By CashForTechs · Updated October 29, 2026
You’ll need your iPhone passcode, your Apple Account password and Wi-Fi.
1. Back up your iPhone
Go to Settings → your name → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now, and wait for it to finish. You can restore this backup on your new iPhone.
2. Unpair your Apple Watch
Is an Apple Watch paired with this iPhone? Open the Watch app, tap All Watches, tap the info button next to your watch, then tap Unpair Apple Watch. Selling the watch too? See which Apple Watches we buy.
3. Move your phone service
- eSIM: move it to your new phone first. A new iPhone usually offers to transfer it during setup. If it doesn’t, your carrier can move it.
- SIM card: take it out and keep it.
4. Sign out of your Apple Account
Your Apple Account used to be called your Apple ID. Signing out turns off Find My. If Find My stays on, the iPhone stays linked to your account and asks for your password when it’s set up again. That’s called Activation Lock.
- iOS 26 or later: go to Settings → your name, scroll down and tap Sign Out. Choose Erase this iPhone to sign out and erase in one go, or Sign Out But Don’t Erase. If it asks which account, tap Sign out of iCloud and Store.
- iOS 18 or earlier: go to Settings → your name, scroll down and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple Account password, then tap Turn Off.
Tip: do this at home. Signing out needs your Apple Account password, and a forgotten password is hard to fix on the spot.
Switching to a phone that isn’t an iPhone? Turn off iMessage first (Settings → Apps → Messages), so texts from iPhone users reach your new phone.
5. Erase it
Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings, then tap Continue and enter your passcode if it asks. If your iPhone has an eSIM, it asks what to do with it: tap Delete eSIM and Erase Data, since your service is already on your new phone. Otherwise, tap Erase iPhone. Chose Erase this iPhone in step 4? Then this step is done.
When it’s finished, your iPhone restarts to the Hello screen. Leave it there. That’s how it should look when you bring it to the meetup.
Selling an iPad?
The steps are the same. To erase it, go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPad → Erase All Content and Settings. See which iPads we buy.
Still paying it off?
That’s fine. Carrier-locked and financed phones are fine on any model we buy. Read Can you sell an iPhone that’s not paid off?
How it works
Text or call (916) 269-5021 with your model and condition, get an offer based on live market data, and we’ll call or text to set a time. Meet locally in Sacramento and get same-day cash. No inspection price drops: the offer we quote is the offer you’re paid when the device is as described.
