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