At The Real Repair Company, we have had numerous calls from customers asking us how they can remove all their personal information from their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch before selling their iOS device or simply giving it to one of their kids.
Thankfully, you can remove all personal information from your iOS device whether it is still in your possession or not.
The following steps can be taken if you still have your iOS device:
- Unpair your Apple Watch with your iPhone.
- Back up your iOS device.
- Tap Settings -> iCloud. Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
- Tap Sign Out again, then tap Delete from My iPhone and enter your password.
- Go to Settings and tap General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings. If you turned on Find My iPhone, you might need to enter your Apple ID and password.
- If prompted for your device passcode or Restrictions passcode, enter it. Then tap Erase [device].
- Remove your SIM card.
The following steps can be taken if you no longer have your iOS device:
- Ask the new owner to erase all content and settings using the steps above.
- If you’re using iCloud and Find My iPhone on the device, sign in to icloud.com/find, 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 will prevent the new owner from deleting your information from iCloud.
- If you’re using Apple Pay, you can remove your credit or debit cards at iCloud.com. Choose Settings to see which devices are using Apple Pay, then click the device. Next to Apple Pay, click Remove.
- Deregister iMessage if you’re switching to a non-Apple phone.
Getting a new iPhone? Here’s every iOS setting you should check when you get a new iPhone.
Source:
