How do I prepare my device for sale?

Here we'll show you how to prepare your device for sale by deregistering it from all major services, removing it from your iCloud account, and turning off "Find My iPhone/iPad/Mac".

Wie bereite ich mein Gerät für den Verkauf vor

iPhone & iPad, sign out of iCloud & erase all data (from iOS 15) 

First, create a backup of your device. In our guides, you will find separate instructions for transferring data to a new iPhone and to a new Mac.

Before you can sell your device to us, you must ensure all your data is removed from the device. Below you will find instructions on how to sign out of iCloud and then erase all your data and settings at once. The device will be reset to factory settings. 

Disable Activation Lock 

Important: This step is only necessary if "Activation Lock" is active. If this protection is not active, you can skip directly to the next point "Sign out of iCloud". 

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Face ID & Passcode.
  3. Scroll down and disable "Activation Lock".
  4. Go back to Settings → [Your Name] → "Find My".
  5. Tap "Find My iPhone".
  6. Enter your Apple ID password to disable the feature immediately.

Sign out of iCloud

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap at the top on "[Your Name]".
  3. Scroll down and tap "Sign Out". Enter your Apple ID password to disable "Find My Device". If asked whether you want to erase data on the device, you can do so at this step.
  4. Then tap "Deactivate & Sign Out".

After this step, you will be signed out of the following services on this device.

  • iCloud
  • App Store & Media
  • iMessage
  • FaceTime
  • "Find My Device"

Erase All Content and Settings

If you did not erase your device in the first step, you now need to make sure all personal data is deleted from the device by resetting it to factory settings.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to General.
  3. Scroll down to "Transfer/Reset iPhone".
  4. Tap "Erase All Content & Settings."
  5. Confirm with your device passcode.
  6. If asked again for your Apple ID, enter your password (to finally disable the activation lock).
  7. Tap "Erase iPhone."

Your device will then restart and display the Hello setup screen; it is now fully erased and contains no personal data.

Your device is ready for sale. 

Apple Watch (from WatchOS 8) 

Important: Unpairing via the iPhone is the only Method that automatically removes the activation lock. This will fully disconnect the Watch from your Apple ID and make it ready for sale! An Apple Watch with activation lock cannot be sold. 

  1. Place the Apple Watch next to your iPhone.
  2. Open the "Watch" app on your iPhone.
  3. Tap "All Apple Watches" at the top (if you have multiple).
  4. Select the Watch you want to erase.
  5. Tap the info icon (i) next to the Watch name.
  6. Tap "Unpair Apple Watch."
  7. If you have a Cellular/LTE model, choose:  
  • "Remove cellular plan"
  • Enter your Apple ID password to disable the activation lock.

The Watch will now be fully reset to factory settings and disconnected from the iPhone.

After unpairing, the Watch is:
  • no longer linked to your Apple ID
  • no longer locatable
  • ready for sale or transfer
  • completely deleted

MacBook, iMac, Mac mini & Mac Pro, sign out of iCloud & delete all data (from macOS 12 Monterey)

1. Sign out of iCloud (Apple ID)

  1. Click the Apple menu at the top left.
  2. Open System Preferences
    Click "[Your Name] – Apple ID" at the top left.

2.1 Select "iCloud" / "iCloud & Media" in the sidebar (this step may be omitted depending on the version).

  1. Scroll down and click "Sign Out."

  2. If asked whether you want to keep copies of your data (contacts, keychain, Safari, etc.), choose:
     → Keep nothing

  3. Enter your Apple ID password to disable "Find My" or the activation lock (applies to Macs with Apple Silicon (M1–Mn) or T2 chip (Intel 2018+)).

After this step, you will be completely signed out of:
  • iCloud
  • App Store & Media
  • iMessage
  • FaceTime
  • "Find My" (Activation Lock disabled)

2. Erase all data on the Mac 

This step fully resets your Mac, erasing all data and reinstalling macOS. Before erasing your data, make sure you have backed it up. Here is a guide on how to back up your data. 

a) Macs with Apple Silicon (M1–M6) or T2 chip (Intel 2018+)
  1. Apple menu → Restart.
  2. Hold the power button during restart until "Options" appears.
  3. Select "Options" → "Continue".
  4. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
  5. Select Macintosh HD (or your system volume) → Erase. ( Format: APFS)
  6. Close Disk Utility.
  7. Select "Reinstall macOS".
  8. Follow the instructions until the "Hello" screen.
b) Macs with Apple Silicon (M1–M6) or T2 chip (Intel 2018+) running macOS Ventura or later 
  1. Open the Apple menu at the top left.
  2. Select System Preferences.
  3. Go to General in the sidebar.
  4. Select "Transfer or Reset".
  5. Click "Erase All Content & Settings".
  6. Enter your administrator password and follow the on-screen steps.
c) Older Macs without T2 chip (Intel 2017 or earlier)
  1. Restart → immediately hold ⌘ + R (Command + R).
  2. Disk Utility → Erase Volume.
  3. Reinstall macOS.

Check if your device has been removed from your Apple Account.

  1. Open appleid.apple.com on another device.
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
  3. Scroll to "Devices".
  4. Search for your device.
  5. If your device is still shown, select it and click → "Remove from Account".

This is how you ensure your device is no longer linked to your Apple Account and can be sold. 

Your device is now ready! Click here to start the selling process immediately.