You’ve finally made the leap and upgraded to a new smartphone, or you’re ready to switch to one with even more features. Congratulations! But before you move on from your old device, there are a few important steps you should take to clear any of your important information off of it. This will protect your personal data, and make sure you don’t inadvertently leave anything behind that you may wish to transfer to your new one.
Before retiring your current phone, take a few minutes to do the following:
Use cloud storage (either iCloud or Google drive) to back up your contacts, photos, and any other important documents you may have in your phone’s files. If you’re moving on to the same type of device, make sure you know your Google Account email and password, or Apple ID. You’ll need these to recover your saved data and transfer it to your new phone.
To back up your iPhone contacts, tap Settings, then go to iCloud. Make sure Contacts is selected, then follow the prompts to merge them. To back up your Android phone using Google, go to Google Drive, then tap Settings. Go to System, then Advanced, then Backup, and make sure Back Up to Google Drive is enabled.
Once you’ve backed up your data, you can clear out your old phone by doing a factory reset. This will return the phone to the state it was in before you uploaded any personal information or customized any of its settings.
To do a factory reset for an iPhone, choose Settings, go to General, then Reset, and tap Erase All Content and Settings. Confirm your AppleID to complete the process. The reset process will vary for Android models, but on most, open Settings, look for Reset options, and select Erase All Data, or Factory Reset. You may need to confirm your PIN to complete the reset.
By following these few simple steps, you’ll clean up files, protect data, and secure your personal information all while making your transition to a new smartphone easier. In addition, if your previous device is relatively new, it still packs plenty of potential. By doing a factory reset, you’ve put it in a great state to be given to a friend who could still use it, or for donating it to an organization that can find new life for it.
Can I unlock my phone and use it on consumer cellular?
Thank you for asking, Brigitte! In general, many fully unlocked GSM devices can be used with our SIM card. These would include phones used previously on the AT&T or T-Mobile networks. If it sounds like your phone would be a good fit, you’ll just need to reach out to the original carrier to ensure it is unlocked, as we aren’t able to do that on our end. If you’d like to learn more about our SIM option, be sure to watch our video here. We’re also happy to answer any questions you may have at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you posting, and we hope you have a great day!
if i buy an unlocked galaxy s9 on amazon will it be compatable with consumer cellular
Hi Jerry, thank you for posting. In order to use an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S9 from Amazon with our service, it will need to be GSM-compatible and able to use a SIM card. Please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee compatibility for all phone models, but our agents will do all they can to resolve any problems.
How much in my old phone can I backup onto Google Drive, seeing that I have a Motorola G 5 phone? The article above mentions phone contacts, photos, and important documents can be backed up onto Google Drive.
What about all the apps I have installed on my old phone? Do all those disappear if and when I do a factory reset?
Thanks.
Hi Rudolph, you may be able to back up apps with Google Drive if you go to Settings > Backup. There should be an option labeled Backup to Google Drive.
I have two old flip phones that I want to give away. How do I remove my content and contacts and do I need to remove a sim card
Hi Sigrid, thanks for your question! We can help you perform a factory reset on the phone to clear that information. Give us a call at 800-686-4460 or chat with one of our agents here for further assistance.