Save all iPhones before selling. Preparing an iPhone for sale: how to clear all personal data

Currently, smartphones and tablets contain a lot of personal information - financial data, photos and videos, personal correspondence, passwords for Internet services, applications and digital documents. Therefore, before you sell your device, you need to erase all content from your iPhone and iPad.

In preparation for sale or transfer mobile device another user may want to delete all or some files. However, you should first back up your content and disable some features and services. We recommend that you complete all the necessary steps in the order below.

If you still have an iPhone or iPad

Before you give your gadget to another user, make sure that you have deleted all personal data from it. To protect your content and restore your device to factory condition before handing it over to a new owner, follow the steps below.

Create a backup. To do this, open iTunes and connect your gadget to your computer and click on its icon in the upper left corner. Scroll down and click "Create a copy now."

Depending on the amount of data stored on the device, creating a backup may take up to 10 minutes. It will contain all your files and personal information currently on your mobile device. After purchasing a new device, you will need to do the same sequence of actions on it, but use the “Restore from copy” button.

Disable Apple services. To avoid SMS delivery issues, you need to sign out of iMessage. To disable iMessage, go to Settings -> Messages and move the “iMessage” toggle switch to the “Off” position. It is also recommended to disable the FaceTime service in Settings -> FaceTime.

Sign out of iCloud. Your account may store a large amount of personal information, including photographs, documents, and mail. To delete all iCloud data from your gadget and disconnect from your account, you need to go to Settings, select the iCloud tab and click the “Sign Out” button. This way you will delete all personal information, but at the same time it will be stored in remote storage and will become available again after entering account parameters on a new device.

Erase the contents of your device. To delete content from iPhone and iPad, select Settings –> General –> Reset, and then select “Erase content and settings”. The operating system will warn you: “Are you sure you want to continue? All media files, data and settings will be erased. This action is irreversible." This will remove all data from your device, including photos, contacts, music, apps, and credit and debit cards added to Apple Pay. All services will be disabled. When you delete data from your device, its contents will not be deleted from iCloud storage.

After turn on iPhone or the iPad will ask the new owner to perform activation, as on a new device after purchase.

If you no longer have an iPhone or iPad

If you have not completed the instructions above before selling or giving your device to another person, please follow the steps below.

Ask the new owner of your iPhone or iPad to erase all content and settings as described above. If you use iCloud and Find My iPhone is turned on, you can erase your data remotely and remove the device from your account. To do this, go to icloud.com/find, select your gadget and click the “Erase” button. After deleting the data, click the “Remove from account” button. After you delete content, you must wait 24 hours before you can activate iMessage on your new device.

If you can't complete the suggested steps, change your account password Apple records ID. Changing your password does not delete any personal data stored on your device, but it does make it impossible to delete information from your device. iCloud new owner.

If you use Apple Pay, you can also delete your credit or debit card information on iCloud.com. To do this, tap Settings to view iPhones that use Apple Pay, then select the device and tap the Remove button next to Apple Pay.

Any gadget needs to be cleared of unnecessary information from time to time. It is recommended to pay special attention to the process before selling devices. Otherwise New user takes over someone else's data. The article will tell you how to completely clean an iPhone 4 before selling it. What instructions are recommended to use to bring your idea to life?

Before the process

First of all, it is important to understand that the device must have a "non-verlock" status. It indicates that the iPhone has never been unlocked. This means that after all the described actions, the gadget will work normally with communication.

After formatting, it turns into the most ordinary gaming gadget - it stops catching the network and the Internet. If the status of the device is unknown, then the user performs all actions at random. It is impossible to say exactly how the process will turn out.

Via phone

How to clean an iPhone 4 completely before selling it? The first way is to work with a mobile device. The most common scenario. Deleting data from iPhone without additional applications is the simplest action.

Just a few clicks and the task will be completed. How to clean an iPhone 4 completely before selling it? You need to follow the instructions:

1. Turn on your mobile device and wait for it to load.
2. Go to the "Settings" menu item. There you need to visit “Basic” - “Reset”.
3. Select "Erase content and settings".
4. Confirm your intentions several times. To do this, select the "Delete" button.
5. Enter your Apple ID code. This step cannot be skipped. It appears if Find My iPhone is enabled in iCloud.

Once all the described steps are completed, the smartphone will reboot. After this, the information will be erased. It is important to ensure that the gadget has enough battery power. To format, you need to leave about 25% of the battery.

iTunes to the rescue

How to clean an iPhone 4 completely before selling it through iTunes? It's not that difficult to do. Perhaps, bringing your idea to life is as easy as when working with a mobile phone.

How to format an iPhone? Necessary:

1. Download and install the current one on your computer iTunes version for this or that operating system mobile device.
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC using a USB cable.
3. Launch iTunes. Wait until the connected device is detected by the operating system.
4. Select the "Browse" tab in the smartphone menu.
5. Click on "Restore...".
6. Select the desired item. The firmware will have to be prepared in advance.

From now on, it’s clear how to completely clean an iPhone 4 before selling it through a computer. As a rule, the subscriber himself chooses which formatting method to choose. In fact, everything is simpler than it seems.

Remote formatting

The following advice is perfect for those who decide to act from a distance. In some cases, you have to think about how to clean an iPhone 4 completely before selling it remotely. Is it even possible to do this?

The answer is simple: yes, every iPhone owner is able to format their gadget remotely. To do this, you just need to be connected to iCloud. This service allows you to bring your idea to life without much difficulty! It is advisable to work with the data cloud via a computer.

Formatting via iCloud will proceed as follows:

1. Open the icloud.com page in any browser on your computer.
2. Log in to the service.
3. Launch the Find My iPhone application.
4. Click on the "All devices" button. Select the desired gadget from the list that appears.
5. Click on the "Erase iPhone" button. The message will appear on the right side of the display.
6. Click on "Erase".
7. Re-enter your Apple ID information. All you need is your account password. This step is needed to ensure that the actions are performed by the owner of the smartphone.
8. To complete the operation, click on “Next” and then on “Finish”.

How to clean iPhone 4 completely before selling it remotely? Answering this question will no longer be a hassle. The proposed technique works even when the smartphone is turned off.

After formatting

What's next? After the subscriber formats the smartphone’s memory, he will be asked to either restore the data or start working with a new account. The first option involves returning information for a particular date. It is suitable only when the smartphone is not planned to be sold. Otherwise, you need to stop at the second sentence. It allows you to perform a 100% reset of user data.

Now it’s clear how to completely clean an iPhone 4 before selling it. If you forgot your password, you must restore factory settings using iTunes. Otherwise, you can act as is convenient for the subscriber. Most often, working with iCloud or a mobile device is used in practice. Once the option is selected full reset data, it will no longer be possible to get it back.

The high reliability of the iPhone leads to the fact that its owner thinks about purchasing a new model faster than the device breaks down. Old smartphone in this case it is transferred to another family member or sent for sale. In any case, before you finally part with your old phone, you need to delete personal data from it and disable the binding to the Apple ID. Let's figure out how to clean an iPhone before selling it and save the information accumulated on it for later recovery.

If you've never done backups before, now is the time. Having a backup allows you not to set up a new iPhone from scratch, but to transfer data from the previous one to it. Thus, the user saves time and immediately receives the familiar set of applications.

Local copy

Any PC or Mac can be used to create a local copy of the data. Installed on your computer iTunes program must first be updated to the latest current version.

1. We connect the iPhone using the original one USB cable. Having opened iTunes in the main window, click on the icon with a stylized image of a mobile device. In the drop-down menu, select the smartphone for which the copy is being created.

1. Place a check mark in the place marked with the number “1”. To include the accounts and passwords saved on the device in the backup, we additionally activate data encryption.

1. Set a password to access the backup copy.

1. Confirm your desire to enable local encryption. If necessary, re-enter the previously set password.

1. We are waiting for the copying to complete. The execution progress is displayed in a small window with a “Stop” button, which allows you to interrupt the procedure at any time.

Copy to iCloud

Creating a “cloud” copy of the device in iCloud is performed directly on the smartphone. The iPhone must be connected to Wi-Fi networks. Accordingly, the time required to complete the backup will depend on the speed of the wireless connection.

1. Open the smartphone settings. On home page select the area with the owner’s avatar. Starting with iOS 10, it contains all the parameters related to Apple ID and other Apple services.

1. Select the iCloud icon from the list. Open cloud storage management options.

1. Scroll through the list of programs that are allowed access to iCloud. At the end of the list we see the item “ Backup copy».

1. We move the switch marked with an arrow to the active position. The next step is to click on the interactive link to start creating an immediate backup.

1. We are waiting for the operation to complete. The progress is shown in the standard iOS form. The button pressed in the previous step changes the assignment and allows you to interrupt the copying process.

Disabling services

Throughout the entire period using iPhone the user deals with various branded services. Created in the moment Apple activation ID we use it to purchase content or install applications from App Store. It is also used to link existing Apple gadgets into one ecosystem. For this reason, the next step in pre-sale preparation is to disable services.

Logging out of the Apple ID account to which the device is linked is the main condition for correctly preparing the smartphone for sale.

1. We return to the main settings page again. Click on the marked item to open control options account.

1. Scroll the image on the screen down to the end. We need the very last item, located under the list of linked devices. Click the “Exit” button.

1. Enter your account password to disable Find My iPhone. Click the button marked in the screenshot to confirm your decision.

Apple mobile devices have their own iMessage messenger. Its peculiarity is that messaging is possible only between Apple devices. When changing iPhone 4, 5 or 6 to a newer SE, 7, 8 or X, you don’t have to turn it off. If you decide to switch to Android, this is a must. Otherwise, various failures may occur when sending SMS.

1. Having opened the settings, go down to the main services section. Select the item marked in the screenshot.

1. Turn the switch indicated by the frame to the off position.

Cleaning your device

As a result of preliminary preparation, we created a backup copy of the smartphone and disabled service services. Now the iPhone can be “zeroed” or, in other words, reset to factory settings.

Reset data on iPhone

After the operations described above are completed, we begin cleaning the personal information contained on the device.

1. In the smartphone settings we find the “Basic” section.

1. Having opened it, scroll through all the parameters to the end of the page. We need the penultimate item on the list.

1. Select the option marked in the screenshot to delete settings and content.

1. Clicking on the designated button will cause all information contained on it to be completely deleted from the device. After the reboot, a welcome message will appear on the screen and a prompt to select a language and region. You can turn off the smartphone and, after wiping the surface, wait for a potential buyer.

Erase using iTunes

You can also clean your iPhone before selling it using iTunes.

1. Having completed backup and disabling services, select the option marked in the screenshot.

Remote wipe

The last option may be useful to the most inattentive users who forgot to sign out of Apple ID before handing over the device to someone else. To be able to take advantage remote control Find My iPhone must be enabled on your device.

1. Get remote access can be done on the iCloud website or from any other Apple device directly connected to the user’s Apple ID or having family access to it. After the geolocations of active devices are determined, select your phone on the left side of the screen. A control panel will appear at the bottom. Click on the button indicated by the arrow.

1. As a result, the control panel should display available actions. Select the right button, indicated by a frame.

1. In the pop-up window, click the “Erase” button. As a result, all data on the smartphone will be deleted remotely, and the smartphone itself will disappear from the list of those associated with the account. You can restore them to another iPhone, provided that you previously performed a local or cloud backup.

Finally

The decision to sell a smartphone does not come suddenly, and therefore there is always time for pre-sale preparation. Completing the described steps will allow you to save the necessary data, and the new owner will be able to fully use the device by linking it to his Apple ID.

Video instruction

The overview video below will allow you to become more familiar with the sequence of operations performed and can be used as a visual aid.

You have decided to purchase new model gadget from Apple, but sell the old device or give it to another person for use? To do this, you need to properly prepare it: delete personal information, save and protect your data from use by third parties.

Saving personal data from an iOS device

To avoid regrets when your contacts, personal photos or important documents disappear without a trace, make a backup copy of all contents of the device before wiping your device for sale. There are 4 ways to do this, which are described below.

iCloud

1. Connect your device to Wi-Fi and charge it.
2. Next, open Settings, select iCloud - Backup and activate this feature.
3. In the Start Copying to iCloud window that appears, click OK.

   Confirm the start of the copying process with the "OK" button

4. Confirm your Apple ID password.
5. Click the "Create Backup" button.

iTunes

To use iTunes to copy your data, follow the instructions:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using USB.
2. Launch iTunes on your computer.
3. Select your iPhone from the list of connected devices.
4. Click "Create a copy now."

Mac FoneTrans

You can also use Mac app FoneTrans:

1. Connect your device to your computer using USB.
2. Open the Mac FoneTrans application on your computer.
3. From the main menu, select To Folder.
4. In the Output Folder field, specify the required folder to save the copy.

   Select a location to save your backup files on your PC

5. Click on the Start button and wait for the process to complete.

iMazing

You can also create a copy of your files from your iOS device through iMazing:

To reduce the chance of losing or corrupting data from your device, save it using several of the methods described above.

Cleaning your iOS device

Cleaning an iOS device can occur in two scenarios. In the first, the device is still in your possession and you can perform certain manipulations with it; in the second, the device has already been sold or lost and you do not have access to it.

If you have access to the device

Before selling your device, it is important to erase all data on it so that no one can view or use your content later.

If you still have the device, you need to follow these steps to clean it:

• if necessary, break the pair between your device and Apple watch Watch;
• create a backup copy (the creation methods are given above);
• exit iTunes and App Store;
• delete iCloud data;
• delete all data from the device.

To sign out of iTunes and the App Store, in your device settings, select: iTunes Store / App Store - Apple ID - “Sign Out”.

To remove data stored in iCloud from your device, do the following:

To delete all data from your device, you need to follow these steps:

Video: how to delete data from an iOS device before selling it

If you don't have access to the device

Even if you've already sold or given away your device without first wiping it, you can delete all content and personal information remotely. To do this, follow these steps:

1. If your device uses Find My iPhone and iCloud, go to the Find My iPhone website or app on another device.
2. Select the required (your) device and click “Erase”.
3. After that, click “Remove from account.”

If you are unable to delete information using the described method, block the ability to view your content on your device. To do this, change your Apple ID password. The data on the device will not be deleted, but the new owner will not be able to view or use your information and content.

On the iCloud website, you can also delete debit or credit cards, which were used for Apple Pay.

Before you give away or sell your iOS device, make sure you remove all sensitive information from it. This is quite easy to do. Also, don’t forget to back up your content so you don’t regret losing it later. important information or your favorite photos and videos. Good luck!

This step simply needs to be done before advertising for sale. The reason is very simple: with the help of a backup, you can transfer absolutely all the data from your old iPhone to, starting with contacts, mail, notes, applications and ending with the location of icons on the desktop.

First, save a local backup. To do this, connect the iPhone to the computer, open it in “Devices” and in the “Backups” section select “This computer”. Next, click on the “Create a copy now” button and wait for the backup process to complete.

Now you need to save the backup to iCloud. Directly on the iPhone go to “Settings” → iCloud → “Backup”. Here we need to turn on the “Backup to iCloud” toggle switch and click the “Create a backup” button.

Step 2. Remove the SIM card

The most obvious and banal advice when selling a phone, which is nevertheless neglected by some users. Losing your number and other hassles associated with paying bills is not something anyone wants, so be sure to remove your SIM card before handing it over iPhone new to the owner.

If you are the owner of a CDMA version, it will be a little more difficult for you: you will have to visit the nearest communication store of your operator to unlink your number from your old iPhone.

Step 3. Delete all data and reset settings

Last on the list, but not least important. The iPhone has taken over many of the responsibilities that other devices used to perform. Contacts, mail, SMS, notes, calendars, reminders, photos, payment information - all this is confidential information not intended for prying eyes. This means that it should be removed before your iPhone falls into the wrong hands.

Open “Settings” → “General” → “Reset” and click “Erase content and settings.” The removal process will begin, after which your iPhone will be as good as new. All that remains is to turn off the iPhone and provide its initial setup to the new owner.