Before selling or trading in your iPhone
Apple's steps, in order
- Back up your iPhone, then move your information to the new one. Apple says Quick Start does this automatically on iOS 11 or later. If your phone number will change, add another trusted phone number to your Apple Account first, so you don't lose access.
- Check Parts and Service History for a Finish Repair message. Apple says you must finish that repair before you can trade the iPhone in.
- Unpair your Apple Watch, if you have one paired.
- Sign out. On iOS 26 or later: Settings, tap your name, scroll down and tap Sign Out, then choose Erase this iPhone or Sign Out But Don't Erase. Choosing Erase this iPhone erases it as you sign out, so only do that once the new iPhone has everything. On iOS 18 or earlier, you enter your Apple Account password and tap Turn Off.
- Erase it. Go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, then Erase All Content and Settings. If it uses an eSIM and you're selling it, choose the option to erase the eSIM too. Apple says erasing also turns off Find My and Activation Lock.
- Remove it from your trusted devices.
If you're switching to a non-Apple phone, Apple says to deregister iMessage before you erase. Apple also says that with Stolen Device Protection on, signing out and erasing away from familiar places such as home need Face ID or Touch ID, and signing out can bring the one-hour security delay, so do this at home.
If you're trading in at an Apple Store, Apple says you might need your Apple Account password, so check you know it first. If Stolen Device Protection is on, changing your password at the store likely brings a one-hour security delay. On iOS 27 or later, Apple also describes a Ready for Repair or Trade In option in the Find My app for eligible trade-ins. When you request a trade-in, Apple tells you whether it applies, so follow the steps you're given.
What happens to your pictures
- Erasing removes them from the iPhone. Apple says it removes photos, contacts, music, apps and Apple Pay cards.
- Erasing doesn't delete them from iCloud. Apple says your content stays in iCloud when you erase the device.
- Deleting by hand does. Apple warns that while you're signed in to iCloud, manually deleting items removes them from iCloud's servers and all your connected devices. So erase, don't tidy up first.
- Anything stored only on the iPhone is gone, unless it was backed up or moved. Look through Photos, Files and any apps where you keep pictures.
Our advice: before you erase, open the new iPhone and check your pictures are there. Only then wipe the old one.
If you no longer have the iPhone
Apple says to ask the new owner to erase it. If it was lost or stolen, erase it in Find Devices on iCloud.com. Then remove it from your trusted devices, change your Apple Account password and turn on two-factor authentication. That doesn't remove what's on the old iPhone, but Apple says it stops the new owner from deleting your information from iCloud.
How FirstHour helps
Before you erase, Protect can point out pictures of cards, IDs and codes on your iPhone, so you know what's in your library. That matters mostly for the pictures you're about to copy to the new phone. It can miss things, and it doesn't check videos or your Hidden album.
The Vault is the part to be careful with. It lives only on your iPhone and is left out of iCloud and computer backups, so erasing the phone erases it. Make an encrypted backup from the Vault's menu, keep your recovery phrase on paper, and copy the backup file off the phone. Or save the pictures back to Photos first. We haven't confirmed whether Quick Start carries the Vault across, so don't count on it. Even if it did, your pattern or PIN works only with this iPhone's security chip, so on the new one you'd need your recovery phrase. FirstHour can't erase the iPhone or sign you out for you.
Questions
Is deleting the apps enough?
No. Apple's steps are to sign out and use Erase All Content and Settings. Deleting FirstHour removes the Vault with it, but not your pictures in Photos. Read this first.
Does a factory reset delete my iCloud photos?
No. Apple says your content doesn't delete from iCloud when you erase the device.
I'm selling to a stranger. Anything else?
Don't share more than the buyer needs. Here's what to share.
Sources
- What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad, Apple Support
- About Stolen Device Protection for iPhone, Apple Support
- How to use Ready for Repair or Trade In, Apple Support