How to Erase Your iPhone and Android for Recycling

How to Erase Your iPhone

If the iPhone is in your possession and you can turn it on.

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
2. Follow the prompts. Back up your content first if you need to.
3. If asked, enter your passcode or Apple Account password. This also turns off Find My and Activation Lock.
4. Confirm that you want to erase your iPhone.
5. When erasing is complete, your iPhone restarts and shows the Hello setup screen, as if it were new.
6. Your content and settings have now been erased from the device.

If you cannot access your iPhone or if it doesn't turn on.

1. Go to icloud.com/find on another phone, tablet or computer, sign in with your Apple Account and open Find My (Find Devices).
2. Select the device you want to erase from your list of devices.
3. Choose Erase This Device and follow the prompts. If the device is offline, it will be erased the next time it connects to the internet.
4. Once it's erased, choose Remove This Device so it's no longer linked to your Apple Account.

How to Erase Your Android Phone

Android steps vary by manufacturer and software version. The steps below are for Samsung Galaxy phones. On other Android phones, look for Reset or Factory reset in Settings, often under System.

Samsung Galaxy phones:

1. First back up your personal data, so you don't lose it.
2. Open Settings, and then tap General management.
3. Tap Reset, then tap Factory data reset, and then review the information.
4. When you're ready, tap Reset.
5. If you have a security lock set, you will be asked to enter your credentials.
6. Tap Delete All.
7. If asked, enter your account password.

Your device will reset; when it turns back on, it will start from the initial setup screen.