iPhone Tips

Tips On How to Prepare iPhone for Sale

by Jenefey Aaron   Updated on 2019-11-30 / Update for  iPhone Tips

After several years of usage, your iPhone starts to look unattractive. Thus, you’ve decided to sell your device out and switch to an all-new smartphone or latest iPhone model. But, there are certain important things like backing up data and erasing out the existing content need to do before selling your iPhone. It’s done to make sure that nothing is left on your old device and your data is completely secure. Let’s get to learn what to do to prepare iPhone for sale.

The 1st Thing to Prepare Old iPhone for Sale: Backup Your iPhone Data

The first and foremost thing to do is backing up your device’s data. It’s crucial to have the latest backup version of your iPhone before erasing it. Following are three ways to backup your iPhone data and you can choose your preferred option.

1.1 Backup Data using iTunes

Before you start, make sure that you’re using the latest version of iTunes on your computer. Once ensuring, follow the below instructions to start backing up data using iTunes.

Step 1: Run iTunes and connect your iPhone to the computer with the help of a digital cable.

Step 2: Once iTunes detects your device, click on your device icon and move to the "Summary" panel.

Step 3: Here, click "Back Up Now" option.

backup with itunes

1.2 Backup Data using iCloud

With iTunes, your device data is backed up locally on your computer. On the other hand, iCloud backups your iPhone data on the cloud and it means that you can access the data anywhere and anytime with Wi-Fi connection. Most importantly, iCloud backups make easy to set up a new iPhone. So, follow the below steps to learn how to backup data using iCloud.

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network.

Step 2: Next, open "Settings" > "[Your Name]" > "iCloud".

Step 3: Now, click "iCloud backup" > "Back Up Now".

backup with icloud

1.3 Backup iPhone using Tenorshare iCareFone(Free and Selectively)

If you’re seeking a way to backup specific files only to your computer, then we recommend you to give Tenorshare iCareFone a try. Unlike iTunes, this tool lets you backup data selectively. Most importantly, it enables you to backup more than 20 types of file including photos, contacts, music, messages, WhatsApp, etc. Unlike iCloud, there is no need for a Wi-Fi network to backup your iPhone data and the entire process is completely free.

Follow the below steps to learn how to use iCareFone to backup iPhone data.

Step 1Run the iCareFone and connect your device to the computer. Next, click the "Backup & Restore" feature from the main interface.

choose backup and restore

Step 2There are two types of backup choices. Device Backup & Restore or WhatsApp Backup & Restore. Hence, if you’d like to backup WhatsApp data only, you can select the WhatsApp Backup & Restore directly. While if you want to backup other types of data, select the first backup option. It will let you to select the file type you would like to backup and hit on the "Backup" button.

Step 3In a while, your device data will be backed up to the computer.

backup completed

The 2nd Thing to Prepare Old iPhone for Sale: Prepare An iPhone for Sale: Sign Out Of iCloud, iMessage, and FaceTime

The next step on how to prepare iPhone for sale is to sign-out of iCloud, iMessages and FaceTime. It’s important to do before selling your old iPhone.

To Sign Out Of iCloud, go to "Settings" > "[Your Profile]>" Click Sign Out" > "Enter your Apple ID passcode and click "Turn off" in the popup.

sign out icloud

To Sign Out Of iMessage, go to "Settings" > "Messages" > "Send & Receive" > "Click on your Apple ID" > "Click Sign Out".

sign out imessage

To Sign Out Of FaceTime, go to "Settings" > "FaceTime" > "Click Apple ID" > "Click Sign Out".

The 3d Thing to Prepare iPhone XR for Sale: Sign Out of the iTunes/App Store

Before you sell iPhone 7 or iPhone X, don’t forget to sign-out of iTunes and App Store too. Otherwise, the buyer of your device can misuse your Apple ID. So, the best and right thing to do is simply sign-out of your iTunes/Apple Store.

Follow the below instructions to sign out of the iTunes & App Store:

Step 1: Open "Settings" app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Next, scroll down the screen to look for "iTunes & App Store" and click on it.

Step 3: Now, click "Apple ID" > "Sign Out".

sign out itunes and appstore

The 4th Thing to Prepare Old iPhone for Sale: Turn Off Find My iPhone

The next step is to remove your device from Find My iPhone. It’s a quite important thing to do when you’re no longer using your iPhone.

Follow the below steps to turn off Find My iPhone:

Step 1: Go to "Settings" > " [Your Name]" > "iCloud or "Settings" > "iCloud".

Step 2: Now, turn off "Find My [device]" and enter your Apple ID passcode, and click Turn off.

turn off find my iphone

5th to Disable All Passcodes/Screen Time Passcode

If you’ve set Screen Time passcode, then the next step is to disable it. A general reset on iPhone generally erases everything including passcodes, but for the safe side, it’s good to disable Screen Time passcode. Follow the steps to learn how to do.

Step 1: Go to the "Settings" > "Screen Time".

Step 2: Now, click "Change Screen Time Passcode" and then, click on "Turn off Screen Time Passcode".

Step 3: Finally, enter your passcode to disable it.

disable passcode

The 6th Thing to Prepare Old iPhone for Sale: Erase iPhone(Restore iPhone to Factory Resetting)

The most important step on how to prepare your iPhone for sale is restoring your device to its factory settings. This involves erasing all device data and settings. At this stage, your device already looks like it has been reset. Isn’t, it right? But, there are still Wi-Fi passwords stored and personal information, for instance, iPhone’s name, etc. And resetting your iPhone to factory settings will erase these data.

6.1 On iPhone

You can factory reset directly on your iPhone and just follow the below instructions.

Step 1: Go to "Settings" > "General" > "Reset".

Step 2: Now, click "Erase All Content and Settings".

Step 3: Finally, your device will reset, and turn off and reboot.

erase iphone

6.2 With ReiBoot with the Feature "Factory Reset iPhone"

If you’re facing trouble while factory resetting directly on your iPhone, then Tenorshare ReiBoot is an alternative way to factory reset iPhone. The "Factory Reset iPhone" feature makes it easy and simple for you to reset your device to factory settings without much trouble.

So, follow the below steps to learn how to use ReiBoot to factory reset iPhone.

Step 1 Run ReiBoot and connect your device to the computer. Now, tap "Factory Reset iPhone" feature from the right corner once the tool detects your device.

choose factory reset

Step 2Once you click "Fix Now" button, the tool will begin to download the appropriate firmware package to reset your device.

download-package

Step 3Once the download process completes, click "Start Repair" and the tool will start the factory reset process on your iPhone.

factor reset completes

The 7th Thing to Prepare Old iPhone for Sale: Unpair your Apple Watch

Before listing your iPhones for sale, don’t forget to unpair your Apple Watch so that you can pair it with your new or another iPhone with ease.

Step 1: Run the Watch App on your iPhone.

Step 2: Next, click "My Watch" at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3: Now, click your Watch and click the "Info" button (looks like an "I" with a circle around it)

Step 4: Click "Unpair Apple Watch" > "Unpair [Watch Name]" to confirm.

unpair watch

Step 5: Enter your Apple ID passcode when prompted and click "Unpair".

The 8th Thing to Prepare Old iPhone for Sale: Unpair your AirPods

The last thing to do is to unpair your AirPods from iPhone before selling your device. Follow the below steps to unpair your AirPods from iPhone.

Step 1: Run the "Settings" app.

Step 2: Click "Bluetooth" and click the "I" icon next to your AirPods in the list of connected devices.

Step 3: Now, click "Forget This Device" > "Forget Device" in the popup message for confirmation.

unpair airpods

The Bottom Line

That’s all on how to prepare iPhone XR for sale. Before selling your old iPhone, don’t forget to do the things mentioned in this guide to ensure the safety and security of your data. However, if you’ve any doubt, please feel free to ask us in the below comment section.