Changing Mobile Phones, Tablets or Computers?

Before you pass on or sell an old device, make sure you clear it of all pesonal information.

iPhone or iPad with an iCloud account? Sign out before getting rid of the device. Go to Settings > iCloud, then scroll to bottom and tap Sign Out. Press Sign Out again from the warning displayed on screen.

Remove SIM card (and MicroSD card if you use one). Run a factory reset; this will remove any files stored on the device, and erase any accounts such as Facebook or Twitter.

• On iPhone or iPad. Go to Settings > General and scroll down and press Reset. From here, select Erase All Content And Settings. If you have a passcode on the phone, you will need to enter that before the resest can take place.
• On Google. Go to Settings > Backup & Reset. From here, select Factory Data Reset, then Reset Phone on the screen displayed.
• On Windows. Go to Settings app and select System. Choose About, and press Reset Your Phone to make a factory reset.
• On a Windows tablet. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery (in options on left hand side of screen). Under Reset This PC, tap Get Started, then Erase Everything from the options displayed.

Computers with hard drives or solid state drives (SSD). These have a type of memory that cannot be wiped as easily as smartphones and tablets. You should remove the hard drive before selling or recycling and smash it with a hammer to ensure your personal data stored on it cannot be retrieved. You can buy a replacement hard drive, or state that the device does not have one when you sell it.

Feature in Good Housekeeping, May 2016