Protect the data before polishing the phone
The most important preparation happens inside the device. Back up anything you want to keep, move authentication apps, and make sure you can sign into important accounts from another device before the phone is erased. A clean screen is useful. A recoverable bank login matters rather more.
Before the reset, make a short list of the services that still treat the phone as trusted. Check email, banking, password managers, cloud storage and workplace access. Once the handset is erased, sign in from another device and remove the old phone from those account dashboards.
Apple and Google publish model-specific reset guidance. Follow the manufacturer’s current sequence, particularly where activation locks and trusted device settings are involved. A quick deletion of photographs or messages does not prepare a handset for a new owner.
Check the backup rather than assuming it worked
Open several photographs, contacts and files from the backup. Confirm that messaging history, notes and voice recordings have copied if you need them. Some apps store information locally while others rely on a cloud account, so a single backup method may not cover everything.
Move authenticator apps and recovery codes before signing out. Check banking, email and password manager access on another device. Remove the old phone from any service that treats it as the only trusted way to approve a login.
Use this 12-point handover checklist
- Back up photographs, messages, contacts and files you need.
- Move authentication and recovery access before erasing the phone.
- Unpair wearables, headphones and connected car systems.
- Sign out of the main Apple or Google account.
- Disable tracking and activation locks using official guidance.
- Remove the SIM and any removable memory card.
- Factory reset only after checking the backup.
- Clean carefully with the handset switched off.
- Test the screen, cameras, speakers, buttons and charging port.
- Record the exact model, storage and network status.
- Photograph the phone and included accessories.
- Package it securely if delivery has been agreed.
Unpair connected devices properly
A smartwatch can remain tied to the phone or account even after the handset has been reset. Unpair it through the manufacturer’s recommended process and decide whether it is being included in the sale. If the watch is being sold separately, use the smartwatch quotation page and describe its model, size, battery behaviour, strap and charger.
Do the same for Bluetooth accessories and trusted vehicle connections. Removing a pairing from the phone is useful, but account dashboards may also hold a record of the device.
Describe condition with useful detail
‘Good condition’ means different things to different people. Say where scratches are, whether the back glass is cracked, whether the battery has a known issue and whether every camera, speaker and button works. Note repairs, replacement screens or unreliable charging. A direct description is easier to assess than a polished grade with no evidence.
Use the guide to describe condition consistently, then request a phone quotation with the model, storage and clear photographs.
Keep private identifiers private
Record the serial number or IMEI for your own files, but do not place the full number in a public advert. Keep the agreed payment and handover information. Never share a one-time security code with somebody claiming it is needed to send money or verify the handset.
Clean without causing new damage
Switch the phone off, remove the case and use a soft, dry or lightly dampened cloth suitable for the device. Do not push liquid into speakers or ports. Avoid sharp tools around the charging socket. If a case has trapped grit, clean the phone and case separately before taking condition photographs.