If you intend to sell or exchange your Android phone you should first get a full backup of your personal data and then erase the data from the device to avoid getting your personal files in the wrong hands.
Despite the fact that there is no one 100% infallible procedure to erase your data, in addition to perhaps destroying the device, there are steps you can take to make sure your privacy doesn't become public when you hand your device over to its new owner. But first let's see how to get a full copy of your data.
1. Make a full backup
To make a full backup of it Android your device, there are the following solutions:
1.a. Copy files to the computer. It's the easiest way to back up your files. Simply connect your device to a computer via USB and set up the connection to the phone as "Multimedia Device (MTP)". Then open the drives of your phone and SD card and copy the files and folders you want to your computer.
1.β. Backup via Google. Google offers several ways to back up your Android device data. If you go to your phone's settings, you'll find the "Backup and Restore" option, which lets you automatically sync your data and settings to Google's servers. Backups are linked to your Google Account, so all you need to do to restore a backup to your new device is sign in again with your Google Account and enable the Auto Restore option to sync automatically.
In addition, the application Google Photos offers unlimited free high quality backup of all your photos and videos, which you can then access from any device. Correspondingly Google Drive is useful for creation back up your important documents by offering 15GB of free storage space at your disposal.
1.c. Other backup solutions. If you do not want to use Google, there are several third-party backup solutions that you can try.
- The Titanium backup (Root) is one of the most respected backup solutions in the Android community but unfortunately requires access to root. On the other hand, you'll need to access your device's root if you want to back up your app's data, especially your games. Without access to the root of Android, it's hard to regain the high score you've gotten into your favorite games. Titanium can be used to back up all kinds of application data and your system, giving you the option to automatically back up your files.
- That's it G Cloud Backup is another backup program that allows you to save your app data, contacts, messages, photos, music or even video safely in the cloud. All you need to do is download the app and create a free G account.
- The Helium Backup allows you to backup your applications and data without having access to root. You can use it to back up your app's data, SD card, etc. to your computer or Cloud.
2. Fully clean your device
Once you get a full backup of your files, contacts, and settings, it's time to clean your device and delete all your personal data from within. Many users think that the simple and obvious solution of resetting the factory settings to the phone is enough to protect you, but unfortunately it is not. Data can be retrieved easily if retrieved with the appropriate tools. To make it almost impossible to retrieve your personal data, there are other steps you should take beyond just resetting the factory settings. Let's see them.
2.a. Encryption of your data. Before deleting anything or restoring to factory settings on your device, it is recommended that you encrypt all your data first. This process will make it impossible to read them without the decryption key. Make sure your device is fully charged before proceeding. To encrypt your smartphone, enter the settings, then "Security" and then "Encryption". It may take a few hours for the encryption to complete, so be sure to keep your phone plugged in to ensure that the process is completed smoothly. It is also important if you have rooted your device to unroot it first and then proceed with the encryption, so that you do not have general problems with your device afterwards. After the encryption, perform a factory reset. If for some reason there is no possibility of encryption on your phone, then use a corresponding third-party program.
2.β. Restore factory settings. To do this step go to “Settings”, then “Backups and transport” and from there tap on “Factory data reset”. All data from your device's internal memory will be deleted. If your device has an SD card, be sure to remove it from the device before giving it to someone else.
If you have followed all of the above steps then you can safely sell your Android smartphone or give it to a friend of yours.
