How to Wipe a Broken Phone That Will Not Switch On

A cracked screen, water damage, or a battery that will not charge does not mean your phone is worthless — and it does not mean your data is stuck on it either. Even if the phone will not switch on, you can remove it from your account remotely and sell it safely. Here is how to handle it.

⚠️ Two jobs here. You want to (1) remove the phone from your Apple or Google account so it is no longer locked to you, and (2) remove your SIM. Do both before collection.

Step 1: Try once to power it on (optional)

If there is any chance the phone will turn on — for example after a long charge — and you can reach the settings, follow the normal route: sign out of your account and factory reset. That is the cleanest outcome.

If it genuinely will not respond, move straight to the remote method below. You do not need the phone to be working.

Step 2: Erase and remove it remotely

Because your account is linked to the device in the cloud, you can erase it from any browser or another phone.

For an iPhone or iPad

1. On a computer or another device, go to iCloud.com/find (or open the Find My app on another Apple device).
2. Sign in with the same Apple Account that was on the broken phone.
3. Select the device from the list.
4. Choose Erase iPhone (or Erase iPad). The wipe will run automatically the next time the device powers on and connects to the internet.
5. After erasing, choose Remove from Account. This releases Activation Lock so the device is no longer tied to you.

For an Android phone

1. Go to google.com/android/find (or the Find My Device app on another phone).
2. Sign in with the same Google account.
3. Select the broken device.
4. Choose Erase Device (sometimes called Factory reset). It runs when the phone next connects to the internet.
5. Once erased, the device is removed from Factory Reset Protection for that account.

ℹ️ What if it never reconnects? If a dead phone never powers on again, the erase command simply waits. Either way, your data stays encrypted and locked behind your passcode, and removing the device from your account is what releases the lock so it can be processed. The storage is wiped again during refurbishment.

Step 3: Remove your SIM

Pop out the physical SIM with the ejector tool and keep it. If your number is on an eSIM, contact du or e& to transfer or cancel it. See what to do with your SIM and eSIM before selling for the details.

Step 4: Your data stays safe

You may not be able to see the screen, but your data has not gone anywhere it can be read. It is encrypted, and by removing the device from your account you have cut its link to you. There is more reassurance in is my data safe when selling my phone.

Quick checklist for a dead phone

• Erased remotely via iCloud.com/find or google.com/android/find
• Removed from your Apple or Google account (lock released)
• Physical SIM removed and kept
• eSIM transferred or cancelled with du or e&
• Ready for collection

You can still sell it

Broken, cracked, or water-damaged phones are all welcome and still carry value. See sell a cracked or broken phone and sell a water-damaged phone for what to expect. When you are ready, run through the pre-sale checklist.

Get started now: get your instant quote, book a free insured home collection anywhere in the UAE, and get paid the same day once your device is confirmed.