How to Prepare Your iPhone for Sale (Erase, Sign Out, Activation Lock)

Selling or giving away an iPhone fails in two predictable ways: your personal data stays on the device, or the buyer can’t get past Activation Lock because your Apple Account is still attached. Both are prevented by doing a short list of steps in the right order. This guide covers the whole handoff, including the eSIM details that trip up most sellers.

Why the Order Matters

Activation Lock is Apple’s anti-theft feature. It ties the iPhone to your Apple Account whenever Find My is on, and even a factory reset won’t remove it if you don’t sign out first. A locked device is worthless to its new owner, so every step below exists to make sure the phone arrives clean, backed up on your side, and activatable on theirs.

Step 1: Back Up Everything

The erase in Step 5 is unrecoverable, so start with a current backup:

1. iCloud: Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now, then confirm the timestamp after it finishes
2. Computer (recommended for a full copy): connect the iPhone, open Finder or iTunes, select the device, and click Back Up Now. Enable Encrypt local backup so passwords and health data are included

Full instructions are in our backup guide. If you’re migrating to a new iPhone, transfer your data during its setup instead of after.

Step 2: Unpair Accessories and Clear Wallet

• Apple Watch: unpair it from the iPhone before erasing (Watch app > All Watches > unpair). Unpairing automatically backs up the watch
• Apple Wallet: remove any cards, passes, and keys. Wallet items are also removed by the erase in Step 5, but removing them first avoids surprises

Step 3: Sign Out of Your Apple Account

This is the critical step: signing out turns off Find My and clears Activation Lock.

1. Open Settings, then tap [Your Name] at the top
2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out
3. On iOS 26 and later, choose Erase This iPhone (you’re wiping it anyway) or Sign Out But Don’t Erase; if asked which account to sign out of, choose Sign out of iCloud and Store
4. On iOS 18 and earlier, enter your Apple Account password and tap Turn Off, choosing what data to keep on the device (turn everything off for a sale)

If you’ve forgotten your Apple Account password, reset it at iforgot.apple.com before continuing. You cannot complete this step without it.

Step 4: Handle the SIM and eSIM

• Physical SIM: eject the tray with a SIM tool and remove the card before handing the device over
• eSIM: transfer it to your new iPhone (Settings > Cellular > your plan > Transfer eSIM) or delete it (Settings > Cellular > your plan > Delete eSIM). During the erase in Step 5, iOS also asks whether to erase the eSIM profile; choose to erase it for a sale
• Note: all iPhones sold in the US since the iPhone 14 are eSIM-only, with no physical SIM tray at all

If your number should move to a new device, complete the transfer before erasing, so you don’t lose service access.

Step 5: Erase All Content and Settings

1. Make sure the iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular; clearing Activation Lock requires reaching Apple’s servers
2. Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
3. Tap Erase All Content and Settings, then tap Continue
4. Enter your device passcode, then your Apple Account password if prompted
5. When asked about the eSIM, choose to erase it (for a sale)
6. Tap Erase iPhone and let it finish; this usually takes 5 to 15 minutes

The erase removes photos, messages, app data, settings, Apple Pay cards, and all accounts, then returns the device to factory state. Erasing with Find My still on is recoverable on current iOS: the erase asks for your Apple Account password and clears Activation Lock as part of the wipe, as long as the phone is online. Signing out in Step 3 first is still the cleaner path.

Step 6: Verify the Handoff State

When the erase finishes, the Hello setup screen appears. Before handing the device over:

• The screen shows Hello in multiple languages, with no Apple Account prompt and none of your name
• If any screen asks for your Apple Account or shows your information, the sign-out didn’t complete; go back to Step 3

If You Already Handed the Device Over

Forgot a step? The lock can be cleared remotely:

1. Sign in at account.apple.com (or iCloud.com) from another device
2. Open the Devices section (or Find Devices), select the iPhone, and choose to remove it from your account
3. If needed, erase it remotely through Find Devices; the next time the buyer’s device reaches Apple’s servers, the lock clears

The buyer can also reach Activation Lock at setup; removing the device from your account on the web clears it for them without sharing your password.

For Buyers: Check Before You Pay

If you’re on the other side of the deal, verify before handing over money:

1. The device should show the Hello screen, not an Apple Account sign-in prompt
2. Check Settings > General > About for the model and IMEI, and confirm the model number matches the listing using our model lookup pages
3. A device stuck on Activation Lock needs the original owner to remove it remotely; there is no legitimate way around it

Quick Recap

1. Back up (iCloud and computer)
2. Unpair the Watch, clear Wallet
3. Sign out of your Apple Account (clears Find My and Activation Lock)
4. Transfer or erase the SIM/eSIM
5. Erase All Content and Settings, connected to the internet
6. Hand over only from the Hello screen

For a refresher on what erase actually does to your data compared with resets and restarts, see restart, reset, and restore explained.