Ready to recycle your old Android phone or tablet? Great! But before you do, there’s one essential step: unlock and erase it. A locked Android device can’t be fully reused or recycled—it’s essentially e-waste. When properly reset, however, it can be refurbished, given a new battery, and provide years of reliable service to someone new.
Follow these clear steps to safely wipe your device and ensure it's ready for its next life.
Step 1: Back Up Your Data
Save your photos, contacts, and files before resetting.
- Use Google’s backup service (Settings > Google > Backup).
- Or manually transfer important files to a computer, SD card, or cloud storage.
Step 2: Charge Your Phone
Make sure your device has at least 50% battery to avoid interruptions during the reset process.
Step 3: Remove Your Google Account
This disables Factory Reset Protection (FRP), preventing the device from locking after a reset.
- Go to Settings > Accounts (or Passwords & Accounts).
- Select your Google account.
- Tap “Remove Account” and confirm.
- Repeat for any other Google accounts on the device.
Step 4: Perform a Factory Reset
This erases all your personal data and restores the device to its original state.
- Go to Settings > System > Reset options (or General Management on Samsung).
- Select “Erase all data (factory reset)”.
- Confirm by tapping “Reset” or “Delete all”.
- Enter your PIN, pattern, or password if prompted.
Step 5: Verify the Reset
Once complete, the phone will restart and show the initial setup screen in the language you originally selected. Do not complete setup. The device is now ready for recycling.
Step 6: Remove SIM and SD Cards
-SIM card: Return to your carrier or destroy.
-SD card: Keep for reuse or securely erase.
That’s It — You’re Done!
Thank you for taking the time to do this right. You've just turned potential e-waste into a opportunity for reuse — saving precious materials, reducing electronic waste, and protecting your privacy along the way.
Ready to recycle?
Bring your wiped Android device to us — completely free — and know you’ve made a smart, secure, and sustainable choice.
