Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi before you start this process. Plug your phone in if the battery seems low<\/a>, then follow these easy steps:<\/p>\n Once your phone has finished the backup, you can confirm its success by opening the iCloud menu in the Settings app, picking Manage Storage and then Backups. You can also delete out-of-date backups<\/a> from this menu.<\/p>\n For stronger privacy protection, consider enabling Advanced Data Protection<\/strong> in your iCloud settings. Introduced in iOS 16<\/a>.2, this feature expands end-to-end encryption to 25 data categories<\/a> – like iCloud Backup and Photos – meaning even Apple can’t access your backed-up data. If you don’t have it, the standard iCloud Backup is still encrypted. But Apple holds the keys<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you’d like to use an external system to back up your data, you can use your computer. The process will depend on the computer and operating system you use.<\/p>\n First, connect your iPhone to your Mac. You can connect either physically via your charging cable or wirelessly with the Wi-Fi Syncing feature. Next, follow these steps:<\/p>\n Note: iTunes is no longer used on Mac. If you’re running macOS Catalina or later<\/a>, Finder is the only option for local iPhone backups on a Mac. If you’re still on macOS Mojave or earlier, you’ll follow this process through iTunes<\/a> instead.<\/p>\n Make sure your iPhone is connected to your computer, then follow this process:<\/p>\n There are some last-minute security steps you’ll want to take before you wipe your iPhone.<\/p>\n First, you should unpair any Bluetooth devices like headphones<\/a>, smartwatches, or home systems. You can do this through the Bluetooth menu in your Settings app. Select each device and tap Forget This Device.<\/p>\n Next, you’ll have to sign out of iCloud on your device. On any modern iPhone running iOS 10.3 or later<\/a> – which covers virtually all iPhones still in use – follow these steps:<\/p>\n In most cases, you won’t need to manually sign out of the iTunes & App Store separately, as signing out of your Apple ID through the steps above covers this. However, if you’re running a very old version of iOS, you might need to sign out of the App Store independently through Settings.<\/p>\n If you’re planning on switching to a phone from another manufacturer<\/a>, you should also be sure to deregister your iMessage account<\/a> – this prevents text messages intended for your new phone number from continuing to route through iMessage after you’ve left the Apple ecosystem.<\/p>\n Once you’re ready to erase your data, follow these steps:<\/p>\n Allow the phone to complete the process before doing anything else \u2014 this could take a few minutes depending on your device.<\/p>\n It’s worth knowing that modern iPhones use full-disk AES-256 encryption, with encryption keys stored in the Secure Enclave<\/a>. When you erase all content and settings, the device performs a cryptographic erase \u2014 basically destroying those encryption keys \u2014 which renders all previously stored data unrecoverable. It’s supported by NIST SP 800-88 guidelines for media sanitization<\/a>, so you can feel confident your personal information is legitimately gone.<\/p>\n For added security before erasing, consider performing a full factory reset<\/a> and enabling Advanced Data Protection<\/a> (available since iOS 16.2), which expands end-to-end encryption to 25 data categories \u2014 like iCloud Backup<\/a> and Photos \u2014 up from 15 under the standard setting. You can enable this under Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n You can also run the restoration process through your computer. Just like with the backup process, the steps you’ll take depend on your computer and the operating system you use.<\/p>\n Once you’ve connected your iPhone to your Mac, follow this process:<\/p>\n Once you’ve selected the option to restore your iPhone, you’ll receive a series of prompts. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.<\/p>\n Just like the backup process, you’ll use iTunes to wipe your phone. Open the program and click the iPhone button near the top left of the window. Click Summary and then Restore iPhone. You’ll receive a series of prompts – just follow the instructions to complete the process.<\/p>\n Did you forget your passcode? You can still reset your iPhone, though the process will look a little different.<\/p>\n You’ll need a computer to get started. If you’re using a Windows PC, make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes installed<\/a> and that your computer is running Windows 10 or later. You’ll also need a compatible cable to connect your iPhone to your computer.<\/p>\n Make sure your iPhone is unplugged and turned off. You’ll put your device in recovery mode<\/a> using a different button depending on your iPhone model:<\/p>\n Press and hold the appropriate button while connecting your iPhone to the computer. Continue holding the button until the recovery mode screen appears, then release it and follow the restoration process for your computer.<\/p>\n It’s worth understanding what happens to your data when you perform a factory reset. Modern iPhones use full-disk AES-256 encryption<\/a>, with the encryption keys stored securely in the device’s Secure Enclave. When you erase your iPhone, the system doesn’t slowly overwrite every file – it destroys those encryption keys in what’s known as a cryptographic erase. Without the keys, the encrypted data is basically unrecoverable – it’s recognized by NIST SP 800-88 as an approved sanitization strategy<\/a> for modern storage media.<\/p>\n If you’re running iOS 16.2 or later, you can also enable Advanced Data Protection in your iCloud settings, which expands the number of end-to-end encrypted data categories from 15 to 25 – including iCloud Backup and Photos. Erasing your device while this feature is enabled means that even Apple<\/a> can’t access your backed-up data.<\/p>\n Before handing over your iPhone, you’ll want to remove it from your Trusted Devices list. You can do this by visiting your Apple ID account page on any connected device. Under the Devices section, choose your old iPhone and click Remove From Account<\/strong>.<\/p>\n This prevents the device from accessing any of your Apple services, like iCloud. If you ever need to regain access to your account on a new device, you’ll be prompted to verify your identity through two-factor authentication<\/a>.<\/p>\n It’s also worth learning about what actually happens to your data when you erase your iPhone. Modern Apple devices use full-disk AES-256 encryption, with keys stored in the Secure Enclave. When you choose Erase All Content and Settings<\/strong>, your iPhone doesn’t slowly overwrite every file – it destroys the encryption keys instantly, a process known as cryptographic erase. Without those keys, the remaining data is basically unrecoverable – it’s supported by NIST SP 800-88 guidelines, a recognized standard for media sanitization<\/a>.<\/p>\n For added security, consider enabling Advanced Data Protection<\/strong> before you erase. Introduced in iOS 16.2, this setting expands end-to-end encryption from 15 data categories under Standard Data Protection to 25 – adding coverage for iCloud Backup, Photos, and more. Even if someone were to attempt to access your iCloud data after the fact, end-to-end encryption means only you hold the keys<\/a>.<\/p>\n One final note: if you had Analytics sharing disabled, your iPhone may have been storing analytics data locally for as long as 12 months. A full erase will wipe this data along with everything else, so no action is needed beyond the standard reset process. If you’re thinking about what comes next, check out how refurbished devices can save you money<\/a> on your next upgrade.<\/p>\n Trading in your old iPhone gives you a great financial boost you can put toward an upgrade. At Gazelle, you’ll get an offer in minutes, and our Trade-In Price Promise<\/a> means that the amount we quote is the amount you’ll get.<\/p>\n We resell used technology in functional working condition like cell phones<\/a>, tablets and laptops to keep them out of landfills<\/a>. And when we receive a device that’s no longer usable, we take care to recycle it.<\/p>\n Trading in your used phone with Gazelle is easy, direct and safe. Before you send it in, just remember to erase your device – Apple’s “Erase All Content and Settings” uses a cryptographic erase backed up by AES-256 encryption<\/a>, which means your data is rendered unrecoverable before your iPhone ever leaves your hands. Check out our secure and reliable platform<\/a> or browse our blog<\/a> for more tips<\/a> and info.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Before you can switch your old iPhone out for a newer model, you’ll need to protect your privacy…","protected":false},"author":17412,"featured_media":9792,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-how-to","cs-entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
<\/figure>\n
How to Back Up Your iPhone on a Computer<\/h2>\n
Backing Up iPhone Using macOS<\/h3>\n
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Backing Up iPhone Using Windows PC<\/h3>\n
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Last Steps Before Resetting Your iPhone<\/h3>\n
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How to Erase Your Data Using Your iPhone<\/h2>\n
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How to Erase Your Data Using a Computer<\/h2>\n
Erasing Data on macOS<\/h3>\n
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Erasing Data on a Windows PC<\/h3>\n
How to Erase iPhone Data Without a Password<\/h3>\n
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What Actually Happens When You Erase Your iPhone<\/h3>\n
Last Steps Before Turning in Your Device<\/h2>\n
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Trade In Your Used iPhone With Gazelle<\/h2>\n