Before you sell: unlock and wipe your phone
Phones have an anti-theft lock tied to your account. If you erase a phone without signing out first, the new owner can't set it up. It's the most common reason phone sales go wrong.
iPhone
- Back up your phone, and unpair your Apple Watch if you have one.
- Sign out of iCloud and the App Store in Settings. This turns off Find My and Activation Lock.
- Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings, and remove the eSIM if asked.
- Remove the phone from your Apple account's list of devices. (Apple's full guide)
Android (Samsung, Google Pixel and others)
- Back up your photos and data.
- Remove your Google account, and your Samsung account on a Samsung, in Settings → Accounts, before resetting. Otherwise the phone stays locked to you. (Currys' guide)
- Then factory reset from Settings.
On every phone, take out your SIM and any memory card, and check the phone starts up showing the "Hello" or welcome screen.
Your options
eBay: the biggest audience
eBay is free for UK private sellers, and its buyers search for the exact model, storage and colour. On expensive phones its buyer fee is lower than Vinted's, which can help you sell at a higher price. Search your model and filter by "Sold items" to see what it actually sells for. See the eBay fee calculator.
Vinted: no fees, with optional checks
Vinted charges sellers nothing for electronics, and buyers can pay £5 for Electronics Verification, which checks the phone before it reaches them. That reassures buyers of more expensive phones. If they choose it, you send the phone to Vinted's verification hub using the label provided. See the Vinted fee calculator.
Trade-in sites and CeX: quick and simple
Sites such as musicMagpie give you an instant price, send you free postage and pay once they've checked the phone. CeX buys in its shops and online. You'll get less than selling it yourself, but there are no listings, no buyers and no risk of disputes. Get two or three quotes, because prices vary.
Your network or the manufacturer
If you're upgrading, Apple, Samsung and the mobile networks run trade-in schemes. They're often paid as credit off your new phone or contract. They're convenient, but compare the offer with an eBay sold price first.
Facebook Marketplace: local cash sales
There are no fees for local collection, but meet somewhere public and busy, and only hand over the phone once the money has definitely arrived. See the guide to selling scams.
Get a better price
- Describe it exactly: model, storage, colour, and whether it's unlocked or tied to a network. On iPhones, include the battery health percentage from Settings.
- Be honest about wear: scratches, cracks and battery condition. A clear description prevents returns.
- Include the box and charger if you have them.
- Note the IMEI (dial *#06#) before you post. It proves which phone you sent. Buyers sometimes check it with a service such as CheckMEND, which shows whether a phone is reported lost, stolen or blocked.
- Post it tracked and well protected, and check the carrier's compensation limit. For expensive phones, choose a service with cover that matches the value.