“No one can use it” can mean two different things: erasing your personal data while leaving the phone reusable, or physically making the handset and its storage unusable. For a working phone you plan to sell, donate, trade in, or recycle, back up your data, remove your accounts, and use the manufacturer’s current erase procedure. If the phone itself must be destroyed, use a qualified electronics-destruction provider rather than attempting physical destruction at home.
Choose the outcome you actually need
| Goal | Appropriate action | Does the phone remain usable? |
|---|---|---|
| Remove local personal data before transfer or recycling | Manufacturer factory-reset or erase procedure | Usually |
| Obtain stronger sanitization | Ask the manufacturer whether the device supports a documented purge or cryptographic erase | Possibly |
| Make the handset and storage physically unusable | Use a qualified, controlled electronics-destruction facility | No |
These outcomes are not interchangeable. NIST defines media sanitization as a process that makes access to target data infeasible for a given level of effort. Its current guidance is SP 800-88 Rev. 2, published in September 2025. The older Rev. 1 mobile-device appendix was superseded when Rev. 2 was published, although its device-specific discussion remains useful historical context.
Before erasing a working phone
- Back up what you need. Confirm that photos, contacts, messages, authenticator data, and other required information have copied successfully.
- Check cloud accounts separately. Erasing the handset does not automatically delete data held in iCloud, a Google Account, or other online backups.
- End service and remove removable media. Cancel or transfer cellular service as appropriate, and remove the SIM card and any microSD card.
- Follow the exact model and operating-system instructions. Menus and account protections vary by manufacturer and software version.
Erase an iPhone for transfer or recycling
Apple’s supported process is designed to remove local content and prepare the device for another user. After backing up, sign out as directed by Apple, then open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Review the prompts for your Apple Account, passcode, and eSIM.
- The erase removes content stored on the iPhone and removes payment cards from the device.
- It turns off Find My and Activation Lock when completed correctly, allowing a new owner to activate the phone.
- If asked about the eSIM, choose whether to erase the cellular plan based on whether the line is being transferred or retained.
- Apple states that erasing the device does not delete content from iCloud.
When practical, let the process finish until the phone displays the initial setup screen. That confirms the normal user-facing erase flow completed, but it is not by itself proof of a particular underlying storage-sanitization method.
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Erase an Android phone for transfer or recycling
Google’s Android guidance says a factory reset removes data from the phone, while exact steps vary by manufacturer and model. Use the Settings app’s factory-reset option where available and follow the device maker’s instructions for the precise model.
- Verify that your information has copied successfully to your new device or backup.
- Open the manufacturer’s Settings path for Factory reset, Erase all data, or equivalent wording.
- Read the confirmation screen carefully; a reset can take time and may require your screen lock.
- After completion, check for the initial setup screen and remove any remaining SIM or memory card.
Data associated with a Google Account or another cloud service may be restored after a reset when you sign in again. A reset therefore addresses the phone’s local contents; it does not erase your online account history or cloud backups.
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Why a reset is not automatically a purge
Sanitization strength depends on the phone’s hardware, operating system, encryption design, and implementation. NIST’s superseded Rev. 1 guidance noted that many mobile devices offered only a “Clear” capability, while a “Purge” capability depended on the specific hardware and software. It advised checking with the manufacturer whether the operation uses media-dependent sanitization or cryptographic erase rather than merely removing file pointers.
Because Rev. 1 is no longer the current NIST revision, treat that mobile appendix as historical guidance and ask the manufacturer what the current erase function actually does on your model. Do not assume that every factory-reset menu represents the same level of assurance.
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When the phone itself must be destroyed
If your requirement is that nobody can operate the handset or recover its storage, contact a qualified electronics-destruction or certified recycling provider. Ask the provider:
- Which components are physically processed, including internal storage and the battery
- Whether the method is performed in a controlled, licensed facility
- What documentation or certificate of destruction is supplied
- How hazardous battery and electronic materials are handled
The historical NIST mobile-device appendix lists industrial methods such as shredding, disintegration, pulverizing, or incineration in a licensed facility. It does not recommend striking, burning, drilling, crushing, or dismantling a phone at home. Lithium-ion batteries can ignite or release hazardous materials, and opening a device can create additional personal and environmental risks.
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If the phone is locked, damaged, or will not power on
Do not open, puncture, heat, or improvise a destruction method. The safe procedure depends on the model, damage, battery condition, and the data-sanitization requirement. Contact the manufacturer or a qualified electronics-destruction provider and request model-specific instructions. If the device is swollen, hot, leaking, or otherwise damaged, tell the provider before transport.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Prepare a phone for donation or recycling
Before handing over a working device, erase its local data using the manufacturer’s process, remove SIM and memory cards, and terminate or transfer cellular service. Apple and Google describe reuse, trade-in, and recycling workflows; local collection rules and battery requirements may differ, so check the current rules where you live. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s general guidance likewise advises ending service and erasing sensitive information before donation or recycling.
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Which option fits your situation?
- Reuse, sale, trade-in, or ordinary recycling: Back up, remove accounts, and complete the manufacturer’s factory-reset or erase flow.
- Higher assurance for sensitive data: Ask the manufacturer whether your exact model supports a documented purge or cryptographic erase; do not infer this from the word “reset.”
- Physical destruction is mandatory: Use a qualified provider and obtain process documentation.
- Phone cannot be reset: Stop and obtain manufacturer or qualified-provider guidance rather than trying a household tool or chemical method.
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