Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Before handing over a MetroPCS (now Metro by T-Mobile) Samsung phone, move and verify your data, remove your Google and Samsung accounts, take out the SIMs, and factory-reset the Galaxy from Settings. If the recipient plans to use another carrier, check the phone’s unlock status separately: a reset does not unlock it.
1. Transfer your data and verify the copy
Keep the old phone until you have confirmed that the information you need is accessible on the new device. Check contacts, photos, messages, files, authenticator access, and any app-specific data or protected folders. A transfer may not copy every app’s data, so use each service’s backup or migration process where needed.
Samsung Smart Switch can transfer selected content from Android or iOS by cable or wirelessly, and supports backup and restore through compatible external storage. What transfers depends on the phones and method. Choose everything, a listed content category, or a custom selection as appropriate; then inspect the destination before erasing the old phone. Samsung Smart Switch guidance and Google’s Android transfer guidance both advise confirming the copy before clearing the old device.
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If the phone is staying on Metro, you can proceed with the handoff steps below. If the recipient wants to use another carrier, verify the device’s unlock status first and do not promise compatibility based on a factory reset: erasing data and unlocking a phone are separate actions.
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Metro by T-Mobile’s Phone Unlock Policy, published August 11, 2025, applies to devices purchased from Metro or authorized for Metro. Its published eligibility criteria include that the device has not been reported lost, stolen, or blocked and that 365 days have passed since activation. Metro says an eligible device is automatically remotely unlocked within two business days; some devices instead receive a notification with instructions. Phones bought from another carrier, manufacturer, or retailer should be checked with that seller or carrier for unlock guidance. Eligibility is device-specific, so confirm the status of this particular handset before sale.
3. Remove Google and Samsung accounts
Remove the accounts from the Galaxy before resetting it. This helps prevent the recipient from encountering account verification tied to the previous owner during setup. Menu names can vary somewhat by Galaxy model and software version.
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- Open Settings → Accounts and backup → Manage accounts.
- Select each Google account and tap Remove account. Complete any identity verification requested by Google device-protection features.
- Select the Samsung account, tap Remove account, then sign out and enter the Samsung account password if prompted.
Samsung notes that removing a Samsung account from the phone does not also unregister the device from that account’s registered-device list. If you want it removed from that list, do that separately through the Samsung account. See Samsung’s account-removal instructions.
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Take out the physical SIM and keep it; Google’s trade-in checklist says to leave the SIM tray in the device. If the phone has a downloaded SIM (eSIM), remove it when required by your transfer or the recipient’s instructions. Make sure your active service has been transferred or canceled with the carrier as appropriate; these steps do not cancel a Metro account.
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5. Factory-reset the Galaxy from Settings
After checking the data transfer, account removal, and SIMs, use the phone’s Settings menu to erase it. Samsung’s general Galaxy path is:
- Open Settings → General management → Reset → Factory data reset.
- Review what will be erased, then tap Reset.
- Confirm with Delete all. The phone may ask for the screen-lock credentials or Samsung account password.
Samsung says the phone needs a network connection to log out of a Samsung account before reset can be completed. When the reset succeeds and the phone reboots, it should show the initial setup screen. Galaxy settings vary by provider, model, and software version; consult Samsung’s factory-reset guidance if the labels differ.
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Inspect the phone after reboot. For a private sale or gift, stop at the initial setup screen rather than signing back in. Google’s trade-in checklist also treats the absence of a password requirement after reset as a completion check in that trade-in context; follow the actual recipient’s requirements if you are sending the phone for trade-in.
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If account prompts prevent the reset
If you are locked out or cannot satisfy an account prompt, do not hand over the phone while it remains tied to your credentials. Use Samsung’s official support route linked from its reset instructions to resolve the issue before transfer.
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What changes by handoff type?
| Handoff | Additional point to handle |
|---|---|
| Staying on Metro | Complete the account removal, SIM handling, and reset steps; cross-carrier unlock eligibility is not the deciding check if the phone remains on Metro. |
| Moving to another carrier | Verify unlock status and device-specific eligibility before representing the phone as ready for another network. |
| Trade-in | Follow the trade-in recipient’s own erase, SIM, and packaging instructions; Google’s cited SIM and password checks are specifically from its trade-in guidance. |
| Private sale or gift | Show the recipient the phone at the initial setup screen and avoid signing into it again after reset. |
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.
