Sell or Trade In Your Old iPhone Safely (Apple's Steps)

Before you sell, give away or trade in an iPhone, remove your data and your Apple Account so the next owner can use it and can't see your information. These are Apple's official steps.

1. Back up and transfer

Back up, then move your data to the new iPhone with Quick Start. Check that everything came over before erasing the old one.

2. Unpair your Apple Watch

Unpairing also backs up the watch.

Watch app › All Watches › info button › Unpair Apple Watch

3. Sign out

On iOS 26 and later, sign out and choose Erase this iPhone. On older versions, sign out and tap Turn Off.

Settings › your name › Sign Out

4. Erase everything

Enter your passcode, confirm, and erase the eSIM too when asked. This turns off Find My and Activation Lock.

Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings

5. Remove it from your account

Remove the old iPhone from your trusted devices, and cancel or transfer AppleCare if you have it.

appleid.apple.com › Devices

Sources

Apple Support: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone (support.apple.com/109511).

FAQ

Will a trade-in be refused?

Apple checks Parts and Service History. Finish any pending repair first or the trade-in may be refused.

I already gave the phone away without erasing it. What now?

Erase it remotely with Find Devices on iCloud.com, remove it from your trusted devices, change your Apple Account password and remove your Apple Pay cards.