How do I erase my iPhone to sell it? Do it in this order: back up, sign out of your Apple Account so Find My switches off, then open Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone and tap Erase All Content and Settings. The order matters. A phone still signed in to your account stays tied to you, and the next owner can't set it up until that tie is gone. Take the SIM card out last if the phone has one. Then you can ship it to Sell Your Phone Here from anywhere in the US.
Gather your Apple Account login and a charger
Your Apple Account password. That's the one thing that makes the whole job fail if it's missing, because both the sign-out and the erase ask for it.
You also want the phone plugged in, a steady Wi-Fi connection and enough room for the backup. If iCloud says it's full, back up to a computer instead and skip the upgrade. Keep the passcode handy too, since the erase asks for that.
Erase your iPhone to sell it: the steps in order
Here's the run, with the time each part takes.
- Back up the phone to iCloud or to a computer. This runs from a few minutes to most of an hour, and it's the only copy of your photos once the phone is wiped.
- Unpair your Apple Watch if one is paired. One minute, and the watch data goes into your backup.
- Open Settings, tap your name at the top and choose Sign Out. Give it a couple of minutes. This switches off Find My and Activation Lock, which is what lets someone else set the phone up.
- Go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone and tap Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode and confirm. The erase itself takes a few minutes.
- Pull out the SIM card if there's a tray. Ten seconds, and your number stays with you.
- Power the phone off and wipe it down. Leave it off until it ships.
The step people skip: signing out before the erase
Most people assume the erase handles the account on its own. Plenty go straight to Erase All Content and Settings and never confirm the account actually let go.
Check it two ways. Turn the phone on after the erase. You should see the language and country setup screen. If it asks for an Apple Account instead, the phone is still locked to you. Then open Find My on another Apple device, or sign in to iCloud.com and open Find Devices. The phone shouldn't be in that list anymore.
A phone that's still tied to your account is the one that gets stuck. For a slower walk through the whole hand-off, read our hand-off timeline for clearing an iPhone.
Phone already clean? You can sell your phone by picking the model and condition online.
Where the hour goes
The erase is quick. The backup eats the time.
A small phone with a few apps backs up fast. A phone full of video can take most of an hour, and a slow connection stretches it further. Everything else, the sign-out, the erase, the SIM and the setup-screen check, adds up to well under half an hour. Plan on an evening and you won't feel rushed.
Doing it yourself costs nothing, and it's a job most people finish without help. A professional only earns their place when the account or the screen blocks you.
When a store should do it for you
If you can't sign in, stop. Nobody can switch off Find My for you without your Apple Account login, including us.
Start with Apple's account recovery, then come back to the steps. A screen that won't take taps is a different case. You can still erase the phone from iCloud.com using Find Devices, which doesn't need the screen at all. And if you'd rather not do any of it alone, you can ship it in or drop it off and ask the team to point you to the next step.
What happens when the phone reaches Sell Your Phone Here
Sell Your Phone Here runs device buyback and trade-in for anyone in the US. You choose the model and condition online, then ship the phone in or bring it to one of four stores.
What the phone is worth moves with the model, storage, carrier lock, iCloud lock, battery health, accessories and condition. A clean, signed-out phone keeps that list short. Where you live matters less than you'd think: the process is the same in every state, and the stores are there if you'd like to hand it over in person. Payment arrives within 2 to 4 hours of delivery once the final condition is confirmed. You can sell an iPhone the same way whether it's brand new or years old.
Want to hand it over in person instead? Check all store locations and pick the closest one.
iPhone erase FAQ
Does erasing an iPhone really delete everything?
Yes. Erase All Content and Settings removes your data, accounts and settings and returns the phone to its setup screen. Back it up first, because the erase can't be undone.
Should I factory reset my iPhone before selling it?
Yes, after you sign out of your Apple Account. The reset clears your data, and the sign-out frees the phone from your account.
Should I delete everything off my iPhone before trading it in?
Don't delete photos and apps one at a time. Use Erase All Content and Settings, which clears all of it in one pass.
Do I need to take my SIM card out before I sell my iPhone?
Yes, if the phone has a SIM tray. Your number lives on that card, so keep it and put it in your next phone.
What if I forgot my Apple Account password?
Use Apple's account recovery to reset it before you do anything else. Without that password you can't turn off Find My.
Should I restore my backup before I send the phone in?
No. Leave the phone erased, on the setup screen, so none of your data is on it when it ships.
Send it in when it's clean
Once the phone is erased and signed out, get an instant offer by choosing the model, storage and condition. Ship it in or bring it to a store when you're ready.