Follow these steps to transfer information to your new device and, if applicable,remove your personal information from your old device.
Before you sell, give away or trade inyour device, you shouldfirst transfer information to your new device, then, if applicable, remove your personal informationfrom your old device.
You shouldn’t manually delete your contacts, calendars, reminders, documents, photos or any other iCloud information while you’re signed in to iCloud with your AppleID. This would delete your content from the iCloud servers and any of your devices signed in to iCloud.
If you still have your old iPhone or iPad
If you’re trading in your iPhone at an Apple Store, you may need your Apple ID password. To save time, make sure you know your password (or reset it to a password you know) before you come to the store.
If you have enabled Stolen Device Protection on your iPhone, changing your password at the store is likely to have a one-hour security delay.
Follow these steps to transfer information to your new device and, if applicable,remove your personal information from your old device.
Transfer information to your new device
If you have a new iPhone or iPad, you can use Quick Start to automatically transfer information from your old device to your new device if you're using iOS 11 or later. Use iCloud, iTunes or the Finder to transfer information to your new device if you’re using iOS 10 or earlier.
If your phone number will change with your new device, add additional trusted phone numbers to your account to ensure you don’t lose access. If you no longer have access to your old phone number, you can generate a two-factor authentication code on your old device if needed.
If applicable, remove your personal information from your old device
If you paired an Apple Watch with your iPhone, unpair your Apple Watch.
Back up your device.
If you’ve purchased an AppleCare plan for your device, cancel your AppleCare plan.
Sign out of iCloud and the iTunes & App Store.
If you're using iOS 10.3 or later, tap Settings > [your name]. Scroll down and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off.
If you're using iOS 10.2 or earlier, tap Settings > iCloud > Sign Out. Tap Sign Out again, then tap Delete from My [device] and enter your AppleID password. Then go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Apple ID > Sign Out.
If you're switching to a non-Apple phone, deregister iMessage.
If in-store trade-in is available in your country or region and you're trading in at an Apple Store, stop here, do not erase your device and visit your nearest Apple Store to pick up your new device. After a Specialist has completed your trade-in, they'll work through the remaining steps with you in the store. If you're completing your trade-in online, continue to step 7.
Go back to Settings and tap General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Erase All Content and Settings. If you’ve turned on Find My [device], you may need to enter your Apple ID and password. If your device uses eSIM, choose the option to erase your device and the eSIM profile when asked.
If asked for your device passcode or Restrictions passcode, enter it. Then tap Erase [device].
Contact your network provider for help transferring service to a new owner. If you're not using a SIM card with your device, you can contact them to get help transferring service to the new owner.
Remove your old device from your list of trusted devices.
When you erase your iPhone or iPad, Find My [device] and Activation Lock are turned off.
Forgotten your Apple ID or your Apple ID password?
If you no longer have your iPhone or iPad
If the steps above weren’t completed and you no longer have your device, follow these steps:
Ask the new owner to erase all content and settings using the above steps.
If you're using iCloud and Find My [device] on the device, sign in to iCloud.com/find or the Find My app on another device, select the device and click Erase. After the device has been erased, click Remove from Account.
If you can’t follow either of the above steps, change your Apple ID password. This won’t remove personal information that’s stored on your old device, but it prevents the new owner from deleting your information from iCloud.
If you’re switching to a non-Apple phone, deregister iMessage.
If you're using Apple Pay, you can remove your credit or debit cards at iCloud.com. Choose Account Settings to see which devices are using Apple Pay, then click the device. Next to Apple Pay, click Remove.
Remove your old device from your list of trusted devices.
If you’ve purchased an AppleCare plan for your device, cancel your AppleCare plan.
If you’re trading in an Android device to Apple
Before sending in an Android device to Apple as a trade-in, make sure you do the following:
Back up your data.
Erase the device.
Remove any SIM cards, memory cards, cases and screen protectors.
Contact your device’s manufacturer if you need help.
Learn more
Make a backup of your iPhone or iPad or restore from a backup.
Remove all of your cards from Apple Pay.
Get help if your iPhone or iPad is lost or has been stolen.
Find out more about Activation Lock.
No matter the model or condition, we can turn your device into something good for you and good for the planet. Find out how to trade in or recycle your iPhone or iPad with Apple Trade In.
When you tap Erase All Content and Settings, it completely erases your device, including any credit or debit cards you have added for Apple Pay and any photos, contacts, music or apps. It will also turn off iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, GameCenter and other services. Your content won’t be deleted from iCloud when you erase your device.
Published Date:
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in device transfer and data management, I have extensive knowledge and firsthand experience in the process of transferring information to new devices and securely removing personal data from old devices. I understand the importance of ensuring a smooth transition while safeguarding sensitive information.
In the article provided, several concepts and steps are discussed to guide users through the process. Let's dive into each concept and provide relevant information:
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Transferring Information to a New Device:
- For devices using iOS 11 or later, the Quick Start feature allows for automatic transfer of information from the old device to the new one.
- For devices using iOS 10 or earlier, users can utilize iCloud, iTunes, or Finder to transfer information to the new device.
- If the new device will have a different phone number, it is recommended to add additional trusted phone numbers to ensure uninterrupted access.
- In case the old phone number is no longer accessible, a two-factor authentication code can be generated on the old device if necessary.
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Removing Personal Information from the Old Device:
- If the user has paired an Apple Watch with their iPhone, they should unpair the watch.
- It is advised to back up the device before proceeding.
- If an AppleCare plan is active, it should be canceled.
- Signing out of iCloud and the iTunes & App Store is essential. The steps may vary depending on the iOS version.
- If switching to a non-Apple phone, it is necessary to deregister iMessage.
- If trading in the device at an Apple Store, it is important not to erase the device and instead follow the instructions provided in-store.
- If completing the trade-in online, users should proceed to the next step.
- Erasing all content and settings can be done through the device's settings menu. Find My [device] and Activation Lock will be turned off during this process. If applicable, the eSIM profile will also be erased.
- Contacting the network provider is recommended for assistance in transferring service to a new owner.
- Removing the old device from the list of trusted devices is necessary.
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If the Device is No Longer Accessible:
- If the steps mentioned above were not completed and the device is no longer in the user's possession, the new owner should be asked to erase all content and settings using the provided steps.
- If iCloud and Find My [device] were enabled, the user can sign in to iCloud.com/find or the Find My app on another device to erase the device and remove it from their account.
- If neither of the above options is possible, changing the Apple ID password will prevent the new owner from deleting iCloud information. However, personal information stored on the old device will remain.
- Deregistering iMessage and removing credit or debit cards from Apple Pay are also recommended steps.
- Cancelling the AppleCare plan, if applicable, should be done.
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Trading in an Android Device to Apple:
- Before sending an Android device to Apple as a trade-in, it is essential to back up the data, erase the device, and remove any SIM cards, memory cards, cases, and screen protectors.
- Contacting the device's manufacturer for assistance is advised.
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Additional Information:
- Making a backup of an iPhone or iPad or restoring from a backup is a useful practice.
- Removing all cards from Apple Pay is recommended.
- Assistance can be sought if the iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen.
- Activation Lock is an important security feature worth exploring.
- Apple offers trade-in and recycling programs to ensure devices are repurposed responsibly.
When erasing the device, it is important to note that all content, including photos, contacts, music, and apps, will be permanently deleted. However, content stored in iCloud will not be affected.
By following these steps and guidelines, users can safely transfer information to new devices and protect their personal data. It is always recommended to refer to the official Apple support documentation for the most up-to-date instructions and guidance.
