How to wipe your Android phone/tablet before selling or recycling it (2023)

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(Video) How to wipe and secure your Android phone before selling it | NordVPN

(Video) How To Wipe & Secure Your Android Phone Before Selling | ETPanache
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(Video) How To Delete Everything From ANY Android Phone! (2021)

(Video) How to wipe Android tablet or phone clean and restore it to factory settings
(Video) How to Wipe Your Phone or Tablet Before You Sell it

FAQs

How do I wipe my Android tablet before selling it? ›

How to wipe your Android
  1. Go to Settings> System.
  2. Tap Reset Options;
  3. Choose Erase all data (factory reset);
  4. Tap the Reset phone button;
  5. Tap Erase everything. Your phone will be returned to the same state as when you purchased it.
Mar 19, 2022

How do I wipe my tablet before recycling? ›

Erasing All Data from Your Android Device
  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap System/ Advanced/Reset Options.
  3. Tap Erase All Data (Factory Reset) and enter your pin, password, or pattern if needed.
  4. Select Erase All Data again.
Mar 3, 2020

How do you wipe a tablet clean to sell? ›

As with a computer, you should take the steps to securely wipe and reset your phone or tablet before selling it.
...
Smartphones and tablets
  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Transfer or Reset.
  4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode when prompted and then tap Erase.
Jan 31, 2022

Does a factory reset delete everything on a tablet? ›

While data stored in your Google Account can be restored, all apps and their data will be uninstalled.

How do I permanently delete data from my Android? ›

A Factory data reset from the Settings menu will permanently delete all data, including files and downloaded apps.
  1. Go to Settings and select General management.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. Select Factory data reset.
  4. After confirming the Factory data reset details, tap Reset.
  5. Tap Delete all.

What should I do with my old Android tablet? ›

15 Ways to Repurpose an Old Tablet Device
  1. Make it into a dedicated digital photo frame. ...
  2. Use it as a dedicated e-reader and support your local library. ...
  3. Place it in the kitchen to watch TV. ...
  4. A device to keep the family up-to-date. ...
  5. Make it into a dedicated radio / music player by pairing it with speakers.

How do you destroy old phones and tablets? ›

You can use the hammer to smash the components of your phone and it is recommended to drill holes through the internal pieces to ensure no one could read the information on it. For a complete destruction, remove the memory card and SIM card, and then wipe the phone completely.

How do I securely wipe my tablet? ›

How to securely erase your Android device in 4 steps
  1. Make sure your Android device is encrypted.
  2. Remove your SIM card and any storage cards.
  3. Perform a factory reset to fully erase your device.
  4. Remove any remaining account associations.
Jul 24, 2020

Should you remove SIM card before selling phone? ›

Take the SIM card out

The Subscriber Identity Module card stores information about you and your cell phone, including phone numbers, text messages, billing information, and data usage. When you sell your phone, the new owner will need his or her own SIM card so there's no reason to leave it in your phone.

What should I do before selling my tablet? ›

6 Things You Need to Do Before Selling Your Android Phone
  1. Back up your data and settings to your Google account. ...
  2. Back up your photos and videos. ...
  3. Back up your Texts and call log. ...
  4. Encrypt your data. ...
  5. Disable Factory Reset Protection. ...
  6. Perform a factory reset.
Jan 12, 2017

How do I change the owner of my Android tablet? ›

Using two fingers, swipe down to access the Quick settings panel. Tap the User icon, and then select the desired user. Or, open Settings, tap Accounts and backup, and then tap Users. Select the desired user.

How do I wipe my Samsung tablet clean? ›

Perform a factory data reset on your Galaxy tablet
  1. If you have multiple users on your tablet, you must be signed in to the main account.
  2. From Settings, search for and select Factory data reset.
  3. Tap Factory data reset one more time, and then review the information.
  4. When you're ready, tap Reset. ...
  5. Finally, tap Delete all.

Does factory reset remove all accounts Android? ›

Does a factory reset remove accounts? No. Resetting a device to factory settings will log you out and might delete the apps associated with your account from your device's memory. Factory reset won't delete your Google, Facebook, Instagram, or any other accounts.

What is the code for factory reset? ›

Phone factory reset
NokiaAndroidiPhone
Hard reset code press: *#7370# enter security code (default code :12345)Hard reset code : *2767*3855#Settings -> General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings

Can data be recovered after a factory reset Android? ›

To recover data after factory reset Android, navigate to the "Backup and Restore" section under "Settings." Now, look for the "Restore" option, and choose the backup file you created before resetting your Android phone. Select the file and restore all of your data.

How do you permanently erase data so that it Cannot be recovered? ›

Download Reliable File Shredder Software to Permanently Delete Files so They Can't Be Restored. You must wipe and erase your computer to eliminate files from your PC or laptop without recovery. In this way, data that has been irreversibly erased can no longer be recovered.

How do I make sure that my deleted data is really gone? ›

There are, however, a few ways to ensure your data is really erased forever.
  1. Encrypt your phone. Encrypting your Android device is the strongest way to prevent its data from being recovered. ...
  2. Overwrite it with throwaway data. ...
  3. Repeat.
Jun 26, 2016

Is factory reset good enough before selling phone? ›

Android's factory reset feature has a security problem, but you can easily protect yourself before selling or recycling your phone. You likely already know that before you sell or recycle your phone you should reset it to factory settings so all of your personal information doesn't go along with the device.

How many years should an Android tablet last? ›

Last Updated on September 23, 2022

Tablets are not forever, but they can last for a long time. To give a straight answer a Windows tablet can last for 8-12 years, a Samsung will last for about 5 years, and an iPad will work for as long as nine years.

What is the life of an Android tablet? ›

Tablets have a shorter lifespan compared to laptops. They can perform well for up to two years, after which if the software is not updated, it may require constant repair. This is a problem with most Android tablets. It either begins to hang more often, works really slow, or the display shows signs of malfunctions.

How do I destroy my old Samsung tablet? ›

It can be done by smashing the device with a steel rod, shooting or setting fire to it. Whichever of the methods you choose just make sure that you have fully dismantled and destroyed the hardware of the device so that recovery is impossible. DISCLAIMER: this method is also extremely fun!

How do you destroy an Android tablet? ›

Use a hammer and crush it, drill some holes into it, really tear it up. It might be tempting to just drop it in some water, but data could still be recovered from a hard drive damaged that way: you've really gotta bang it up to make sure it's unusable.

How do I prepare my cell phone for recycling? ›

10 Steps to Take Before Recycling Your Phone
  1. Clean Your Phone.
  2. Back up Your Phone.
  3. Conduct Factory Reset.
  4. Encrypt Your Data.
  5. Remove SIM or SD Cards.
  6. Find Your Phone Model.
  7. Assess Your Phone for Water Damage.
  8. Perform a Function Test.
Sep 20, 2016

What to do before disposing of a mobile phone? ›

What should I do before I recycle my cell phone?
  1. Make sure the account has been deactivated and all bills have been fully paid.
  2. Remove the SIM card (if there is one).
  3. Clear all personal information.
Feb 20, 2018

What is the best wipe method? ›

Most experts agree that Secure Erase is the best way to overwrite an entire hard drive in a single pass. The very simple Write Zero method accomplishes essentially the same thing, albeit much slower.

Is it enough to do a factory reset? ›

Basic file deletion and factory reset are not enough

A lot of people perform a factory reset to wipe everything off their Android device, before disposing or reselling it. But the problem is, a factory reset doesn't really delete everything.

Does removing the SIM card erase memory? ›

But people seem to forget (or not know) about wiping the phone's internal memory. That's where we found data on the five phones that still contained some. Removing the SIM card stops the phone from communicating with the network, but doesn't erase the email and contact lists already on the phone.

What is stored on your SIM card? ›

Despite the complicated name, it's basically your phone number. They can also store contact information, telephone numbers, SMS messages, billing information, and data usage. Plus, your SIM will have a personal identification number (PIN) to protect against theft.

Does a SIM card have memory? ›

The SIM card has enough memory to typically store up to 250 contacts, some of your text messages and other information that the carrier who supplied the card can utilize. Photos are not stored on SIM cards, so make sure they are backed up.

Can I sell my Android after factory reset? ›

Can my data still be accessed even after resetting my device? The data on most Android phones is encrypted which means that it can't be accessed following a factory reset. As such, you don't need to worry about another person accessing this information if you sell your Android phone.

How do I delete everything off my Samsung tablet? ›

Perform a factory data reset on your Galaxy tablet
  1. If you have multiple users on your tablet, you must be signed in to the main account.
  2. From Settings, search for and select Factory data reset.
  3. Tap Factory data reset one more time, and then review the information.
  4. When you're ready, tap Reset. ...
  5. Finally, tap Delete all.

How do I delete Google account after factory reset Android? ›

Remove a Google or other account from your phone
  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Tap Passwords and accounts. ...
  3. Under 'Accounts for', tap the account that you want to remove. ...
  4. To confirm, tap Remove account.

Does factory reset delete user accounts? ›

Resetting removes: All the personal files and user accounts on your PC. All apps and programs. Any changes made to settings.

Should I remove SIM card before or after factory reset? ›

Before starting with this process, remove any MicroSD card and your SIM card from the device. Step 1: Go to the 'Settings' of your device.

Does a factory reset remove Google Account? ›

The answer is No. A factory reset will delete all of the data on your phone, but won't delete your Google account. If you don't remove the Google account syned on your Android phone, you will get the Factory Reset Protection (FRP) lock message once you perform a factory reset.

Should you remove SIM card when selling phone? ›

Remove the SIM card.

The SIM card -- which gives your phone its number and identity on the network -- can also store data like contacts and call logs. The buyer has no need for your SIM card, so you should keep this as well. You'll typically need a pin-like tool to pop the SIM card out of its storage slot.

How do I permanently delete everything? ›

5 Best Ways to Permanently Delete Android Data
  1. Delete Items Using a File Manager. The worst way to delete a private file from your Android phone is from within the associated app. ...
  2. Erase Data With a File Shredder. ...
  3. Delete Android Files From Your PC. ...
  4. Erase Sensitive Files From SD Cards. ...
  5. Restore Your Phone to Factory Settings.
Jul 26, 2022

Does factory reset delete everything Samsung? ›

If you need to wipe your phone's data for any reason, you can perform a factory reset. This feature will completely erase your personal information and data to make your phone a clean slate.

How do I remove Google Account from phone after factory reset? ›

Visit Settings and then Accounts. There you can see a list of all accounts synced to your phone, including accounts for social media. If you have several Google accounts, choose the one you want to remove. Click on the Remove account button.

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