Factory reset your old iPhoneĪfter your device is fully backed up, the next step for trading it in (or recycling it), is to wipe it completely. In short, though, it’s just a matter of connecting your device, navigating to it in iTunes, and clicking “Back Up Now.” If you need more help, Michael’s guide is great. If you don’t have enough space to perform your backup via iCloud or you’d prefer to back up with iTunes, our Michael Potuck did a comprehensive guide on this process earlier this year. Tap iCloud Backup and then tap “Back Up Now.”
To do this, head to Settings on your iPhone tap your name, and then tap iCloud. Regardless, it’s a good idea to go in and perform one manually before you trade in your old iPhone just for good measure. You might already have iCloud backups happening automatically, which generally occurs if your device is connected to power, connected to Wi-Fi, locked, and there’s enough space. The first thing you want to do is make sure your iPhone is wholly backed up so that you don’t lose any data. But what should you do about that aging phone now that you’re planning to upgrade? Here’s how to trade in and recycle your old iPhone for the latest-and-greatest… If you’re coming from an older device but want to update to the newest model, it’s clear that the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max are great devices.
