How to Exchange or Sell Your Android Phone
Selling or exchanging a used Android phone is a smart way to safely dispose of old devices and hopefully earn some extra money that you can invest in your next upgrade. But there are a few things to take care of before offloading your old phone, including backing up and deleting your data, cleaning it up, and finding the right seller or exchange offer.
Sounds simple enough, but the variety of Android “flavors” makes the process a little more messy than iPhone users . As such, the names and locations of the settings we cover in this guide may differ depending on your phone or Android version, but the general guidelines remain the same. If you can’t find something, use your phone’s search bar to find the settings you want, and if that doesn’t work, search the Internet for manuals specific to your device.
1. Back up your Android data.
The first step is to back up your data, including your contacts, texts, app data, photos, and other files stored on your phone. This process follows roughly the same steps as in our video tutorial on how to back up personal data on Android (and iOS) , so feel free to check that out too.
There are several ways to back up your Android phone, but the built-in Android backup tool is the simplest; it uploads your data to your Google Drive (or other apps) so you can import it to your new phone later.
Many users will have automatic backups turned on, but you can create a manual backup under Settings> System> Backup . This menu also displays the most recent backup made and what types of data are included. Make sure you turn on all the options in the “Backup details” section so that nothing is left, then select “ Back up now” to save your data.
Note that you may not have enough space to back up everything on your phone for free, at least if you are using Google Drive or Google One Drive. All backups count towards the free 15GB dedicated to each Google account, but it’s not expensive to buy extra space.
That said, if you want everything to be free but are struggling with the 15GB limit, the best option is to back up your phone’s photos and videos elsewhere. Google Photos automatically backs up your phone’s pictures, but the app now accounts for additional cloud uploads based on your Google account storage limit, and photos and videos are probably the largest amount of data on your phone. Instead, find an alternative cloud service or manually transfer photos to your computer via USB .
2. Delete your Google account (and other accounts).
The next step is to remove your Google account from your phone. Make sure you complete this step after backing up your data as you won’t be able to sync files to the cloud after you delete your account. Fortunately, the removal process is pretty simple:
- Go to Settings> Accounts.
- Select your Google account from the list.
- Click Remove Account.
- Repeat these steps for any additional accounts synced to your phone.
3. Perform a factory reset of Android.
Now that your data is backed up and your Google account is disconnected from your phone, you can perform a factory reset. This will remove your data, files and installed applications from the phone’s internal storage and return all settings to their default defaults. You can perform a factory reset even if your phone screen is completely damaged , but we’ll show you how to do it if the device is still in full working order.
- Go to Settings> Advanced> Reset Settings.
- Select “Erase All Data (Factory Reset)”.
- The next screen will show everything that will be deleted. This is your last chance to confirm any outdated data.
- Click “Erase All Data” to start the process.
4. Clean it up
With the insides of your phone cleaned out, it’s time to tackle the outside.
It’s pretty straightforward. First, remove any covers, screen covers, or other accessories from your phone, and then remove the SIM card. The steps to do this will vary from device to device, but most require a tiny pin key to open the SIM slot. These tiny tools usually come in their original box, but you can buy them online as well; or contact a certified repair location, technical support at a store such as Best Buy, or the nearest store for your carrier. Oh, and don’t forget to take out the micro SD expansion cards if you have a phone that supports extended storage.
It’s time to clean your phone. Our guide to safely disinfecting electronics may help if you’re unsure of what to do, but a general rule of thumb is to avoid liquid cleaners as moisture damages electronics and chemicals like alcohol, bleach, and ammonia can affect plastic and glass. A simple microfiber cloth will remove fingerprints and smudges, while a dry cotton swab can help remove dust and grime.
This is also a good opportunity to evaluate the quality of the device. Pay attention to any dents, cracks or scratches in advance so that you can get an accurate estimate in the next step. You must also confirm that you still have the original packaging of the phone and all the accessories it came with, such as chargers or headphones. They are not required to sell the phone, but their inclusion may increase the final cost of the exchange.
5. Find an exchange or seller.
Now your phone is ready to exchange, but the question is where? There are several different options, and some may bring a better deal than others, but it ultimately depends on what you plan to do with the exchange cost.
If you plan to use the cost of your old phone as credit for your new phone, check out exchange programs with your service provider. T-Mobile / Sprint , AT&T , Verizon , Google Fi , US Cellular and others allow you to trade in old phones and use their value for your next purchase. However, only certain models may be eligible and only if they are in good condition. condition.
For those who buy directly from the manufacturer, you can sell older versions of the company’s phone on credit. For example, Samsung allows its Galaxy phones to be sold , while Google is accepting trade for the Pixel . Although, again, there may be limitations.
Likewise, retailers like Amazon , Best Buy, GameStop, and Walmart also have exchange programs, and you can use gift card credit to buy from their websites.
If you want to sell for cash rather than store credit, you can also use a variety of third-party resellers, including:
These companies will buy your old phones with cash. The payout depends on the condition of your phone and the current market value.
The last option is to sell your phone to someone else yourself. Selling directly can sometimes be a better deal as you can set the price yourself, but there is no guarantee that you will make the sale.
There are many websites that safely facilitate online sales such as Swappa , eBay , Facebook Marketplace, or even Amazon and Back Market if you are a professional recovery specialist. These websites usually offer some form of fraud protection and transaction guarantees.
You can also take the riskier route and post on Craigslist or online forums, subreddits, Telegram channels, and Discord servers dedicated to secondary sales. And if all else fails, post it on social media and see if your followers are interested. However, there is always the possibility of fraud, scams and other abuse when using such websites and services, so be careful if you go this route.
6. Send it
Whoever you sell or trade your phone to, the last step is to get the phone ready and ship it – if you don’t sell the phone in person, in which case you can just walk into the store.
Manufacturers, service providers, and third party resellers will provide you with shipping instructions and often free labels that you can print at home. As for selling it to someone on Craigslist or eBay, you have to take care of the shipping yourself. Your local post office or companies like UPS and FedEx can help you pack and ship everything – just know you pay for the shipping yourself.
Once the package has been mailed, all that remains to be done is to wait for whoever you sent it to to receive it.