Safe Device Disposal Practices
Launch library · evergreen read
Before disposing of, donating or selling any device, including phones, computers and tablets, ensuring all personal data has been properly removed prevents that information from being accessible to whoever receives the device next entirely. This matters just as much for an old device given away for free.
A full factory reset, rather than simply deleting individual files one by one, is generally required to genuinely clear personal data, since deleted files can sometimes still be recovered using readily available recovery tools afterward. Confirming the reset actually completed is worth the extra minute it takes.
Signing out of accounts and removing the device from any linked services beforehand, such as cloud backups or device-finding features, avoids complications for both you and whoever genuinely receives the device afterward. Skipping this step can cause real headaches for whoever ends up receiving the device.
Keeping a checklist for this process, since it involves several distinct steps across different settings menus, helps ensure nothing important is missed when the device genuinely changes hands. A saved checklist on your phone makes this considerably easier again the very next time it comes around.