Before you sell — prep & data safety
How to Back Up Your Phone Before Selling It
Updated 21 June 2026
Before you erase and sell your phone, back it up — it's the difference between keeping every photo and message or losing them for good. It takes a few minutes. Here's how, for both iPhone and Android.
Back up an iPhone
Option 1 — iCloud (easiest):
- Connect to Wi-Fi.
- Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
- Tap Back Up Now and wait for it to finish.
Option 2 — Computer:
- Connect the iPhone and open Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app (Windows), then choose Back up now.
Make sure Photos is syncing to iCloud (Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos) so your library is safe.
Back up an Android phone
- Settings > Google > Backup > Back up now — saves contacts, app data, and settings.
- Confirm Google Photos is backing up your photos and videos (open Photos > profile > Backup is On).
- On Samsung, you can also use Settings > Accounts and backup > Back up data.
Confirm it worked before you wipe
Don't erase until you've checked the backup completed:
- iPhone: Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup shows the date and time of the last backup.
- Android: Settings > Google > Backup shows "Last backup" with a recent time.
Then it's safe to reset
With your data backed up, you can wipe the phone:
Restoring later is simple: sign in with the same Apple or Google account on your next phone and restore during setup — photos, contacts, and most apps come straight across.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I back up my iPhone before selling it?
The easiest way is iCloud: Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now. Or connect to a computer and back up via Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app (Windows). Do this before you erase the phone.
How do I back up an Android phone before selling?
Use Google backup: Settings > Google > Backup > Back up now, which saves contacts, app data, and settings. Make sure Google Photos is syncing your photos and videos. Samsung phones also offer Settings > Accounts and backup > Back up data.
Will I lose my photos when I sell my phone?
Only if you do not back up first. Once your photos are in iCloud or Google Photos, you can restore them onto your next phone. Always confirm the backup completed before you factory reset.
How do I move everything to my new phone?
On iPhone, sign in with the same Apple Account and restore from your iCloud backup during setup. On Android, sign in with the same Google account and restore during setup. Your photos, contacts, and most app data come straight across.
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