How to Wipe Your iPhone Before Selling It
By The BuyBackBear Team · Published June 1, 2026 · Updated June 1, 2026 · 5 min read
Before you sell or trade in an iPhone, you need to back it up and fully sign out, otherwise Activation Lock will leave the device useless to the buyer (and worth a good amount). Here's the exact, safe order.
Key takeaways
- •If you don't sign out of your Apple ID before erasing, Activation Lock stays on and the buyer can't activate the phone.
- •The correct order is back up your data, sign out of your Apple ID, remove your SIM or eSIM, then erase all content and settings.
- •Skipping the sign-out step is the number one reason trade-ins get rejected by buyers.
- •After erasing, you should see the Hello setup screen with no Apple ID prompt, if it asks for one, Activation Lock is still active.
- •When selling to a reputable buyer, they'll wipe the device again to data sanitization standards and provide a certificate of erasure.
1. Back up your data
Go to Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now, or back up to a computer. Confirm the backup completed before erasing.
2. Sign out (this is the critical step)
Go to Settings → [your name] → Sign Out. Signing out of your Apple ID turns off Find My and removes Activation Lock, which is what lets the next owner set the phone up. Skipping this is the #1 reason trade-ins get rejected.
3. Remove your SIM / eSIM
Eject the physical SIM, or for an eSIM go to Settings → Cellular and remove the plan (you may want to transfer it to your new phone first).
4. Erase the iPhone
Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings. When it finishes you should see the 'Hello' setup screen with no Apple ID prompt. If it asks for an Apple ID, Activation Lock is still on, sign back in, sign out properly, and erase again.
What BuyBackBear does next
When your iPhone arrives we wipe it again to the NIST 800-88 standard and email you a free Certificate of Data Erasure, so you have proof your data is gone.
Ready to sell?
Get an instant quote and a free prepaid label.
Selling your device here, at a glance
Get my instant quote →- Instant quote in about 30 seconds, price locked while you decide
- Cash by PayPal, Zelle, Venmo or check after inspection, no fees
- Free prepaid label both ways, free return shipping if you decline
- We beat any competitor's written quote by $2
- Cracked screen, broken or won't power on? Still worth real money
- Certified NIST 800-88 data wipe with an emailed certificate
- Trade-in value paid in cash, not a 24-36 month carrier bill credit
- Every model priced: unlocked or carrier-locked, any storage size