How to Erase an Ipad or Iphone to Sell

Before you sell an old iPad or iPhone that you have laying around, there are a few important steps you need to take. Erasing your data from a device that you plan on selling will ensure the safety of your personal information, and will allow for a seamless start-up process for whoever is buying.

There are a couple different facets to fully erasing your device to be ready to sell. The first is to disconnect your device from all cloud storage services. The second is to delete all the data that is stored physically on your device. Just make sure you have all of your precious data backed up!

 

How to Backup Your Device

There are two ways in which you can backup your data before erasing your device. The first is to back everything up to the cloud. The second way is to physically back up your data to an external hard drive.

The Cloud

• Open the settings on your Apple device and tap on your profile at the top of the screen. Scroll down to the iCloud option, and select iCloud backup. Make sure iCloud backup is enabled. 
• If you want to make sure that all of your current data is backed up, select the “Back Up Now” button, to ensure the most recent information is safe. There is a 5G limit on free data storage for the iCloud, so depending on how much you’re trying to back up, you may have to pay extra. 

Physical Backup

• There are a couple of options when it comes to physically backing up your data on an Apple device. You can back it up to an external hard drive, or you can create an iTunes backup that creates a mirrored backup of your device. External hard drives with a lot of storage are relatively cheap and very reliable. Just make sure the external hard drive you buy is Apple compatible.
• The iTunes backup option is a local storage option. On your computer,  iTunes can create a digital copy of your device, that you can seamlessly reupload to a new, blank device. This option however will take up significant space on your computer.

 

How to Erase Your Device

Once you’ve safely backed up your data, it’s time to clear everything away, and get your device ready to sell. First you need to make sure that your device is disconnected from any cloud services. Second you need to make sure that your physical device is cleared of any data. Then you’ll be ready to sell a cleared device to whoever wants to buy it.

 

Disconnecting From the Cloud

• Go to settings and tap your profile at the top of the screen. Then scroll down to “Sign Out”, and select it. It will prompt you for your Apple ID and password, after that select “Turn Off”. Doing this will disconnect your device from the Apple cloud services. This will prevent whoever you sell your device to from having incidental access to your data and your accounts.

Erasing the Data on Your Phone

• Go into the settings again, and tap on general. Scroll down to reset, and select reset. Next, select “Erase All Content and Settings”, and enter your Apple ID and password. Finally, select “Erase”. This will perform a factory reset on your phone, totally clearing it and bringing it back to factory settings.
• Now your device is ready to sell, trade, or gift away. 

Uhh, I Already Sold it…

There is a chance that you’ve already sold your device without doing any of this, and you’re only finding this post after the fact. Fear not! We have a solution for you too.

If you forgot to clear your device before selling it, and you’re worried about the security of your data, it’s possible for you to clear that device remotely.

On another Apple device or on iCloud.com, use the Find My feature to locate and remotely login to your device. Then select your device, and select “Erase”. After that, select “Remove from Account”, to remove that device from any of your existing accounts. You can also use this strategy to remove any Apple Pay information from your device.

If you’re trying to sell an old iPhone or iPad, you need to follow these steps. This way you can have peace of mind knowing that your data is safe, backed up, and that the buyer is having the best experience possible. There are multiple options when it comes to backing up your data, and resetting your device. It’s just a matter of choosing the right options for you, and what you plan on doing with your device. If you’re having trouble with any of these steps, or have any questions at all regarding your Apple device, stop by Comp-Pros. Our friendly and qualified staff will be happy to help you make the decision that’s right for you.