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What to do before you sell or give away your Android phone

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1. Back up and move sign-in access first

Keep the old phone until you have checked the new one. Back up photos, messages, contacts, documents and anything stored only in an app. A backup icon is not enough: open a few important items on the new device or another computer. Some apps need their own backup or transfer procedure, and cloud accounts may not include every local file.

Move authenticator codes and other two-factor sign-in methods before resetting. Follow each authenticator’s transfer instructions, test a sign-in and keep recovery codes somewhere safe. Also check banking apps, passkeys and any work account requirements. Avoid deleting your only working sign-in method while you still need it to set up the replacement phone.

2. Disconnect watches, audio devices and cars

Unpair your watch using its companion app if it requires a transfer or reset procedure. Disconnect earbuds and other accessories you are keeping. Remove the old phone from your car’s Bluetooth device list and any Android Auto connections. Forgetting the car on the phone alone may leave its address book or connection record in the car.

If the phone is linked to a car maker’s account or another connected-device service, review that account as well. Check the maker’s instructions before deleting data or resetting equipment: a setting that removes your phone from a vehicle is not necessarily the same as clearing all personal information stored by the vehicle.

3. Remove accounts to avoid blocking the next owner

In Settings, find Accounts, Passwords and accounts, or the equivalent account list. Remove your Google account from this phone. On Samsung phones, also sign out of your Samsung account; other brands may have their own device account. Menu names vary by phone brand. Make sure you know your passwords and can complete any confirmation before starting.

Factory Reset Protection is an anti-theft feature. A reset performed while a protected account is still attached can make setup ask for a previously used Google account or screen lock. Removing the account first helps turn off that protection for the handover. This removes the account from the device, not your Google account itself. Follow any employer’s process for a managed phone.

4. Remove SIM, memory cards and mobile service

Take out the physical SIM card and any microSD card, even if you think it is empty. A phone reset is not a reliable way to clear a removable card. Keep the card or deal with its contents separately. Check the tray carefully so a second SIM is not left behind.

If you use an eSIM, arrange the transfer with your carrier before deleting the old profile. Reset screens may have a separate option to erase downloaded SIMs. Choose it when handing over the phone, after confirming your service works elsewhere. If you are unsure about the order, ask the carrier rather than risking loss of access.

5. Reset from Settings and check the welcome screen

Usually the path is Settings → System → Reset options → Erase all data. Other phones place it under General management or a similar settings section. Read the confirmation screen, make sure backups are complete and keep the phone powered while it resets. Use the manufacturer’s instructions if the phone cannot open Settings.

Modern Android phones encrypt internal storage, and a proper factory reset makes the previous internal data unreadable in practice by discarding access to it. Older or modified devices can differ; do not extend this assurance to removable cards or external backups. When the phone restarts, check the initial welcome and setup screens without adding your account again. Resolve any old-account prompt before handing it over.

6. Review records outside the old phone

After the handover, review the old phone in your Google account’s device list and sign out any remaining sessions. Review other accounts used on it too. This is separate from the local reset. Copies in cloud storage, email attachments and other people’s devices remain until managed in those places.

Before resetting, consider the photos you are keeping or moving to the new phone. They may carry GPS tags, and old permission choices may be worth reviewing on the replacement. A factory reset is still the right final step for the old phone; it does not remove metadata from the copies you keep.

If you want a clearer list before the reset, Cellarise shows supported photo locations and app permissions on the connected phone. Pro can clean up selected on-phone items. It does not replace a factory reset or change files already shared or backed up elsewhere. Learn about Cellarise.

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