Before you sell or hand over an iPhone, you need to remove your Apple ID. If you skip it, Activation Lock keeps the phone tied to your account: after a reset it asks for your Apple ID password, and nobody else can use it. It takes about five minutes to do it properly.
Step 1: Back up your iPhone
Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now, or back up to a computer. Check that your photos, WhatsApp chats (WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup) and notes are saved before you continue.
Step 2: Unpair your Apple Watch
If you use an Apple Watch, open the Watch app, tap All Watches, tap the info button next to your watch and choose Unpair Apple Watch. This also removes Activation Lock from the watch.
Step 3: Sign out of your Apple ID
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
- Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off. This turns off Find My and Activation Lock.
- Choose whether to keep a copy of your data on the phone (it will be erased in the next step anyway) and tap Sign Out.
Step 4: Erase all content and settings
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode and confirm. The iPhone restarts to the "Hello" setup screen, which is how it should look when you hand it over.
Step 5: Remove the SIM and eSIM
Take out your physical SIM card. If you use an eSIM, the erase step offers to remove it; if you plan to move the number to a new phone, contact your operator first.
Step 6: Moving to Android? Deregister iMessage
If your next phone is not an iPhone, turn off iMessage before you sign out (Settings > Messages > iMessage), or deregister your number at Apple's "Deregister iMessage" page. Otherwise messages from iPhone users may not reach your new phone.
How to check the iPhone is ready to sell
- The phone shows the Hello setup screen.
- Your device no longer appears at icloud.com/find under All Devices.
- The SIM tray is empty.
Already sold it without signing out?
Sign in at icloud.com/find, select the iPhone under All Devices and choose Remove This Device. Then remove it from your Apple ID device list in Settings on another Apple device.
Selling your iPhone to SellEazy
An iPhone that is still locked to an Apple ID cannot be bought, so doing these steps beforehand keeps the pickup short and gets you paid on the spot. See what your iPhone is worth and keep a government ID ready for the receipt; here is what documents you need to sell an old phone.
SellEazy picks up anywhere in Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad, usually within 24 hours of booking. The phone is inspected in front of you, and once you accept the offer you are paid the same day by UPI, bank transfer or cash, with a PDF receipt for the sale.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I sell my iPhone without removing my Apple ID?
The iPhone stays locked to your account by Activation Lock. After a reset it asks for your Apple ID password, so the next owner cannot use it. Buyers either refuse the phone or pay much less, and you have to remove it remotely later.
Does erasing the iPhone remove my Apple ID?
Only if you are signed in and enter your password during "Erase All Content and Settings". The safest order is to sign out of your Apple ID first, which turns off Find My and Activation Lock, and then erase the phone.
I already handed over my iPhone. How do I remove it from my account?
Sign in at icloud.com/find, choose the device under All Devices and select Remove This Device. Also remove it from your Apple ID device list in Settings on another Apple device.
I forgot my Apple ID password. Can I still sell my iPhone?
Reset the password first at iforgot.apple.com or from another trusted Apple device. SellEazy cannot buy an iPhone that is still locked to an Apple ID it cannot remove.
