How To Remove All Data from an Old iPhone or iPad (ioS)
Has your business recently replaced its iPhones or iPads with the latest models? About to upgrade? Make sure you have a plan for dealing with your old devices!
Although the past model may not be of use to your organization anymore, it can still have value. Whether you plan on keeping the device within the business as a backup, donating it or reselling, make sure that your device is wiped clean before you hand it over.
All data and documents must be completely removed from an old device for your own security. If you’re unsure of how to remove data from your iPhone or iPad, follow these steps!
Backing up Your iPad or iPhone to iCloud:
A lot of the information on your iPhone, iPad or other iOS device is synced and stored to iCloud, Apple’s secure cloud storage system. iCloud makes it easy to make a copy and backup your information before removing it from your device, without affecting other Apple devices you still use.
Before you begin wiping the data and documents off of your iPhone or iPad, you need to make sure you have an up-to-date backup of your device and that you are connected to WiFi.
- Go to Settings.
- Select iCloud.
- Choose Backup and Storage and select Backup Now.
After your backup is finished, double check to see if the backup was completed successfully at the bottom of the screen.
Encrypted Backup
If you store health information, passwords or other highly sensitive and private information on your iOS device, you’ll be creating an encrypted backup. Make sure that you know the password for your backup before erasing information: you can’t restore from an encrypted backup without it.
Erasing All of Your Data From Your iPad or iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Select General.
- Scroll down to Reset.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Touch Erase Now.
- Enter your Passcode.
- Enter your Apple ID Password to turn off Activate Lock and remove your device from Find my iPhone.
As your iPhone or iPad wipes your personal data and restores itself back to factory settings, the screen will go blank for several minutes with a progress bar to show the status of the wipe and reset. You’ll know your device has been wiped and reset properly if the Hello or Welcome Setup Assistant screen appears. If not, you’ll need to repeat the steps again to make sure your device is completely wiped before selling or disposing.
Need help in wiping iPhones and iPads in bulk, or want extra security measures to make your data not only inaccessible but destroyed? Greentec uses certified methods to go one step further in wiping devices — ensuring that they end up as fresh as a device straight out of the box. For businesses, this can be a crucial consideration for end-of-life disposal.
Contact us for more information about how we can help your organization collect and store, recycle or dispose of electronic devices at end-of-life. Make sure to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to learn more about our services and stay up to date with our mission.
