

A simple factory data reset doesn’t completely wipe all the data from your phone, so all your files can be easily recovered. Sign out of Android Beta if you have Pixel or Nexus phones.If you are unsure which version your phone is running, you can find that out by going to Settings> About device/phone> Software info.

If your phone came with an older operating system, you can skip to the next step. You will need to deactivate it - otherwise, the new owner won’t be able to use your phone. If your Android device came with the operating system 5.0 Lollipop or later, your phone will have Android device protection or factory reset protection (FRP). Choose the payment method you want to remove and tap Remove. Tap Menu> Payment methods> More payment settings. Remove any payment cards associated with your phone.Go to Settings> Users and Accounts, select your accounts, and then click ‘ Remove.’ (If you have a Samsung device, remove the accounts from your phone and tablet too). Remove your SIM card and any external storage.Delete saved passwords from your browsers and apps.In his spare time, John-Anthony can be found watching any sport under the sun from football to darts, taking the term “Lego house” far too literally as he runs out of space to display any more plastic bricks, or chilling on the couch with his French Bulldog, Kermit. John-Anthony also loves to tinker with other non-Apple technology and enjoys playing around with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck. He is also an avid film geek, having previously written film reviews and received the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019. John-Anthony has previously worked in editorial for collectable TCG websites and graduated from The University of Strathclyde where he won the Scottish Student Journalism Award for Website of the Year as Editor-in-Chief of his university paper. Living in Scotland, where he worked for Apple as a technician focused on iOS and iPhone repairs at the Genius Bar, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself in his ability to complete his Apple Watch activity rings. John-Anthony Disotto is the How To Editor of iMore, ensuring you can get the most from your Apple products and helping fix things when your technology isn’t behaving itself.
