If you are going to sell an old Android smartphone then definitely keep these things in mind
Now when you buy a new handset, what will happen to the old one? This question becomes more important. Some users gift the old handset and some sell it. If you’re planning to sell your old phone, or are thinking of passing it on to a loved one, you’ll want to make sure that all of your personal data is completely deleted.
If you have an Android phone, then all the data can be completely deleted by following the suggestions given below.
micro SD card
First of all you have to decide about the microSD card. If your old phone has a microSD card, you can use it in your new phone as well. By doing this, most of the data such as photos and videos will be easily migrated.
If your new phone does not have a microSD card slot, or for some reason you do not want to use your old card, then you should format your SD card and delete all the data. However, before this make a backup of all your photos and videos.
1. Connect your phone to the computer via USB cable. If you have a MacBook, then first install the Android File Transfer application on it.
2. Open My Computer on your personal computer or Finder on your MacBook.
3. From here, go to the SD card and copy all the files and save them on your computer.
4. Once all the data is copied you can remove your phone from the computer.
Now you can format your memory card.
1. Go to Settings on your phone and select Storage.
2. Scroll down and tap Erase SD card. After this you will get a warning message stating that by doing this you will lose all your data.
3. After this tap on Erase SD card button to proceed. If your SD card is password protected, you will need to enter the PIN to proceed.
But some people can recover your files even from a formatted SD card, and an easy way to deal with this problem is “layering”. Add some more data to your formatted card, then delete it, and repeat the process two-three times. By doing this your original data will disappear forever.
For example, if you have formatted your 2GB microSD card, reconnect it to your computer. Copy about 2 GB file on it. And delete this file immediately. Repeat this process two to three times. Doing this will not take you more than 10 minutes, and you can easily sell your card.
How to backup data
First of all make sure that you do not lose your contacts and photos. One nice thing with Android is that you need a Google account to set up your phone, and with that your device starts getting backed up. Follow this process to make sure this is happening or not.
1. Go to Settings on your phone. Select Backup & Reset there.
2. You will be able to see the option of Back up my data. Make sure it is ticked.
3. After this go back to the previous page. Scroll down to the Accounts option and then tap on Google.
4. You will be able to see your Google account that was used to set up the phone. There will also be a green sync symbol next to it. Now tap on Account.
5. Make sure all options are selected. After this, calendar, contacts, emails and photos, everything will be automatically backed up on Google+ through your Google account.
6. However, not all versions of Android automatically backup photos. We checked the 2011 Samsung Galaxy Note models, but they did not have this option. At the same time, Moto E, which was launched two years ago, has this option. If your phone does not have this feature then you will have to create a backup on your computer via USB.
7. Connect the phone to the PC via USB cable and backup the remaining media files on your computer. You can back up the files to your computer by following the instructions in the SD card section.
(Also read: Backup your Android smartphone in this way)
Under this option, application data of many of your apps will also be backed up. For this backup, your apps need to be registered with the Android operating system, it is also possible that many of your apps do not support this feature. We suggest you to manually backup the application data of your favorite apps.
delete everything
Now that you have backed up all the data, you can feel free to delete the data from your phone. You can delete the data by following the suggestions given below.
First of all, completely format the SD card by following the tips suggested above. If you want to keep using that SD card in future also, then keep it safe.
You can also delete everything from your phone through a factory reset, but some people can also recover deleted data. If you want to ensure that no one can recover deleted data, you can enable hardware encryption. Most people can ignore points 1 and 2 and start directly with point 3.
1. Go to Settings. Select Security and tap Encrypt Phone. This process takes a lot of time, so connect your phone to the charger.
2. Tap Encrypt Phone once again. Some people have found that this process does not start all at once. In such a situation, you will have to try a few more times.
This process takes about 1 hour, so you will have to wait by keeping your phone charged. Once this is done, you can reset the phone.
3. Go to Settings and select Backup & reset. Then choose Factory data reset. Tickmark the Erase phone data box in the next screen. In some phones, you can also delete data from the memory card, so read the instructions carefully before tapping any button.
4. After this a warning screen will appear. Tap on Reset phone to proceed.
5. This process may take some time. After this your phone will reboot and reach the state when you purchased it. You will be prompted to select a language and sign in once again.
One thing to keep in mind is that it is not necessary that the steps suggested by us will apply to every phone. This will depend on your device’s manufacturer and Android version.
Now it’s time for a good price
Selling an old phone or any other old gadget is a very difficult task. Because it is difficult for you to estimate the price of your device.
Exchange offer on e-commerce site
You have the option of exchange offers, but most of the times you don’t get the right price for your gadgets. Especially in case of phone. Flipkart often brings such offers during the festive season or sale. The disadvantage is that you will be able to exchange your old phone only at the time of purchasing the handset. That means the question of getting cash does not arise. And it is not necessary that your desired phone is available in exchange offer. However, one beneficial thing about this option is that you will not have to worry about selling the phone. Flipkart’s delivery agent will take the old handset from you while giving you the new mobile.
Classified websites like OLX and Quikr
Today, classified websites like OLX and Quikr are dominant. By logging on to these websites you can list your old mobile. During this, you will have to provide detailed details about your mobile, such as date of purchase, accessories and many more. Along with uploading the photo of the mobile, you will also have to mention your expected price. After this the round of bargaining will begin. When you feel that you are getting the deal you want, sell the handset. Keep in mind that before selling the mobile, know about the price available on other platforms.
Sell through website and app
Most online classified websites allow you to advertise a product but provide you with the exact price of the handset. Apart from this, there is the hassle of delivering the handset to the buyer and then payment. This is where Atterobay.com and Reglobe’s Cashify app prove to be effective. We had discussed this in detail in an old article. Read by clicking here.
You don’t need to advertise online, or even search for interested buyers. Log in to Atrobe’s website and sell your phone. Just keep clicking on the link and you will find your phone easily, or you can search for it easily.
sell mobile phone to acquaintances
You can also sell the mobile to anyone you know. It is possible that by bargaining you may get a higher price than the market. Remember that by doing this you will also have to take guarantee of your handset. If the handset sold by you gets damaged by mistake, it may lead to an argument with an acquaintance.
Is it a local retail store?
Apart from this, many retail stores also buy old phones from hand. On most occasions, it has been seen that users do not get very high prices for the handset in these shops. But some people are also lucky. Due to high demand, they are able to get more money for their handset. Our suggestion would be to know the price of your phone on other platforms also before selling it in a retail store. In such a situation, you will get an estimate of the average price of the phone. And after selling the phone, you will not regret getting a lower price.
other important things
While selling the phone, it would be better if you also give its bill, box and accessories along with the handset. Suppose your phone’s headphones get lost, then the price of the phone will be affected. Having the bill and the phone box together creates a good impression on the potential customer about the used handset which you will be able to capitalize on at a higher price.
…then don’t sell mobile
If you do not need money very much then not selling the mobile would also be a good decision. You can gift your old phone to a loved one. Or you can keep it as a backup. Who knows when the need may arise? Well, a lot can be done with an old mobile also. It can also be used as a digital photo frame, security camera, gaming device and e-reader. We will discuss this in more detail in another article.
What things do you keep in mind before selling your old smartphone? Tell us also.
