How To Erase Data From Iphone Before Selling

If you're planning on trading in your old iPhone for a new one, there are some steps you'll want to take beforehand to ensure it's de-linked from your accessories and accounts and that everything on it is erased.

iphonexsxsmax
The procedures described below shouldn't take long to follow, and at the end of it you can rest assured that you have a clean ‌iPhone‌ reset to default factory settings and ready to trade in. Here's what to do.

Back Up Your iPhone

Before you reset, you should back up your device. You can back up your data to iCloud, but we'd advise you connect your ‌iPhone‌ up to a computer and perform an iTunes backup instead, just to be sure. You can find steps to back up your ‌iPhone‌ by clicking here.

Got an Apple Watch? Time to Unpair

If you're trading in your ‌iPhone‌ and have an Apple Watch linked to it, you're going to want to unpair it first. Here's how.

Bring your ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch close to each other.
Launch the stock Watch app on your ‌iPhone‌.
Tap the My Watch tab.
Select the Apple Watch you want to unpair, then tap the info button (the encircled "I") next to it on the next screen.
Tap Unpair Apple Watch.
Tap again to confirm.
Enter your Apple ID password when prompted to turn off Activation Lock.

Deactivate Services and Log Out Manually

Erasing your ‌iPhone‌ deactivates Find My ‌iPhone‌ and logs you out of all your ‌iCloud‌ and iTunes accounts automatically – in theory. Occasionally we've heard cases of erased iOS devices still being linked to ‌Find My‌ ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iCloud‌ accounts.

itunes icloud
Whatever the truth of these reports, you can always make doubly sure this won't happen by deactivating and unlinking these services yourself. To learn how to turn off ‌Find My‌ ‌iPhone‌, click here. To sign out of ‌iCloud‌ and the iTunes and App Stores, launch the Settings app on your ‌iPhone‌, tap on your name to open your account settings, tap Sign Out at the bottom, then enter your ‌Apple ID‌ password and tap Turn Off.

How to Factory Reset Your iPhone

Now that you've backed up your ‌iPhone‌ and manually deactivated services and accounts, it's time to perform a factory reset of the device. These steps will guide you through the process.

Unlock your ‌iPhone‌ or iPad and launch the Settings app.
Tap General.
Scroll to the bottom and tap Reset.
Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Tap in your passcode if requested.
Enter your ‌Apple ID‌ password to erase the ‌iPhone‌ and remove it from your account.
Tap Erase.

Allow the reset process to continue – it shouldn't take any longer than a couple of minutes. Once it's completed, you'll see the iOS welcome screen on your ‌iPhone‌. That's your green light to trade it in.

Apple today released iOS 15.1.1, a minor update that comes almost a month after the launch of iOS 15.1. The iOS 15.1.1 update can be downloaded for free and the software is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, iOS 15.1.1 improves call drop performance...

Apple Releases watchOS 8.1.1 With Fix for Apple Watch Series 7 Charging Issue

Thursday November 18, 2021 10:14 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple today released watchOS 8.1.1, a minor update to the watchOS 8 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 8.1.1 comes three weeks after the launch of watchOS 8.1, an update that added SharePlay Fitness+ group workouts and other features. ‌‌watchOS ‌8.1.1 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update....

Apple Updates AirPods Pro Firmware to Version 4A402 and AirPods 3 Firmware to 4B66

Tuesday November 16, 2021 11:34 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple today released a new 4A402 firmware update for the AirPods Pro, which is up from the prior 4A400 firmware that was released back in October. Apple has also updated the AirPods 3 firmware to 4B66, up from the 4B61 that was previously available. Apple does not offer information on what's included in refreshed firmware updates for the AirPods‌, so we don't know what improvements or bug ...

Only a 'Small Fraction' of iPhone Users Will Use Self Service Repair Program, Study Suggests

Very few iPhone users will repair their own iPhone to postpone their next smartphone purchase, despite the Self Service Repair program, according to research by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP). Earlier this week, Apple announced the Self Service Repair program, giving customers who are comfortable with the idea of completing their own repairs access to Apple genuine parts,...

AAPL Stock Sets New All-Time High Following Latest Apple Car Rumors

Thursday November 18, 2021 10:13 am PST by Eric Slivka

Right on the heels of a fresh round of rumors about Apple's autonomous car project, Apple's stock price spiked to a new all-time high today, touching $157.87 per share before pulling back slightly. The previous all-time intraday high was set back on September 7 at $157.26, and Apple's stock is now up over 21% so far in 2021 and 33% over the past twelve months. Investors are no doubt...

Black Friday Spotlight: Target Offers $15 Gift Card With Purchase of $100 Apple Gift Card

We've been tracking early Black Friday deals in our dedicated Black Friday Roundup, and in an effort to prepare our readers for the big shopping event we're highlighting sales store-by-store in the lead-up to November 26. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Target. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running....

Apple Announces Self Service Repair Program, Starting With iPhone 12 and 13

Apple today announced the "Self Service Repair" program, allowing users to complete their own repairs via a new online store dedicated to parts and tools. The Self Service Repair program will give customers who are comfortable with the idea of completing their own repairs access to Apple genuine parts, tools, and manuals, starting with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups. The scheme will be...