There are several reasons why you may consider the possibility of trading in your old smartphone. It can be that you are ready for an upgrade, or you simply need the money. It can also be that you are in the process of decluttering and you feel like your current phone is too much for the lifestyle you want to emulate. Regardless of the reason why you intend to trade in your old smartphone, below are the key steps that you need to take before you do so.
1. Have a Backup of Your Phone Data
You can trade your phone in via different online platforms that cater to this service. Some feature a fast and secure payout, while some offer a 30-day price lock. You can compare gadget prices here to have a good idea of how much your phone is valued. Once you are already decided to have your phone traded in, the first thing that you need to do is to back up all your data. In this way, you will be able to effortlessly transfer all this information once you get a new phone. Even if you don’t think that you will no longer need your old data, it is a smart move to have a copy of it just in case.
There are several devices that you can use to store your data, such as your computer, a portable universal serial bus (USB) drive, a portable hard drive, or even a cloud service. Make sure that the backup is complete by checking whether the contents of your phone are effectively transferred to the storage device you opted for. There are instances wherein the backup may fail to complete, which is why you need to do the necessary checks just to be sure.
How to Backup an iPhone
- Go to the Settings menu.
- Tap on the iCloud option.
- Select Storage & Backup. If this is disabled, simply enable it.
- Tap on the Backup Now option.
How to Backup an Android
- Use a USB cable to plug your phone into a port of your computer.
- Select all the files that you want to copy from your phone to your computer.
Aside from backing up into your computer, you can also leverage on apps such as G Cloud Backup and MyBackup Pro. You can also enable the Google Sync automatic back up under the Accounts and Sync menu of your phone’s settings. While the data on iOS phones are automatically encrypted, you may need to do this manually with an Android phone. To do so, you need to tap on the Encrypt Device option under the Security option in your phone’s settings.
2. Do a Factory Reset
The next thing that you need to do after performing a backup of your data is to do a factory reset. This will wipe out your phone clean, bringing it back into the same state as when it first came out of the manufacturing line. It is only after performing a factory reset that you are sure that your phone is safe to trade-in.
Factory Reset for iPhone
To initiate a factory reset, you just need to turn off all services and sign out from iCloud. This proves to be sufficient in wiping out any personal information from your phone. However, if you are using an iPhone powered by iOS 7 or higher, you need to go to the Delete Account function before signing out of all the services. After this, you need to go to Settings and dig down to the General menu. From there, select Reset, and this will erase all the content in your phone, as well as the settings that you have customized.
Factory Reset for Android-powered Phones
For Android phones operating at an earlier operating system, lower than version 6, you need to perform the encryption process mentioned above. In case you are using a phone operating at a higher OS, you no longer have to manually encrypt your data. In both instances, all you need to do after is to go to the Settings menu and head over to the Security and Privacy option. Sign out in all your accounts and for additional protection, delete those accounts. The last step is to do the factory reset to wipe your smartphone clean.
3. Remove Any SIM or SD Cards
Once you are done in restoring the factory settings of your phone, the next step is to ensure that it is free from any SIM or SD cards. Some smartphones allow you to take out these cards easily, while for some other smartphone types, taking these out maybe a bit tricky. It may entail the need for you to use a pin or a sharp device. Just to be on the safe side, it is better to refer to your manual.
4. Make Sure Your Phone is Clean
The last and final step is ensuring that your phone is in its best condition by cleaning it. In this case, you can wipe the screen with a dry microfiber cloth. Also, check that all ports are free from dust and any other particles. While a clean phone is not part of the criteria for a company to turn down your phone, there is a great chance for it to be traded in faster.
Before you decide to give your old phone away for trade-in, make sure to have a backup of your phone’s data. If possible, you can even encrypt your data to ensure your safety and security. After this, perform a factory reset to ensure that the next owner will get their hands on an empty device. You need to remove all your SIM and SD cards in the phone because these can still contain invaluable data about your personal details. Once you have checked all these things on your list, exert the extra effort to clean your phone such that it is in its best condition. Make sure you check the trade-in price on the market to get a good price as well.