are some reasons why manually deleting files is not the best option:
- Data on the iPhone is not Always Readily Available: Manually deleting data on an iPhone only marks it for deletion. The files are not permanently deleted from the iPhone as it is with hard drives. This means that anyone with the right skills can recover all the data if they get hold of your iPhone later.
- Removing Data from Apps: Many apps store data in locations that are not readily visible to iPhone users. Manually deleting app data does not get rid of everything, which further risks privacy.
- It’s Time-Consuming: Manually deleting data can take a lot of time, especially if you have a lot of files on your iPhone. Forgetting to delete a file can leave you vulnerable to privacy breaches.
- You Could Lose Data: Manually deleting files may cause data loss, especially if you are not sure which files are important and which ones to delete.
Fixes:
The safest way to clear an iPhone is by using any of the above methods, especially the first one. It will ensure that all the data you don’t need remains erased permanently. For guaranteed secure deletion, ensure that you back up your data before initiating any deletion process.
Additional Tips
- Check with your carrier to ensure no carrier locks are on your device that would prevent it from being activated and used by someone else.
- Disable Find My iPhone to remove Activation Lock, which is Apple’s security system that prevents anyone else from using your iPhone.
- Once you are done with the deletion process, remove the SIM card if you plan to sell your old iPhone.
- Before physically selling your iPhone to another person, ensure to check the value of used iPhones on online marketplaces. This allows you to get the best possible price.
5 FAQs
Q: Will restoring an iPhone to factory setting remove the Operating System?
A: No, restoring an iPhone to factory settings deletes all the personal data on the iPhone but retains the operating system.
Q: How can I back up my personal information before selling the iPhone?
A: You can either make a backup on iCloud using an internet connection or connect your iPhone to a computer and backup data via iTunes.
Q: How can I turn off Find My iPhone?
A: Go to Settings, then to your name, iCloud, Find My, select Find My iPhone, and toggle it off.
Q: Does resetting all settings delete the contacts on the iPhone?
A: No, resetting all settings deletes network settings, keyboard dictionaries and other settings but not any contacts, photos, or apps.
Q: How can I ensure that all personal information is cleared from the iPhone before selling it?
A: It is essential to choose any of the above methods to erase all data stored on your iPhone, back up essential data, sign-out all Apple services, remove the SIM card, and restore the iPhone to factory settings.