4 Things to do before giving away your smartphone (Android)
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Are you thinking of selling your smartphone, or would you like to give your phone to family members or friends?
If yes, then let's get started. Below are 4 essential steps to safeguard your personal information and privacy! These checks ensure your data is secure, so you can confidently hand over your device without worrying.
Introduction
Today's smartphone contains more than call records and messages.
It's a treasure trove of personal information, I use my mobile phone for communication purposes, to perform payment transactions, to capture beautiful moments, to keep updated on exciting topics, staying updated with social media, professional connect, for entertainment, to organize myself, to shop, etc.
This information accumulated on mobile device for months/years, it would be worth reviewing it before giving it away.
1. Back Up Your Data
Why Backing Up is Critical
Before wiping up your android device, It's important to backup your data. This step protects your important files and memories, ensure you don't lose any valuable.
It makes a smooth transition for your new device and can continue using it from where you have left off.
Backing up onto Cloud: Using Google Drive
As of today, most users prefer to store information in their respective cloud accounts. Still, it would be better to re-verify and ensure all the data synchronization is up-to-date.
Steps to Verify:
Navigate to Settings --> Accounts --> Select your primary sync Gmail account --> Check Sync on for all items enabled.
Followed by verifying when was the last sync performed. Click on account preferences as shown below and select Account Sync status.
Backing up Locally
The rest of the users who would like to keep the data locally can connect the phone to a Laptop/Desktop and copy all the data to a local drive.
Steps to connect locally:
- Plug the USB charging cable into your device and select File Transfer/Android Auto by clicking on the USB Preferences in the notification bar.
After connecting the device, the system will auto-detect and mount the shared folder to your operating system. Once opening the folder, all the files will be displayed, as shown below.
Simply drag-and-drop all the file you want to keep and ensure your crucial data is copied onto the external storage.
Using ADB from CLI (optional)
- Ensure the debugging is enabled and all the required tools like
adbis already installed on your system.
Below step can be ran on
non-rooteddevices as well.
A general rule in information security is to keep at least two backups so that even if one backup fails in an unexpected scenario, the second backup copy helps restore your data.
2. Sign out of Accounts
Sign out of all linked Online Accounts
Make sure to sign out all your accounts which are linked to your android phone.
Example:
- Telegram
- Social Media Accounts
- Banking Apps etc.
Steps to Sign Out of Google Account:
Once all the data of calls, messages, documents, etc., are backed up, the next step is to log into your Google account and remove all the links associated with the mobile device.
This can be done from a mobile or from the web browser too. Go to Gmail --> Accounts --> Security --> Your Devices.
Select the phone you want to remove, click on Sign Out, and remove your Google account from the phone.
This is an important step, if it is missed the new owner of the phone might have trouble in logging into the device as the previously used gmail account is needed to unlock it.
3. Remove SIM & Memory Cards
Once you are confident that all the above steps are ensured, the last step would be to remove your SIM card and memory cards, if any.
If you use a carrier-connected device, work with your carrier to deactivate/transfer the service and ensure all formalities are cleared.
4. Reset and erase all data.
Now it's time to reset and erase all the data. We can wipe out all settings, data stored on the device, etc.
Check for Device Encryption
Encryption is a security measure that protects your data by converting it into a non-readable code, which cannot be easily reversed back.
Most of the today's smartphones comes encrypted by default. In case your device is not encrypted, encrypt it and than carry out the reset operations.This step adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that even if someone accesses your device, they can’t recover your personal data.
How to check for Encryption status:
- Go to
Settingson your Android device. - Tap on
Security and Privacy - Look for
Encryptionsection and check if it displaysencrypted. If not, follow the prompts to enable it.
Steps to perform Factory Reset:
Re-think and ensure you are not losing any important data.
- Navigate to Settings --> System --> Reset Options --> Erase all data (factory reset)
- Now the phone wipes out all the data on the device and will boot up, displaying the
if you are able to easily recognize your usage patterns on screen, like pin code or pattern then would recommend cleaning up so they cannot guess your password. (this is generally for those who use the common passwords for multiple devices/accounts.
Even after factory reset, if you are paranoid about your data on device, you can encrypt it again and reset the device as shown above.
Conclusion
By following the above essential steps, you can confidently pass on your android phone while protecting your privacy. From backing up your data to performing factory reset each step is vital in ensuring that your personal information remains secure. Now you can hand over your device with peace of mind!