Do you like changing or upgrading iPhones regularly? If so, it makes sense to give your old one to a friend or family member or sell it off. You may also want to consider Apple’s trade-in program, which offers a competitive Apple trade in value for old devices. But before you go ahead, it is essential to follow some steps to ensure you are not unwittingly giving away your personal information in the hands of the next owner.
So here’s what you must do before saying goodbye to your phone
Remember To Back Up Your Phone
The data on your current device is valuable, so don’t lose it when you’re giving way or selling your phone. It’s essential to back up your phone to a computer or iCloud.
Before backing up your device, you can accelerate the process by deleting all unnecessary apps, photos, and documents. This will reduce the backup size and, therefore, reduce the time taken to complete the backup process.
Then, you can create an iCloud backup by going to the Settings app > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Get Started. If you are using the 5GB free iCloud plan or running out of space, you can temporarily back up your device for twenty-one days and restore it to the new one.
If you do not wish to use iCloud for the backup, you can use the iTunes software to back up your files, photos, and documents on your local computer.
To create a local backup on your Mac:
- Connect your phone to your Mac and open the iTunes software on the computer.
- Choose your iPhone under the Devices section.
- Right-click on the device and select Back Up.
If you have bought items that still need to be transferred to the computer, you can right-click on your phone and choose to transfer the purchases. This will initiate the transfer of the purchases before a backup is created.
Unpair Your Phone from Your Mac
Syncing your phone and Mac can make your life easier. But when you are handing your phone to someone else or selling it off, you need to learn how to unpair iPhone from MacBook.
Start by signing out of your Apple ID and iCloud. Do this by going to the Settings app on your phone > tap your name > tap Sign Out. When you are asked whether you want to keep a copy of your Keychain, contacts, and other data, keep them turned off because you do not need these on this iPhone.
You must also turn off Bluetooth to disconnect your phone from your Mac. Go to Settings > Bluetooth > Turn on the Bluetooth toggle on your phone. Here, you will see the devices you have connected to in the past. Disconnect them by tapping on the ‘i’ and then Disconnect.
It would be best to disconnect your phone from your Mac’s Finder.
Turn off Find My iPhone
Find My iPhone is an excellent feature that enables the Activation Lock on your phone. Unfortunately, if you do not turn this off and forcefully erase your phone, the next owner won’t be able to use it. So you need to disable the Activation Lock.
Go to Settings > tap your name > Find My > Find My iPhone > turn it off.
Unlock Your Carrier-Locked Phone
Is your phone locked to your carrier? If so, it is a good idea to unlock it so the new owner of the phone can use it with a carrier of their choice, especially if it’s an unlocked iPhone 11.
Moreover, unlocking the phone can increase its resale value.
Erase Everything from Your Phone
You must ensure there’s no data left behind on your phone when you are handing it over to your friend or selling it to someone new. However, before erasing everything on your phone, check that you have correctly backed up everything.
When ready to erase everything on your phone, go to Settings > tap General > tap Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Then, read the message on the screen and tap Continue. Finally, follow all the instructions that come up on the screen.
Besides these, you must remember to remove the eSIM if you use one. You need to contact your carrier or peruse their website’s eSIM section. Make sure there won’t be any difficulty setting up a new eSIM on your new iPhone. If your carrier asks you to remove the eSIM plan from your current iPhone, navigate to the Settings app> tap Cellular > tap the second plan > choose Remove Cellular Plan.
The Bottom Line
Apple always surprises users by introducing new and improved handsets with better features and upgrades. Therefore, it is not surprising you want to upgrade your iPhone regularly. However, before selling, trading in, or giving away your old phone, you must follow the instructions mentioned in this guide. This is how you get your phone ready to be given away, ensuring your data and personal information are safe.
