Before you send it
How to remove your personal data.
Follow the guides below to securely erase your information before you trade in or recycle your phone. We have outlined the key steps for both Android and iPhone so you can wipe your device with confidence.
Worth knowing
Data destruction happens again as part of processing, on every device we take in. These steps are what stop the phone arriving locked to your account, which is the one thing we cannot undo from our end.Before you start.
Four things to do on any device, whichever platform it runs.
Save photos, contacts and app data to your cloud account or a computer. Once the device is wiped there is nothing to recover it from.
Remove Google or Apple IDs so the device is not locked to your account. A factory reset on its own does not clear this.
Disconnect watches or earbuds and delete any stored payment cards, so nothing keeps trying to reach a device you no longer own.
Use the official reset options to erase everything, then let the phone restart and reach its setup screen before you pack it.
Then wipe it, step by step.
The exact menu path on each platform, in the order it has to happen.
Android data removal
- Open Settings > Accounts, then remove all Google accounts so Factory Reset Protection is disabled.
- Go to Settings > Security > Find My Device and turn it off.
- Remove any screen locks (PIN, pattern, fingerprint) to speed up testing.
- Navigate to Settings > System > Reset options, select Erase all data (factory reset) and confirm. Let the phone restart and complete setup.
- Check the welcome screen shows no previous accounts before you power down and package the device.
iPhone data removal
- Back up with iCloud or iTunes/Finder so you do not lose anything.
- Open Settings > [Your Name] and choose Sign Out to disable iCloud and Find My.
- Remove any eSIM or physical SIM and unpair Apple Watch if connected.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone, tap Erase All Content and Settings and follow the prompts.
- Wait for the device to restart to the Hello screen - this confirms your data has been cleared and the phone is ready to send.
Quick tips
Three things that trip people up
None of them will stop us buying your device, but each one costs a day or two while we get back in touch about it.
- Keep the battery charged enough for the reset to complete without interruption.
- If you see any activation locks after resetting, repeat the sign-out step to make sure accounts are removed.
- Leave protective cases on during transit to avoid accidental damage while your phone is on the way to us.
Wiped and ready
Now find out what it is worth.
Search the model, pick the storage, tell us the condition. The number is instant, and it is the number we pay.
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