Everything You Should Do Before Selling Your Phone

If you’re due an upgrade on your phone or have a handful of old mobiles sitting in a drawer gathering dust, selling your old handsets to a phone recycling company like Mazuma is a great way to get cash for your old tech.

Before you do, though, there are a few things to carry out to get your phone ready for sale. Whether you’ve got iPhone or an Android you’re selling, handing down or donating to someone, it’s important to take the following steps to protect your privacy, preserve data stored on the device and speed up the selling process.

Back Up Your Data

Photos, videos, messages, passwords, game save files, calendars, bookmarked websites, credit card details; the list of things stored on your phone is long. If you’re thinking of selling your device, you’ll want to make sure all this data is backed up, either to your iCloud account if you’ve got an iPhone or your Google account if you’re using an Android. This way, even after you trade in your phone, you’ll be able to transfer all your existing data to your new device easily.

To back up your data on an iPhone, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup

To back up your data on an Android phone, go to Settings > Accounts > Google > Select correct Google account > Select everything you want to sync with the Google account. It’s also possible to back up your Wi-Fi passwords, and other settings by navigating through Settings > Backup & Reset > Device Back Up > Back up to Google Drive.

smart phone screen loading

Remove Your Accounts From the Device

Once you’ve backed up all your data, it’s time to remove your cloud accounts from your device. We have a guide that details how to wipe an iPhone, but regardless of what kind of device you have, removing access to your cloud accounts is essential. Doing this makes sure your data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands and speeds up the process of selling a device to a company like Mazuma, as we’ll be able to test the phone without it being cloud-locked.

Locked devices are great when you’re actually using the phone, providing you with another level of security and protecting your personal information. But for recycling companies trying to test the phone for functionality, it massively slows down the valuation process and will devalue the device until the lock is removed. So regardless of whether you have an iCloud, Samsung Cloud or a Google Account attached to your phone, remove them before passing the phone over to the buyer.

If you’re selling your phone to us at Mazuma Mobile, you can also use our data delete tool for easy to follow instructions on removing all your personal information from your phone, no matter what model you have.

It’s also a great idea to unlock your phone from its current network if you’re selling to a mobile recycling company like Mazuma. You’ll get more cash for an unlocked device.

woman using smart phone

Factory Reset the Device

Factory resetting your device will completely wipe all traces of your usage from the handset and should only be performed once you’re sure you’ve got all the data you need. Once you complete a factory reset, retrieving data from the phone that hasn’t been synced with your cloud accounts becomes near impossible, so only do it once you’re ready to sell the device.

To factory reset your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

To factory reset your android device, go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset > Delete All.

Remove Memory Cards, the SIM Card and Accessories

Once you’ve wiped your device, it’s time to remove any micro SD cards to expand the internal storage, and your SIM card. You can use the SIM card tool that came with your phone, or if you don’t have it to hand, something thin and pointy like a paperclip will do.

You should also remove any accessories attached to the phone. This includes screen protectors, phone cases, pop sockets, car mounts, and anything else you’ve used to make your phone unique to you.

It’s a good idea to make sure your phone is in the best possible condition it can be before selling it. Take some time to clean any grime, screen protector residue and fingerprints from the device. It’s best to use a microfibre cloth for this.

sim card from smart phone

Note the Phone’s Condition and IMEI Number

You’re almost there! Before you pack up your phone to be posted to a phone recycling company, make a note of your IMEI number. This is a unique 15 digit number used to identify your device. Making a note of this number means your phone can be easily located if anything goes wrong.

You can find either an Android or iPhone IMEI by dialling *#06#, and the number will be displayed on the screen.

You can also take photos of your device before sending it off for your own peace of mind regarding the cosmetic condition of the device. When you trade in your device with Mazuma, we guarantee to assess the phone thoroughly and fairly. If we feel it doesn’t mean the condition we originally quoted for, we’ll send the handset back to you, no questions asked.

If you’ve followed all the steps, your phone is now ready to sell! Whether you’re selling a mobile to us here at Mazuma or passing it down to a family member or friend, you can rest assured that all your personal data has been erased from the device, and it’s in the best possible condition for its new life. To find out how much you could get for your old phone with Mazuma, check out our ‘sell my mobile‘ page. Or more specifically, you can visit our very popular ‘sell my iPhone‘ or ‘sell my Samsung‘ pages to find your phone’s model and value.

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