Selling, donating, or binning an old device
Old phones, laptops, tablets, printers and even some smart devices keep saved passwords, network details and files long after you have stopped using them. Handing one on without wiping it hands on all of it.
The device also keeps trying to rejoin your networks, which is why this matters even for something you are throwing away.
Do this today
- Sign out of accounts first, then factory reset — in that order. Resetting while still signed in can leave the device locked to you and useless to the next owner.
- Remove the SIM and any memory card. They are not covered by a reset.
- Do not forget printers and routers. Both store Wi-Fi credentials, and printers sometimes store scanned documents.
What good looks like
Anything leaving the house has been wiped, and you would be comfortable if a stranger powered it on in front of you.
Genuinely dead drives get physically destroyed or professionally shredded rather than dropped in a bin.
Want someone to just do this for you? Start a conversation — twenty minutes, free.
Last reviewed: September 2026