How to Safely Erase Your Phone
Before you trade in or sell your phone, make sure your personal data is backed up and completely wiped. Here's how to do it right.
Before You Start: Quick Checklist
- ☐Make sure your phone is charged to at least 50%
- ☐Connect to Wi-Fi (backups can be large)
- ☐Have your new phone nearby if you're transferring data directly
- ☐Know your Apple ID or Google account password (you'll need it to sign out)
- ☐Set aside about 30 minutes — most of it is waiting for the backup
For iPhone Users
Back up to iCloud
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now. Wait for it to complete. This saves your photos, contacts, messages, app data, and settings.
Sign out of iCloud
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > scroll down > Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password when prompted. This is critical — if you skip this, the next person won't be able to set up the phone (Activation Lock).
Unpair Apple Watch (if applicable)
If you have an Apple Watch paired to this phone, unpair it first through the Watch app. This automatically backs up your watch data.
Sign out of other apps
Sign out of banking apps, social media, email, and any app where you're logged in. While the factory reset will remove the apps, signing out first is a good habit.
Factory reset
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Confirm when prompted. The phone will restart and show the setup screen — that means it worked.
For Android Users
Back up to Google
Go to Settings > Google > Backup > Back up now. This saves your contacts, app data, call history, and settings to your Google account. Photos should be backed up through Google Photos separately.
Back up photos separately
Open Google Photos and make sure backup is turned on and complete. Check that your most recent photos have been uploaded. You can also transfer photos to a computer via USB cable if you prefer.
Remove your Google account
Go to Settings > Accounts > Google > Remove account. This prevents Factory Reset Protection from locking the next user out of the phone.
Remove your SD card and SIM
If your phone has an SD card, remove it — it likely has photos and files on it. Remove your physical SIM card too. Both are yours to keep.
Factory reset
Go to Settings > General Management (or System) > Reset > Factory Data Reset > Reset. The phone will restart and show the initial setup screen.
Things People Commonly Forget
Two-factor authentication apps
If you use an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator), transfer your codes to your new phone BEFORE resetting. If you lose these codes, you could get locked out of important accounts.
WhatsApp chat backup
WhatsApp chats aren't included in standard phone backups. Open WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup to save your conversations before resetting.
Bluetooth device pairings
Unpair any Bluetooth devices (earbuds, smartwatch, car) from the old phone. Some devices have trouble pairing to a new phone if they think they're still connected to the old one.
eSIM
If you use an eSIM instead of a physical SIM, contact your carrier about transferring it to your new phone before you reset. A factory reset can erase the eSIM profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a factory reset delete everything?
Yes, a factory reset wipes all personal data, apps, photos, messages, and accounts from the phone. That's why you need to back everything up first. After the reset, the phone will look like it did when it was brand new.
What if I forgot to back something up after resetting?
Unfortunately, once a factory reset is complete, the data is gone from the phone. That's why we recommend using a cloud backup (iCloud or Google) before resetting — your data will still be accessible from your new phone or computer even after the old one is wiped.
Do I need to remove my SIM card?
If your phone uses a physical SIM card, yes — remove it before trading in. You'll need it for your new phone, or your carrier will give you a new one. If you use eSIM, make sure to transfer or deactivate it through your carrier.
What about my SD card?
If your phone has an SD card slot and you have one inserted, remove it before trading in. SD cards often have photos, videos, and other personal files on them. The trade-in value is for the phone itself — your SD card is yours to keep.
Can you help me do this in-store?
Absolutely. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, bring your phone in and we'll walk you through the whole process — backup, sign-out, and factory reset. No charge, no appointment needed.
Need Help? We'll Do It For You
Not comfortable doing it yourself? Bring your phone in and we'll walk you through the whole process — no charge.
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Written by the Wireless Nerds team — real phone experts at our North York store helping customers choose the right plans and devices every day.