You’ve had a good two year contract with your beloved Android device, but now it’s time to upgrade that baby for a brand spanking new model. Before you get too excited, what will happen to your trusty old gadget after you’ve moved on? There are basically really only two valid choices here (three if you decide to keep it as a backup device): give it away or sell it.
If you live to make other people happy, and have a relative or buddy in dire need of a lovely Android phone or tablet, then giving it away is one act of kindness that will give you plenty of good karma. If on the other hand, you also wouldn’t mind making a bit of cash, no-one will judge if you sell it instead. Either way, you will have to get your old Android device ready before it meets its new owner.
Parting With Your Unwanted Android Device
Here are some steps you’ll need to take to prepare your Android for its new beginnings…
1. Remove your SIM card
This is an obvious step, and goes without saying. If you know how to get it out, do it yourself. If you have no idea where your SIM even slotted in, ask your network (or a friend with the same model) to help you out. If you also have a SD card, make sure that is out too.
2. Check that its accessories are intact
All those bits and pieces that came with the phone or tablet will need to be collected and placed into its original box (assuming you kept that too). Usually, this includes chargers, earphones for hands-free and in many cases, removable battery.
3. Backup your phone data
If you have a SD card, you can use that to backup all your photos, files and texts. Otherwise, you can plug in to your computer and do a manual backup via USB, or save to Google Drive/DropBox. Don’t forget to check the DCIM camera folder too as many Androids save photos in that folder. With a Google account though, your apps and contacts will be saved on the cloud rather than on the device.
4. Do a factory reset to clear up unwanted data
Make 100% sure you have removed all the data you want to keep, and then do a factory reset to wipe all the unwanted stuff from the device. You can find this in Settings > Backup & reset > Factory data reset. If you have left the SD card in the device, you will need to manually wipe this card as factory reset doesn’t include additional memory.
5. Wipe your Android device down carefully
Last but not least, you can give it a bit of a makeover by going over it with a fine cloth to ensure that there are no smudges or marks anywhere. If you’re feeling particularly charitable, you could even add a nice screensaver for the new owner to make their day.
So there you have it – you can get your old device looking as good as new in just five simple steps. While you’re enjoying your new Android, the person who gets your old one will be having just as much fun discovering the wonders of technology on their device too.
After all, isn’t this is what spreading the love is all about?
Craig Daitz is owner of SMARTlab mobile phone repairs and also contributes to the SMARTlab Blog with tips & tricks for all smartphone users . Connect on Facebook & Twitter.
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