If you’re looking to upgrade your phone or tablet and have an old device to dispose of, you may be wondering the best way to protect your personal data and erase the device before recycling your mobile phone. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as powering it off, removing the SIM card, and calling it a day.
Preliminary Steps to Protect Your Data Securely
Apple iPhone
If you are an iPhone user planning to switch to a non-iPhone device, you’ll need to make sure to deregister iMessage to avoid future difficulties with receiving SMS/MMS messages on your new device. You can do this by heading to Settings >> Messages >> and turning off iMessage.
You’ll also need to unpair your Apple Watch from your iPhone, which automatically creates a backup, erases all data, and resets your Apple Watch to factory settings. You can use the backup to restore your Apple Watch when your new iPhone arrives.
Google Android
If you’re planning to factory reset and recycle an Android device, make sure you know your Google account username and password.
How to Back Up Your Data and Erase Your Device
When you delete a file from your iPhone, Android, or iPad, the file isn’t actually removed. Hitting delete simply moves the file into your Deleted Files folder, which can easily be recovered. This is why it’s important to back up your personal data and sensitive files before performing a factory reset.
1. Back Up Your Personal Data
Figure out what you need to save from your old device, like photos, videos, and other important information like passwords. Next, you need to save your data and files to the cloud with online programs like Google Drive, DropBox, and iCloud.
iPhone
- iPhone users can choose an iCloud backup, which includes almost all the data and settings stored in your device, as well as Apple Pay and Face ID information and settings.
- The second option is to back up to your local computer via iTunes. With this method, almost all of your iPhone’s data and settings—photos, videos, music, documents, text messages, app data, etc, will be saved on your computer.
Android
- Android users can back up their data to their Google account.
2. Sign Out of Apps and Accounts
Sign out of any online accounts you may be logged in to and disconnect Bluetooth devices like speakers, headphones, and more.
iPhone
- If you’re an iPhone user, be sure to manually disable ‘Find My iPhone.’ Otherwise, if your device is refurbished and resold, the new owner won’t be able to set it up.
- You also need to sign out of your Apple ID account for iTunes, iCloud, and the App Store,
Android
- Android users should sign out of their Google account, and on Samsung Android devices, also sign out of their Samsung account.
3. Perform a Factory Reset
Remove the device’s SIM card and then perform a factory reset, which renders all user data on the device cryptographically inaccessible to anyone.
iPhone
- To do a factory reset on an iPhone or iPad, select Settings >> General >> Reset >> “Erase All Content and Settings”.
Android
- You can reset your Android phone through the Settings app, though exact steps may vary depending on your Android phone model and software version. We’ve listed steps that apply to most models here.
4. Recycle Your Old Device
After you’ve backed up your data and erased your device, it’s time to recycle your mobile phone. If you can’t erase your phone, Big Sky Recycling will accept your device as-is. We ensure data destruction on all recycled cell phones, and more about our data security policy can be found here.
If your recycled phones cannot be turned on and erased from the software, they will be disposed for material recovery and recycling, keeping them out of landfills and ensuring data destruction.
Big Sky Recycling: Your Trusted Partner for Secure Device Recycling
At Big Sky Recycling, we prioritize the security and protection of your personal data. We specialize in electronics recycling and our recycling partners are all certified to the internationally recognized Responsible Recycling (R2) Standard, so you know your electronic waste is being handled responsibly.
Let us handle your secure e-waste disposal with our data destruction guarantee. Get started today.