Short answer: Back everything up first, then sign out of your accounts (iCloud on iPhone, Google on Android) and turn off Find My / device protection before you factory reset — signing out is what removes the activation lock that can make a traded-in phone unusable for its next owner. Then reset, remove the SIM and memory card, give it a clean, and bring the charger if you have it.
Step 1 — Back up like you mean it
A trade-in is only a good experience if nothing is lost. Back up twice if you can: to the cloud (iCloud or Google) and, for the things that matter most, check they are actually there. Open your photo library on another device or a browser and confirm recent photos appear. Check WhatsApp separately — it has its own backup setting inside the app, and it is the one people most often discover was switched off.
Step 2 — Move your two-factor and banking apps
Authenticator apps, banking apps and anything tied to the handset itself (some revolut-style and work apps, eSIMs, digital keys) need a moment's thought before the phone goes. Set them up on the new phone first where possible, or note the recovery codes somewhere safe. If you use an eSIM, plan the transfer with your network — do not simply wipe and hope.
Step 3 — Sign out, in the right order
iPhone
- Unpair an Apple Watch first, if you have one (this backs the watch up automatically).
- Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, and Sign Out of iCloud. This turns off Find My and removes Activation Lock.
- Sign out of the App Store / iTunes too if prompted.
Android
- Remove your Google account in Settings → Accounts.
- Turn off Find My Device and any manufacturer protection (for example Samsung's account) in the security settings.
- Remove screen lock PIN/pattern once accounts are off.
Why this matters: a phone that is still locked to your account cannot be set up by anyone else — it effectively has no trade-in value until the lock is released. Shops see this weekly; it is the number one avoidable problem with trade-ins.
Step 4 — Factory reset
Only after the sign-outs: iPhone — Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content and Settings. Android — Settings → System/General management → Reset → Factory data reset. When it restarts to the welcome screen, you are done — do not set it up again.
Step 5 — The physical bits
- Remove your SIM card and any microSD card (check the tray carefully).
- Take the case off and give the phone a clean — first impressions genuinely affect how a phone is graded and valued.
- Gather the charger and cable if you still have them; originals help.
- Be honest about faults. A cracked screen or weak battery does not end a trade-in — it just changes the value, and surprises found later change it more.
What your old phone is worth — and what changes it
Model and storage size set the starting point. Condition, battery health, whether it is unlocked, and completeness (box, charger) move it from there. You can read our trade-in page for how valuations work at Royal Tech in Rathfarnham, Dublin, or simply bring the phone in — valuations are free and there is no obligation to accept.
Timing your trade-in for the best value
Trade-in values follow the market, and the market has rhythms. Values dip when a new model launches and everyone trades at once, and they slide steadily as a model ages — a phone traded this month is almost always worth more than the same phone traded next season. If a replacement is already decided, waiting rarely pays. Conversely, if your phone is mid-contract and working beautifully, the best trade-in decision can be no decision: another year of use is value no shop can give you.
What if the phone is damaged?
Damage reduces value; it rarely eliminates it. A cracked screen, a worn battery, a faulty button — each is priced in. What matters is honesty: a fault declared up front is a small deduction, while a fault discovered during testing tends to colour the whole valuation. Liquid damage is the one to be especially straight about, because internal indicators will show it regardless. And sometimes the numbers flip: for certain models, a repair before trade-in returns more than it costs. Ask for both figures — any good shop will happily show you the two side by side, as we do at Royal Tech in Rathfarnham.
A note on children, work phones and shared devices
Trading in a child's phone? Check messaging apps and school logins are signed out, and that parental controls are released. A work phone may belong to your employer's mobile management — if a company profile is on it, your IT department must remove it before any shop can accept it; no reset you do will clear it. Shared family tablets and phones often carry more accounts than anyone remembers: sign out of app stores, streaming and email as well as the main account.
Frequently asked questions
Will the shop wipe my data for me?
A reputable shop will check that a phone is signed out and reset, but your data is your responsibility — do the steps above yourself so you know it is done. Never hand over a phone that still has your accounts on it.
I have forgotten my Apple ID / Google password. Can I still trade in?
Recover the account first through Apple's or Google's official recovery — the lock cannot be bypassed legitimately, and a locked phone cannot be valued as a working phone.
Can I trade in a broken phone?
Usually yes — value depends on the fault and the model. A phone that is only worth parts still has some worth. See whether repair makes more sense first with our repair-or-replace checklist.
What happens to my old phone after trade-in?
Working phones are checked, tested and resold as pre-owned with a fresh start; phones beyond repair are stripped for parts or recycled responsibly. Either way, it stays out of a drawer — and out of landfill.
Should I include the box and accessories?
If you have them, yes — a complete, boxed phone presents better and can attract a slightly stronger valuation. They are a bonus, though, never a requirement.
How long does a trade-in valuation take?
A few minutes for a working phone that is already signed out and reset — longer if locks need resolving, which is why doing the steps in this guide at home first makes the whole thing painless.