How to Wipe and Recycle Old Phones, Laptops and Hard Drives Safely

That drawer of old phones and the laptop in the closet are worth something: trade-in credit, a donation to someone who needs a device, or at least valuable materials that can be recovered. They also contain photos, messages, saved passwords and account access. Getting rid of them safely takes four stages: back up, sign out, wipe, and dispose responsibly.

Stage 1: Back up what you want to keep

Before wiping anything, make sure you have copies of:

• Photos and videos (check they appear in your cloud photo library or on another drive).
• Messages, including chat apps with their own backup settings.
• Documents, downloads and desktop files on computers.
• Two-factor authenticator codes. Move them to your new phone or save recovery codes first; this is the step people most often regret skipping.

Open a few files from the backup to confirm it worked.

Stage 2: Sign out and unlink

Device activation locks exist to stop thieves from using stolen phones. They also stop the next legitimate owner if you forget to sign out.

• iPhone and iPad: sign out of your Apple Account, which turns off Find My and Activation Lock. Unpair any Apple Watch first.
• Android: remove your Google account from Settings > Accounts (or Passwords & accounts) before resetting. Otherwise, Factory Reset Protection may require your Google password at setup.
• Mac: sign out of iCloud, the App Store and Messages; turn off Find My Mac.
• Windows PC: remove the device from your Microsoft account's device list and deactivate any software licenses that are tied to the machine.
• Everything else: unpair smartwatches, earbuds, fitness trackers and smart-home devices from their apps, and remove the device from your account's list of trusted devices.

Also remove the SIM card and any microSD card. For eSIMs, confirm your number has moved to your new phone before deleting it.

Stage 3: Wipe the data properly

Modern devices make this easier than it used to be, because most encrypt storage by default. A factory reset destroys the encryption keys, which leaves old data unreadable.

On a Windows PC, confirm that device encryption or BitLocker was turned on before resetting, or choose the option that cleans the drive. On older computers without encryption, use the manufacturer's secure erase tool or a reputable disk-erasing utility.

Old hard drives and loose drives

A box of loose hard drives from old desktops is a common privacy risk. Options:

• Reuse: connect the drive to a computer and use a secure erase tool to overwrite it.
• Destroy: if the drive is failing or you do not want to reuse it, physical destruction is the most certain option. Some recyclers and office-supply stores offer drive shredding. If you do it yourself, wear eye protection and never damage batteries.
• Solid-state drives (SSDs) handle data differently from spinning disks, and overwriting may not reach every cell. Use the drive maker's secure-erase utility or rely on full-disk encryption plus a reset.

Federal guidance for organizations, NIST's media sanitization guidelines, describes these levels as clear, purge and destroy. For personal devices, a factory reset of an encrypted device or a manufacturer secure erase is generally appropriate.

Stage 4: Choose where it goes

Pick the option that keeps the device in use longest.

1. Trade-in. Phone makers, carriers and big retailers offer credit toward new devices. Check the device's condition requirements and how the value is calculated.
2. Sell. Resale platforms and buyback services can pay more than trade-ins for good-condition devices. Never ship a device before it is wiped and signed out.
3. Donate. Schools, libraries, nonprofits and refurbishers can put working devices to use. Ask whether they wipe devices themselves, but wipe it first anyway.
4. Recycle. For devices that no longer work, use a responsible electronics recycler.

Finding a responsible recycler

The EPA recommends using electronics recyclers certified to recognized standards, such as R2 or e-Stewards, which address environmental, health and data-security practices. Many manufacturers and large electronics retailers run take-back or drop-off programs, and many states have electronics recycling laws that require manufacturers to fund collection. Your state environmental agency or city sanitation website will list local options and collection events.

Don't forget the less obvious devices

Phones and laptops get the attention, but plenty of other gadgets store personal data:

• Printers and scanners may keep Wi-Fi passwords and, on some office models, copies of scanned documents. Use the reset option in the settings menu.
• Game consoles hold account logins and saved payment methods. Deactivate the console as your primary device in your account settings, then perform a full reset.
• Smart TVs and streaming sticks are signed in to streaming and shopping accounts. Sign out of apps, then factory reset.
• Cars. Infotainment systems remember paired phones, contacts, home addresses and sometimes connected-car app accounts. Clear them and remove the car from the manufacturer's app before selling or returning a lease.
• Routers store your network passwords and admin credentials. Reset them before passing them on.
• External drives, USB sticks and memory cards need the same secure erase as internal drives.

Batteries need special care

Lithium-ion batteries in phones, laptops, earbuds and power banks can catch fire if damaged or crushed in garbage trucks and recycling facilities.

• Do not put them in household trash or curbside recycling bins unless your local program explicitly accepts them.
• Tape the terminals of loose batteries or put each in a separate plastic bag.
• Never use a swollen, damaged or hot battery. Store it away from flammable materials in a cool place and take it to a hazardous waste or battery collection site.
• Retailer battery drop-off bins are common in the US; check what they accept.

The quick checklist

1. Back up photos, files, chats and authenticator codes.
2. Sign out of accounts and turn off Find My or Factory Reset Protection.
3. Remove SIM and memory cards.
4. Factory reset (and confirm encryption on computers).
5. Securely erase or destroy loose drives.
6. Trade in, sell or donate working devices.
7. Recycle the rest with a certified recycler, and handle batteries with care.

Done this way, your old electronics carry none of your life with them and still do something useful on their way out.