Exchanging or selling your old phone this Diwali? Do these steps first

Exchange offers are everywhere this festive season, and most of them need your old phone handed over. Before it leaves your hands, spend thirty minutes on it. A phone that is not cleaned out properly can expose your photos, chats, payment apps and even your bank OTPs to a stranger, and a phone that is still locked to your account may be rejected by the buyer or the exchange partner.

Here is the order we suggest, based on the official steps Apple and Google publish for their phones.

Step 1: back up and move your data

Back up first, then set up the new phone, and only then wipe the old one. Doing it in that order means you can go back to the old handset if something did not copy across.

On an iPhone, Apple's support page What to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone or iPad says to create a backup and use Quick Start to transfer data if the old phone has iOS 11 or later. If your phone number will change with the new phone, Apple asks you to add extra trusted phone numbers to your Apple Account so you do not lose access.

On Android, Google says data stored in your Google Account can be restored after a reset, but all apps and their data will be uninstalled. So check that backup is on and complete before you go further.

Do not forget WhatsApp. Its chat backup is separate from the phone backup on many setups, so run it manually and check the date of the last backup inside the app.

Step 2: sign out and remove locks

This is the step people skip, and it is the one that causes most trouble with exchange pickups.

On an iPhone running iOS 26 or later, Apple's steps are: open Settings, tap your name, scroll down, tap Sign Out, and choose whether to erase the device. If you have an Apple Watch paired, unpair it first. If you are moving to an Android phone, deregister iMessage, or messages from iPhone users may not reach you.

On Android, Google's factory reset page asks you to make sure you know the Google Account username and password on the phone, and your screen lock PIN or pattern. Apple's own trade-in guidance for Android phones goes further: sign out of your account on the device, because failing to do so affects trade-in eligibility. Google also advises waiting 24 hours before a factory reset if you recently changed your Google Account password.

Also remove cards from payment wallets, and log out of UPI and banking apps. A factory reset will erase them, but logging out first makes sure the sessions are closed on the bank's side.

Two more iPhone checks from Apple's page are easy to miss. Open Parts and Service History in Settings: if any part shows a "Finish Repair" message, Apple says that repair has to be completed before the phone can be traded in. And if you have an AppleCare plan, you can cancel it or transfer it to the new owner. Once the phone is gone, remove it from your list of trusted devices in your Apple Account.

Step 3: erase the phone

On an iPhone, go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, and tap Erase All Content and Settings, then enter your passcode, according to Apple's page.

On Android, Google says a factory reset can take up to an hour. Charge the phone to at least 70 percent and keep it connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data. Most phones let you reset from the settings app, and Google points users to their manufacturer's support site for model-specific steps, so check your brand's page if the menu looks different. Google's full instructions are on its Android factory reset help page.

Finally, take out the SIM card and any memory card. Remove the case and screen guard if the exchange partner asks for it, as Apple's Android trade-in note mentions.

Already handed the phone over without wiping it? Apple's advice is to ask the new owner to erase it, or to erase it yourself remotely through Find Devices on iCloud.com, then change your Apple Account password and turn on two-factor authentication. On Android, change your Google Account password and remove the old phone from your account's device list.

Step 4: paperwork and the IMEI

Dial *#06# and note the IMEI before you hand the phone over. Keep it with a photo of the phone's condition and the exchange or sale receipt. If there is ever a dispute or the phone turns up in a police complaint, that record helps.

If you are buying a second-hand phone yourself, the Department of Telecommunications' Sanchar Saathi portal lets you check an IMEI: send "KYM" followed by the 15-digit IMEI as an SMS to 14422, or enter it on the portal. Our earlier report on DoT action on IMEI tampering explains why that check matters.

What your old phone is worth

Exchange value varies with model, condition and the platform. As one reference, Apple's India store listed trade-in credit from Rs 4,500 to Rs 81,500 depending on the device, price as of 6 October 2026, 1:35 AM IST. Marketplace exchange offers during the festive sales may quote different amounts, and the final value is usually confirmed only after the pickup inspection.

So compare a direct sale, a brand trade-in and a marketplace exchange before you choose. Our Diwali phone upgrade guide and the earbuds vs phone upgrade budget guide can help you decide whether this is the year to upgrade at all.

Done right, the whole process takes less than an hour and saves you a lot of worry later. Back up, sign out, erase, note the IMEI, and only then hand it over.