Selling an old phone: how to reset it safely

A phone that is no longer in daily use still has value, especially if it works as a baby monitor or pet camera. Before you sell it, you have to hand it over cleanly. That protects your data and saves the buyer trouble.

Back up first

Copy photos, contacts and messages to another device or to the cloud you use anyway. Check that everything has really arrived before you delete anything. A reset is final.

Sign out of accounts

This is the step that is forgotten most often. Sign the Google account (Android) or the Apple ID (iPhone) out of the device, along with manufacturer accounts such as Samsung or Xiaomi. If an account stays signed in, theft protection often kicks in after the reset and the buyer cannot get into the device. Then the phone is useless to them, and you have trouble.

Also sign the phone out of VintageCam if you used it as a camera there, and remove it from your devices under “Account”.

Remove the SIM and memory card

Take out the SIM card and any memory card. On phones with an eSIM, delete the profile in the settings beforehand.

Reset to factory settings

You find the function in the settings under “System” or “General”, depending on the manufacturer. Afterwards the phone starts like new with the welcome screen. Leave it there and do not set anything up.

Photos and description

Photograph the phone in daylight from the front, back and side, and show scratches openly. In the listing, write what is included, how the battery behaves and what the device is suited for. If you have taken the VintageCam test, the listing gets the badge. More in the article The “VintageCam tested” badge.

In the Marketplace you confirm when listing that the phone has been reset and signed out of all accounts. That is not a formality: if you have not done it, you should not list the phone yet.