Just got the new iPhone? What to do with your old one

Step 1: Move your data to the new iPhone

Apple's Quick Start does the setup for you. Update both phones to the latest iOS, connect the old one to Wi-Fi with Bluetooth on, unlock it, turn on the new phone and place it next to the old one, then follow the prompts. You can pull your apps and data down from iCloud, which lets you start using the new phone while it finishes, or transfer directly from the old phone, in which case Apple says to keep both phones near each other and plugged in until the transfer is complete. It occupies both phones, so pick a time when you will not need either one for a while. Apple's instructions are at https://support.apple.com/en-us/102659.

Step 2: Move your phone number and eSIM

If your carrier supports eSIM Quick Transfer, Apple says you can move your number from the old iPhone to the new one during setup, without calling the carrier. Both phones need to be signed in to the same Apple Account, the old one unlocked and nearby with Bluetooth on, and both on iOS 18.4 or later. If your carrier does not support it, you can activate the eSIM another way, or move a physical SIM card across. Apple's page is at https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669. Confirm the new phone has service before you let go of the old one.

Step 3: Decide what the old iPhone is for

Once the new phone has your photos, messages, apps and number, you have five realistic choices. Each is below. None of them needs to happen the same day, so take a week to make sure nothing is missing from the new phone.

Keep it as a backup

An old iPhone is a decent spare for travel, a second line for work, or a phone to use if the new one is ever lost or in for repair. The cost is that a phone in a drawer slowly loses its value as newer models come out, and its battery ages even when it is not used. It is a fine choice if you want the safety net. It is a poor one if the real plan is to forget about it.

Hand it down

A phone that works is a good gift for a child, a parent or a relative who is still on something much older. Set it up under its new owner's Apple Account, not yours, so nothing of yours stays on it. That means the same steps as selling: back up, sign out, erase. The iPhone wipe guide has them in order.

Trade it in

Apple Trade In and carrier trade-ins are built for the moment you buy a new phone. Apple pays as credit toward a purchase or as an Apple Gift Card, and carriers generally pay as bill credits over time and often tie them to staying on a plan. That is convenient if the credit is what you wanted. It is not cash. The Apple trade-in guide and the carrier trade-in guide compare each one with a cash sale, and both programs change, so read the current terms before you start.

Sell it yourself

Listing it on eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Swappa can reach a wide set of buyers, and it comes with fees on most platforms, messages, and shipping or meeting a stranger. It suits you if you are in no hurry. The sell-it-yourself guide goes through it.

Sell it locally for cash

We buy iPhones for cash, in person, by appointment. You text (518) 501-0602 the model and storage size, or send a photo, and we tell you the same day whether it is something we can buy. We meet at 6 Northway Ln in Latham, or we come to you anywhere in the Capital Region, and you are paid in cash when we meet. If you say no, you keep the phone. The iPhone page lists the models we take, and it is also a good choice if you have a drawer of older phones to clear in one visit.

Step 4: Wipe the old iPhone

Only after the new phone is fully set up: back up the old one one last time, unpair any Apple Watch, sign out of your Apple Account, then go to Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings. If the phone uses an eSIM, choose to erase it along with the phone. The iPhone wipe guide has every step and the menu paths for each version of iOS. Take your SIM card out if you use one, and keep it.

Quick answers

What should I do with my old iPhone after getting a new one?

Move your data to the new iPhone first, then choose: keep the old one as a backup, hand it down, trade it in, sell it yourself or sell it for cash. Erase it only after the new phone has everything you need.

Should I erase my old iPhone before or after setting up the new one?

After. Transfer your data with Quick Start or an iCloud backup, confirm the new phone has everything and its service, and only then sign out of your Apple Account and erase the old phone.

Does Quick Start move my phone number to the new iPhone?

Not by itself. If your carrier supports eSIM Quick Transfer, Apple says you can move your number during setup. Otherwise you activate the new phone with your carrier. Check Apple's eSIM page for the current requirements.

Where can I sell my old iPhone for cash near Albany, NY?

Cash For Electronics Albany buys iPhones for cash, in person, by appointment in the Albany area or at your door across the Capital Region. Use the quote form on the iPhone page or text us the model and storage size.

Is Apple Trade In or a carrier trade-in paid in cash?

Generally not. Apple pays as credit toward a purchase or as an Apple Gift Card, and carriers generally pay as bill credits. If you want cash, sell to a buyer who pays cash. Read each program's own terms first.

Ready to ask about yours? Visit Sell your phone for cash in Albany: a local phone buyer near you. See our selling an iPhone for cash. See our quote form for phones. See our how to wipe an iPhone before you sell. See our Apple Trade In or a cash sale. See our carrier trade-in or cash. Back to all guides.