2026 Full Guide: How to Reset iPhone to Sell

You've upgraded to the latest model and you're ready to sell your old iPhone. It's an exciting moment, but it comes with a serious responsibility. Your iPhone is a digital vault containing your photos, passwords, banking credentials, and private messages. Simply deleting a few apps isn't enough.

To ensure your data stays private and to guarantee the new owner can actually use the device, you must perform a factory reset. In 2026, this process involves more than just hitting "Erase." Missing a single step can lead to data leaks or the dreaded "Activation Lock." In this guide, we will walk you through exactly how to reset iPhone to sell and the preparation before resetting it.

Part 1. Preparations Before Resetting iPhone

Most users make the mistake of wiping their phone immediately. Actually, you should perform these four critical steps first before that to avoid losing access to your other devices or accounts.

1.1 Unpair Your Apple Watch

This is the most common oversight. If you wipe your iPhone while your Apple Watch is still paired, the Watch will remain locked to your old account (Activation Lock). You won't be able to pair it with your new phone without a complex reset process.

Step 1. Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone close together.

Step 2. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.

Step 3. Go to the My Watch tab and tap All Watches in the top left.

Step 4. Tap the Info (i) button next to your watch.

Step 5. Tap Unpair Apple Watch.

1.2 Transfer 2FA & Authenticator Apps

Do you use Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy for work, crypto, or banking login codes? These codes are not always backed up to iCloud automatically. If you wipe your phone without exporting them, you lose your keys.

So before wiping it, you need to open your authenticator app and use the "Transfer Accounts" or "Export" feature to generate a QR code. Scan this code with your new phone to migrate your tokens safely.

1.3 Deregister iMessage (Switching to Android Only)

If you are selling your iPhone to switch to a Samsung, Pixel, or other Android phone, you must turn off iMessage. If you forget this, texts from your iPhone-using friends will continue to be sent to your inactive iMessage account, disappearing into the void.

• Go to Settings > Messages and toggle iMessage to OFF.

1.4 Create a Final Encrypted Backup

Ensure you have a fresh copy of your data one last time. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now.

Part 2. How to Factory Reset iPhone Officially

Once you have backed up and unpaired, you are ready to wipe the device. This process, technically known as "Erase All Content and Settings," destroys the encryption key for your data, making it unrecoverable.

Step 1. Open the Settings app, scroll down to General, and then scroll to the very bottom to tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Step 2. You will see two options. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.

Step 3. If you are using an iPhone 14 or newer (US models), you likely have an eSIM. You will see a prompt asking to "Delete eSIM" or "Keep eSIM."

Step 4. Select "Delete eSIM": Since you are selling the device, you must delete the profile so the new owner can add their own. Never hand a phone to a stranger with your active cellular number on it.

Step 5. Enter your screen lock passcode. You will then be asked for your Apple Account Password (formerly Apple ID) to turn off "Find My iPhone." This is essential to disable Activation Lock.

Step 6. Tap Erase iPhone. The screen will go black, show the Apple logo, and a progress bar.

Part 3. How to Factory Reset iPhone If You Forgot Passcode?

If you cannot remember your screen passcode, or if the screen is cracked and unresponsive, you cannot use the Settings menu. You need a tool that can force a factory reset from a computer.

TunesKit iPhone Unlocker is a professional utility designed to factory reset iOS devices even when you are locked out. It bypasses the screen lock and wipes the data, returning the device to its factory state.

Now, the following will show you how to reset iPhone to sell via TunesKit iPhone Unlocker.

Step 1Connect iPhone to Computer

To begin with, please connect your iPhone to the computer. When your iPhone is connected, click on the Unlock iOS Screen option and hit on the Start button.

Step 2Put iPhone into Recovery Mode

In this phase, you will need to put your iPhone into Recovery mode. When your iPhone is in Recovery mode, click on the Next button. If you don't know how to put your iPhone into Recovery mode or DFU mode, you can follow the onscreen instruction to make it.

Step 3Download Firmware Package

Then, TunesKit iPhone Unlocker will ask you to download the firmware package to reset your iPhone to sell. Ensure that all the given information is nothing wrong. Click on the Download button to download the firmware package.

Step 4Reset iPhone to Sell

Click the Unlock button after the firmware package is downloaded. TunesKit iPhone Unlocker will start to reset your iPhone. After resetting, all the data and content will be removed from your iPhone.

Part 4. Final Verification for Selling

The process isn't done until you verify the device is safe. Once the reset is complete, your iPhone should reboot to the multilingual "Hello" screen. If you see this screen, it means:

• All user data has been erased.
• The passcode has been removed.
• The device is ready for the new owner to set up.

One Last Step: Remove from Trusted Devices

Even after the phone is wiped, it might still be listed as a "Trusted Device" on your Apple Account, meaning Apple might try to send 2FA verification codes to it.

Step 1. Go to account.apple.com on a web browser.

Step 2. Sign in and click Devices in the sidebar.

Step 3. Select the iPhone you just sold.

Step 4. Click Remove from Account.

Part 5. Conclusion

That's all about how to reset iPhone to sell! It's important to reset your iPhone if you are going to sell it as a second-hand iPhone. It ensure a smooth transaction for both you and the buyer. If you are locked out or stuck on a broken screen, let TunesKit iPhone Unlocker handle the reset for you.