How to Sell Your Old Phone Safely
in India
A factory reset alone is not enough. Here is the complete checklist — back up, remove accounts, wipe correctly, and verify — before handing over your phone to anyone.
Last updated: June 2026 · 6 min read
A factory reset does not always delete your data
On older Android phones (pre-2015), deleted files could be recovered with free tools. On modern phones with full-disk encryption enabled from the start, a factory reset is sufficient. Read the steps below to be certain.
Step 1: Back Up Everything First
Do this before anything else. Once you wipe the phone, recovery is difficult.
Photos and videos
Google Photos → Backup. Wait for sync to complete. Check drive.google.com to confirm.
WhatsApp chats and media
WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat Backup → Back Up Now. Saves to Google Drive.
Contacts
Contacts app → ☰ → Settings → Export to Google Account. Or save as VCF file.
Banking and UPI apps
Note your UPI IDs and linked numbers. After the reset, re-register on the new phone using the same number.
Authenticator app (2FA codes)
If you use Google Authenticator, export the accounts first. Go to Authenticator → ☰ → Transfer Accounts → Export.
Step 2: Remove All Accounts and SIM Cards
Remove the SIM card and microSD card
Do this physically — pull the SIM tray out. SIM cards are not wiped by a factory reset. SD cards may retain data even after formatting.
Sign out of Google Account
Settings → Accounts → Google → Select account → Remove Account. This disables Factory Reset Protection (FRP) — without this step, the buyer may not be able to set up the phone.
Sign out of WhatsApp
WhatsApp → ☰ → Settings → Account → Log out. This delinks your number from the device.
Remove all other accounts
Settings → Accounts → check for Samsung, Mi, Realme, or any other brand accounts. Remove them all.
Disable Find My Device (Google)
Settings → Security → Find My Device → turn off. Or it disables automatically when you remove your Google account.
Step 3: Enable Encryption (if Not Already Enabled)
On Android 6.0 and above, encryption is typically enabled by default when you set a screen lock. If you've been using a PIN or fingerprint lock, your phone is probably already encrypted — which means a factory reset will make your data truly unreadable.
To verify: Settings → Security → Encryption. If it says "Encrypted," you're good.
If your phone is not encrypted, enable encryption first, wait for it to complete (15–60 minutes), then proceed with the factory reset.
Step 4: Factory Reset
Go to Settings → General Management → Reset (Samsung) or Settings → System → Reset Options → Erase All Data (most Android phones)
The exact menu path varies by brand. Search "factory reset" in Settings if you can't find it.
Choose "Erase All Data" or "Factory Reset"
This wipes all apps, accounts, and settings from the device.
Enter your screen lock PIN when prompted
This confirms you're the authorised owner.
Wait for the reset to complete
Takes 3–10 minutes. The phone will restart and show the initial setup screen.
Selling on Cashify, OLX, or to a Local Shop
Cashify
Complete all the above steps before handing the phone to the Cashify agent. The agent will do a device check but will not look at your personal data — your job is to make sure it's wiped before they arrive.
OLX or local buyer
Never hand over a phone to an OLX buyer before completing a full wipe. Meet in a public place, and only complete the sale after you've confirmed the phone is in factory-reset state. Don't allow the buyer to "try" the phone before the reset.
Local mobile shop
Shops that buy second-hand phones in India sometimes check for recoverable data. Complete the wipe yourself rather than asking the shop to "handle it" — they may recover and misuse your data.
Don't Forget: Remove from Raksha
If you had Raksha installed, open the Raksha app on your new phone and remove the old device from your circle. This ensures your family members no longer see the old phone's location and that the old phone no longer receives commands from your circle.