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Apple’s support pages are a great resource for what to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your devices. We’ve consolidated their step-by-step instructions below:

  1. Back up your device to iCloud or iTunes
  2. Disconnect any devices
    1. Unpair your Apple Watch
    2. Tap Settings > Bluetooth
    3. Tap the blue ‘i’ next to the device
    4. Tap Forget This Device
    5. Repeat steps c & d until the device list is empty
  3. Disconnect any web applications that sync with your phone
    1. Turn off Find My iPhone
      1. Tap Settings > [your name] > iCloud
      2. Find Find My iPhone and tap the toggle to turn it off
      3. Enter your Apple ID password, if you are asked for it.
    2. Sign out of iCloud & iTunes
      1. Tap Settings > [your name]
      2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out
      3. If you’re using iOS 10.2 or later, you must separately sign out of iTunes
        1. Tap Settings > [your name] > iTunes & App Store
        2. Tap Apple ID: [your email/Apple ID]
        3. Tap Sign Out
        4. Enter your Apple ID password, if you are asked for it
    3. De-register iMessage
      1. Tap Settings > Messages
      2. Tap the toggle next to iMessage to turn it off
    4. Sign out of any file syncing applications (e.g., Dropbox, Box)
  4. Encrypt your data
    1. For Apple devices, encryption is already on by default.
    2. To verify encryption is on, tap Settings > Touch ID (or Face ID) & Passcode
    3. Scroll down to the bottom. In small print, it should say ‘Data protection is enabled’
  5. Delete your data
    1. Tap Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content & Settings
    2. Confirm that you want to erase everything, and enter your PIN or Apple ID password, if your are asked for it.

Macbooks & Mac computers

The steps to reset a Macbook are very similar to the steps above for iPhones and iPads. Apple has a very succinct article on what to do before you give away your Mac.