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.
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.
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.
- Then factory reset from Settings.
On every phone, take out your SIM and any memory card, and check the phone starts up showing the welcome screen.
Your options
Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji: no fees
Local sales cost nothing. Meet somewhere public and busy (many police stations have a safe exchange zone), and only hand over the phone once cash is in your hand or an e-Transfer has been deposited. See selling scams.
eBay: the biggest audience
eBay’s buyers search for the exact model, storage and colour, including buyers in the US. It takes 13.6% plus $0.40, with GST/HST on the fees. Search your model and tick “Sold items” to see what it actually sells for. See the eBay fee calculator.
Trade-in: quick and simple
Carriers, Apple, Samsung and stores such as Best Buy run trade-in programs. They’re often paid as credit off a new phone or a gift card. You’ll get less than selling it yourself, but there are no buyers to deal with. Get two or three quotes.
Get a better price
- Describe it exactly: model, storage, colour, and whether it’s unlocked. On iPhones, include the battery health percentage.
- Be honest about wear: scratches, cracks and battery condition.
- Include the box and charger if you have them.
- Note the IMEI (dial *#06#) before you ship. Buyers can check it with Device Check Canada, which shows whether a phone has been reported lost or stolen.
- Ship it tracked and well protected, with cover that matches the value.
Not worth selling?
Broken or very old phones can be recycled free through Recycle My Cell. See where to donate.