Factory Reset Is Not Enough Before Selling Your Phone: Here’s the Right Way to Protect Your Personal Data

If you are planning to sell or exchange your smartphone and think that a simple factory reset is enough to wipe your personal data, think again. Cybersecurity experts warn that photos, videos, and sensitive information can still be recovered from a factory-reset phone using easily available software, potentially putting your privacy at serious risk.

With smartphones now storing banking details, private chats, and personal memories, following the correct data-erasing process before handing over your device is crucial.

Why a Factory Reset Alone Is Risky

A factory reset removes visible data, but it does not always erase the phone’s internal memory completely. Specialized recovery tools can retrieve deleted files, including photos and videos, even after a reset. This makes personal data vulnerable to misuse.

Do a Double Factory Reset for Safety

Experts recommend a two-step factory reset process:

1. Perform a factory reset once.
2. Set up the phone again without logging into your email or accounts.
3. Capture random photos or videos to overwrite old memory.
4. Perform a second factory reset.

This ensures that any recoverable data is replaced with random files instead of your private content.

Log Out of All Accounts First

Before resetting the device, log out of all Google, email, and other linked accounts via the phone’s settings. This prevents account-related data from remaining on the device and avoids activation lock issues for the next user.

Turn Off Cloud Backup

Smartphones often continue backing up data automatically to the cloud. Disable cloud backup and sync options before resetting your phone to ensure no personal data is unintentionally restored later.

Log Out of Important Apps

Make sure to log out of critical apps such as:

• WhatsApp and other messaging platforms
• Banking and payment apps
• Social media accounts

This step safeguards private chats, financial data, and login credentials.

Remove eSIM and Biometric Data

Before resetting:

• Transfer or delete your eSIM to avoid misuse or financial loss.
• Remove biometric data such as fingerprints and face recognition for added security.

Bottom Line

Selling or exchanging a smartphone without properly wiping data can expose you to identity theft and privacy breaches. A double factory reset, complete logout from accounts and apps, disabling backups, and removing eSIM and biometric data are essential steps to ensure your personal information does not fall into the wrong hands.

Taking a few extra minutes today can save you from serious trouble tomorrow.