To sell tablet gear the right way, work through eight steps in order: back it up, sign out of your account, note the model, check the condition, erase it, get an offer, send it in, and wait for the final check. Your own prep takes roughly an hour to an hour and a half. The step that decides how smooth the sale goes is signing out of your Apple ID and turning off Find My. Sell Your Phone Here handles device buyback and trade-in for iPads across the US, and this playbook gives the time each step takes and the one most people get wrong.
What to have in hand before you start
Picture an iPad that has sat in a drawer for two years, with a flat battery, a forgotten passcode and no memory of which Apple account is on it. That tablet stalls the whole sale. Gather these items first and the rest goes smoothly.
- Your passcode, so you can open the iPad.
- Your Apple ID password, so you can sign out and turn off Find My.
- A charger, since the tablet needs power for the backup and the erase.
- A Wi-Fi connection for the backup and the offer form.
- Any accessories you plan to include, such as a pencil or a case.
If you cannot find the Apple ID password, recover it through Apple before you go further. Only you can sign the tablet out of your account.
The steps to sell a tablet, in order
Eight steps cover the whole job. Each one has a rough time and a reason it matters.
- Back up your data (10 to 30 minutes). Copy your photos and files to iCloud or a computer, because the erase in step 5 cannot be undone.
- Sign out of your Apple ID and turn off Find My (5 minutes). This removes the tablet from your account so the next owner can set it up.
- Write down the model and storage (2 minutes). Look in Settings, then General, then About, and note whether it is Wi-Fi only or has cellular, since the offer is based on model and condition.
- Check the condition honestly (10 minutes). Look over the screen, the back, the corners and the charging port, because each flaw you miss will show up in the final check.
- Erase all content and settings (10 to 20 minutes). Use Transfer or Reset iPad in Settings, so none of your data goes with the tablet.
- Get your offer online (5 minutes). Pick the model and condition on the offer form, so you know where you stand before you pack anything.
- Pack it or bring it in (10 minutes). Use a snug box with padding, or drop it at one of the four stores, so it arrives in the condition you described.
- Wait for the final check. Once the condition is confirmed, you are paid within 2 to 4 hours of delivery, so the amount matches what the tablet really is.
To see where your model fits before you start, open the tablet buyback page and pick it from the list.
Why signing out of your account trips people up
Most people assume erasing the tablet is the big step. In practice, signing out first is the one that matters, and it is the one people skip or rush. An iPad that was erased but never signed out can still be linked to you.
Here is how to tell if you got it right. Open Settings and look at the top of the screen. If your name and Apple ID still show, you are not signed out. Then open Find My on your phone or computer and check that the tablet is gone from your device list.
Stuck behind a passcode or an account you cannot reach? Read our guide on selling a locked iPad for the questions to ask first.
Not sure which model you own? Check your iPad model against what Settings shows before you ask for an offer.
What the clock looks like from backup to payout
Add up the steps above and your own prep lands at roughly an hour to an hour and a half. Most of that is waiting on the backup and the erase, not working.
- Backup and sign out: 15 to 35 minutes.
- Model check and condition check: about 12 minutes.
- Erase: 10 to 20 minutes.
- Offer form and packing: about 15 minutes.
Travel time in the mail depends on how you send it and where you live, so no post can promise one number for it. After the tablet is delivered and the final condition is confirmed, you are paid within 2 to 4 hours.
When a store visit beats doing it yourself
Do the steps yourself when the tablet turns on and you know the password. Hand it to a person at a store when the job gets harder than the list above.
- The screen is cracked and you cannot get through Settings.
- You are not sure the tablet is signed out.
- You would rather watch the condition check happen.
- You have several devices to sort at once.
The four stores are in Lancaster and Allentown, Pennsylvania, and in Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida. A stack of old iPads from an office or school is a different job again, so look at how to sell devices in bulk instead.
What Sell Your Phone Here does with your tablet
Say you live in Ohio with an old iPad Air and no store within a day's drive. You can still sell it, because you ship it in. The device buyback and trade-in service works the same for a seller anywhere in the US.
The offer comes online by model and condition, from the site's own price list. The tablets it buys are iPads, including Pro, Air, Mini and the iPad 5 to 11 range. These things move your offer:
- The model and the storage size.
- Wi-Fi only or cellular.
- Screen, body and corner condition.
- Whether the charger and accessories come with it.
The site also buys phones, so if one is in the same drawer you can sell your phone too.
Would you rather hand it over in person? See all store locations in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Tablet selling FAQ
How do you sell a tablet?
Back it up, sign out of your account, erase it, check its condition and get an offer by model. Then ship it in or bring it to a store.
What should I do before I sell my iPad?
Back up your data, sign out of your Apple ID and turn off Find My. Then erase the iPad so none of your data goes with it.
How do I dispose of my old tablet?
Erase it and sign out first, whatever you plan to do next. If it still works, selling it keeps it in use.
Do accessories change an iPad offer?
They can, so list what you are sending when you fill in the offer form. Say plainly what is included.
Where is the best place to sell a tablet?
Pick a seller that gives an offer by model and condition up front. Sell Your Phone Here does that online, and you can ship in from anywhere in the US or bring it to one of four stores.
When do I get paid after I send my tablet?
You are paid within 2 to 4 hours of delivery once the final condition is confirmed.
Is it worth selling an old tablet instead of keeping it?
If it powers on and still works, check its offer before it loses more value to age or damage. A drawer full of devices earns nothing.
Get your tablet offer
Once your tablet is backed up, signed out and erased, get an instant offer by choosing its model and condition.