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Before you sell, trade in or give away an old phone this Diwali, finish six things in order: back up and move your data, turn off account locks, erase the phone, remove the SIM and memory cards, expect the buyer or exchange service to inspect and possibly revise the value, and confirm the new phone works before you hand the old one over. Apple’s support guidance states the core principle: “Before selling, trading or giving the old device away, you can transfer information to your new device and remove personal information from your old device.” (Apple Support, trade-in and device-preparation guidance, checked October 2026.)
The six things to do first
1. Back up and move your data
Create a backup, and confirm it is usable, before you erase anything. Apple recommends transferring information to the new device before removing personal information from the old one. If you are moving to an Android phone from an iPhone, or the reverse, check that the photos, messages and app data you need actually appear on the new device before you continue. Once the old phone is erased, the only copy may be the one you made.
2. Turn off account locks
Account locks are the step most likely to stop a trade-in at the counter. On an iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, choose Find My, then Find My iPhone, and switch it off. Apple says erasing the device also turns off Find My and Activation Lock, so the erase step in item 3 handles the lock as long as it completes. Apple India notes that the courier collecting a device for trade-in may ask for the Apple ID and password to turn off Find My, so have them ready and make sure you remember them.
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On Android, sign out of your Google account before you erase. The trade-in instructions reviewed for this article say that failing to sign out can affect trade-in eligibility. Menu labels differ by manufacturer, but the account list is usually under Settings, then Passwords & accounts or Accounts.
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3. Erase the phone only after the backup is confirmed
Erasing removes local content and turns off the device’s linked services. Deleting a few files or photos is not the same thing, and a trade-in inspection will not treat it as one. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then Transfer or Reset iPhone, then Erase All Content and Settings. On many Android phones, the path is Settings, then System, then Reset options, then Erase all data (factory reset); the exact wording depends on the manufacturer.
4. Remove the SIM and memory cards; handle eSIM with your carrier
Remove any physical SIM with its ejector tool and take out any removable microSD card. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s consumer advice on disposing of phones gives the same general point: personal data can remain on cards that stay in the device. Removable memory cards are not erased by a phone factory reset, so take them out separately.
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An eSIM is handled differently because it is stored in the phone itself. Contact your carrier to transfer the service to the new phone or to suspend it. Apple’s guidance says that when the erase flow prompts you about the eSIM profile, you should erase it at that point. Do not skip this, or the old phone may still hold an active profile for your number.
5. Expect the value to be checked
An exchange quote is an estimate until the device has been inspected. The Google Store India terms for its exchange programme say the phone is physically and functionally evaluated and that the offered value can be revised. Google Store Help also says Cashify runs the India exchange programme and that the final exchange value follows that inspection. These terms describe the Google Store India flow only. They do not tell you how every retailer or buyback service in India will assess a phone, so read the terms of the service you actually use before you accept a quote.
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6. Confirm the new phone works before handover
Do not hand over the old phone until the replacement can reach your data and your phone service. Log in to the new phone, check that your number, messages and the apps you rely on are working, and have the account credentials for the old phone ready in case the inspection needs them. Google’s terms place responsibility for erasing data on the customer, so the erase step is yours to complete, not the store’s.
iPhone and Android side by side
| Task | iPhone | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Backup before erasing | Create a backup and transfer information to the new device before removing personal information (Apple Support). | Back up before erasing. The exact backup path varies by manufacturer and is not stated in the sources reviewed. |
| Account lock | Turn off Find My (Settings, your name, Find My). Erasing also turns off Find My and Activation Lock. | Sign out of the Google account before erasing. The trade-in guidance reviewed says failing to sign out can affect eligibility. |
| Erase | Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings. | Settings, System, Reset options, Erase all data (factory reset). Labels vary by manufacturer. |
| Physical SIM | Remove with the SIM ejector before handover. | Remove the SIM before handover. |
| Memory card | Not applicable; iPhones do not take a removable memory card. | Remove any microSD card separately, because a factory reset does not erase it. |
| eSIM | Erase the eSIM profile when the erase flow prompts you. Ask the carrier to transfer or suspend service. | Ask the carrier to transfer or suspend service. Erase-prompt behaviour is not stated in the sources reviewed. |
| Internet access at handover | Required for the Apple India trade-in flow, per Apple India. | Not stated in the sources reviewed. |
Choosing between a direct sale and an exchange
A direct sale and a retailer exchange or buyback both start with the same preparation, but they differ in how the final amount is set and how long the handover takes. Compare the following before you choose:
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- Final amount after inspection. Ask whether the quote can change after the device is checked, and what condition rules apply.
- Eligibility rules. Ask whether a locked, damaged or signed-in device is refused, and whether the offer then falls back to a lower value.
- Timing and handover. Find out whether the device is collected, posted or handed over in person, and how long the process takes.
- Requirements at handover. Check whether the device must be unlocked, signed out and connected to the internet during inspection.
No route is always the better one. The comparison above is a practical framework drawn from the trade-in procedures reviewed, not a claim that an exchange pays more than a sale.
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When something goes wrong
- The courier asks for an Apple ID password you no longer have. Recover the account through Apple’s account recovery before the handover. Find My cannot be turned off for the trade-in without that password.
- The exchange quote drops after inspection. Ask the service which condition or function failed. The Google Store India terms allow the value to be revised after the physical and functional check, so a lower final figure is not necessarily an error.
- The old phone still shows your number after handover. The eSIM profile may still be active. Contact the carrier to confirm that the profile has been transferred or suspended, and ask them to check the line.
- The new phone is missing messages or photos. Do not erase the old phone yet. Restore from the backup you made in item 1 and check the data on the new device before continuing.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
