Before you sell, give away or trade in your device, you should first transfer information to your new device, then, if applicable, remove your personal information from your old device.

You shouldn't manually delete your contacts, calendars, reminders, documents, photos or any other iCloud information while you're signed in to iCloud with your Apple ID. This would delete your content from the iCloud servers and any of your devices signed in to iCloud.

If you still have your old iPhone or iPad

Follow these steps to transfer information to your new device and, if applicable, remove your personal information from your old device.

Transfer information to your new device

If you have a new iPhone or iPad, you can use Quick Start to automatically transfer information from your old device to your new device if you’re using iOS 11 or later. Use iCloud, iTunes, or the Finder to transfer information to your new device if you're using iOS 10 or earlier.

If your phone number will change with your new device, add additional trusted phone numbers to your account to ensure you don’t lose access. If you no longer have access to your old phone number, you can generate a two-factor authentication code on your old device if needed.

If applicable, remove your personal information from your old device

1. If you’ve paired an Apple Watch with your iPhone, unpair your Apple Watch.

2. Back up your device.

3. If you’ve purchased an AppleCare plan for your device, cancel your AppleCare plan.

4. Sign out of iCloud and the iTunes & App Store.

   • If you’re using iOS 10.3 or later, tap Settings > [your name]. Scroll down and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off.

   • If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, tap Settings > iCloud > Sign Out. Tap Sign Out again, then tap Delete from My [device] and enter your Apple ID password. Then go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > Sign Out.

5. If you’re switching to a non-Apple phone, deregister iMessage.

6. If in-store trade-in is available in your country or region and you're trading in at an Apple Store, stop here, do not erase your device and visit your nearest Apple Store to pick up your new device. After a Specialist has completed your trade-in, they'll work through the remaining steps with you in the store. If you're completing your trade-in online, continue to step 7.

7. Go back to Settings and tap General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Erase All Content and Settings. If you turned on Find My [device], you may need to enter your Apple ID and password. If your device uses eSIM, choose the option to erase your device and the eSIM profile when asked.

8. If asked for your device passcode or Restrictions passcode, enter it. Then tap Erase [device].

9. Contact your carrier for help transferring service to a new owner. If you aren't using a SIM card with your device, you can contact them to get help transferring service to the new owner.

10. Remove your old device from your list of trusted devices.

If you no longer have your iPhone or iPad

If the steps above weren't completed and you no longer have your device, use these steps:

1. Ask the new owner to erase all content and settings following the above steps.

2. If you’re using iCloud and Find My [device] on the device, sign in to iCloud.com/find or the Find My app on another device, select the device, and click Erase. After the device has been erased, click Remove from Account.

3. If you can’t follow either of the above steps, change your Apple ID password. This won’t remove personal information that's stored on your old device, but it will prevent the new owner from deleting your information from iCloud.

4. If you’re switching to a non-Apple phone, de-register iMessage.

5. If you’re using Apple Pay, you can remove your credit or debit cards at iCloud.com. Choose Account Settings to see which devices are using Apple Pay, then click the device. Next to Apple Pay, click Remove.

6. Remove your old device from your list of trusted devices.

7. If you’ve purchased an AppleCare plan for your device, cancel your AppleCare plan.

If you're trading in an Android device to Apple

Before sending in an Android device to Apple as a trade-in, make sure you do the following:

• Back up your data.

• Erase the device.

• Remove any SIM cards, memory cards, cases and screen protectors.

Contact your device manufacturer if you need help.

Learn more

• Make a backup of your iPhone or iPad or restore from a backup.

• Remove all of your cards from Apple Pay.

• Get help if your iPhone or iPad is lost or has been stolen.

• Find out more about Activation Lock.

• No matter the model or condition, we can turn your device into something good for you and good for the planet. Find out how to trade in or recycle your iPhone or iPad with Apple Trade In.