Buying or Selling a Used Phone: The Safe Checklist

Why a used phone needs a checklist

A used phone can be a smart buy, and selling your old one puts money back in your pocket. But second-hand phones come with risks you can't see from the outside: account locks that turn a working phone into a paperweight, carrier locks, phones reported stolen, tired batteries and hidden repairs.

This guide gives you two checklists, one for buyers and one for sellers, plus plain explanations of the locks that cause most problems. It applies to iPhones and Android phones, including Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel. If you only remember one rule, make it this: never pay for a phone until you've seen it reset and set up without asking for someone else's account.

The four locks that can ruin a used phone deal

Most used-phone headaches come down to one of four locks or flags. Knowing which is which tells you what can be fixed and what can't.

Activation Lock and account locks explained

iPhone and iPad: Activation Lock

When Find My is turned on, an iPhone or iPad is linked to the owner's Apple Account (formerly called Apple ID). Erasing the phone doesn't remove that link. After a reset, the phone shows a lock screen asking for the previous owner's Apple Account and password, and it can't be set up without them.

The fix is simple, but only the seller can do it: sign out of their Apple Account on the phone before erasing it. If the phone is already gone, they can remove it from their account using Find My on another device or on the web.

Android: Google account and Factory Reset Protection

Android phones have a similar feature called Factory Reset Protection. If a phone is reset while a Google account is still signed in, setup will ask for that account's details before it lets anyone in. Samsung Galaxy phones can also be tied to a Samsung account, which has its own lock.

The seller should remove all accounts from the phone in Settings, then do the factory reset from Settings. Resetting from Settings with accounts removed is the clean way to hand a phone over.

Carrier locks and the Wireless Code

In Canada, the CRTC's Wireless Code sets clear rules on unlocking:

• Since December 1, 2017, new phones sold by Canadian carriers must be sold unlocked.
• Carriers must unlock phones on request, free of charge. That includes older phones that were sold locked.

So most phones bought new in Canada in recent years are already unlocked. The ones to double-check are older phones, phones bought outside Canada and phones from a seller who isn't sure. Rules in other countries are different, so an imported phone may be locked to a foreign carrier.

The easiest test is to put your own SIM card in the phone and make a call. If you use an eSIM, ask the seller whether the phone is unlocked and confirm it works with your carrier before you pay. For more on how unlocking works locally, read our post on phone unlocking in Ontario, or see our phone unlocking service.

One more question to ask: is the phone paid off? If the seller still has a device balance with their carrier, that's between them and their carrier, but it's a reason to slow down and ask questions.

IMEI and blacklist checks

Every phone has an IMEI, a unique 15-digit identification number. Canadian carriers share a list of IMEIs reported lost or stolen, and phones on that list can be blocked from participating networks. A blacklisted phone may work on Wi-Fi but not for calls or data.

How to find the IMEI

• Any phone: open the phone app and dial *#06#. The IMEI appears on screen.
• iPhone: Settings › General › About.
• Android: in Settings, under About phone.

How to check it

Canada's wireless industry offers a free online device check where you enter an IMEI to see whether it has been reported lost or stolen in Canada. Search for the Canadian wireless industry's device check service, or ask your own carrier. Ask the seller for the IMEI before you meet, then confirm the number on the phone matches when you see it in person.

Battery health and parts history

Battery health

A battery is the part most likely to be worn on a used phone. A tired battery isn't a deal breaker, but you should know about it because it affects how long the phone lasts each day.

• iPhone: go to Settings › Battery, then Battery Health. It shows Maximum Capacity, the battery's capacity compared with when it was new, and warns you if the battery needs service. The exact menu label varies a little by iOS version.
• Samsung Galaxy: the diagnostics in the Samsung Members app include a battery status check.
• Google Pixel: newer Pixel models show battery health in the battery settings; on older ones, watch for fast drain and unexpected shutdowns.

If the battery is worn but everything else checks out, a battery replacement can make the phone feel new again. Our phone battery guide explains what the numbers mean and when replacement is worth it.

Parts and repair history

A repaired phone isn't automatically a bad phone, but you deserve to know. On recent iPhones, Settings › General › About can show a Parts and Service History section when parts such as the screen, battery or camera have been replaced. It won't appear on a phone that has never had parts replaced.

Android phones don't have an equivalent screen, so look for physical clues: uneven gaps around the screen, glue squeezing out at the edges, a screen with a slightly different tint, or a back panel that doesn't sit flush. Ask the seller directly whether it has been repaired and what was done.

The buyer's checklist

Bring your SIM card, a charging cable and earbuds or headphones if you use wired ones. Then work through this list before money changes hands.

1. Get the IMEI in advance and run the blacklist check before you travel.
2. Check the model and storage match the listing. On an iPhone, Settings › General › About shows the model name and capacity.
3. Look closely at the body: cracks, dents, bent frame, scratched camera lenses, signs it has been opened.
4. Inspect the screen on a white and a dark background for lines, dead spots, tint changes or burn-in. Test touch across the whole screen.
5. Test your SIM: make a call, send a text and load a web page on mobile data.
6. Test the hardware: front and rear cameras, flash, speakers, microphone (record a voice memo), buttons, vibration, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and face or fingerprint unlock.
7. Plug it in with your cable and make sure it charges without wiggling the cable. Test wireless charging if the phone supports it.
8. Check battery health using the steps above.
9. Watch the seller reset it. Ask them to sign out of their accounts and erase the phone in front of you.
10. Start setup yourself. Go through the first screens until you're past the point where it would ask for an account. If it asks for someone else's Apple Account or Google account, don't buy it.
11. Ask for the box or receipt if they have it. It isn't proof on its own, but it helps.

Thinking about an iPhone specifically? Our iPhone repair guide explains common faults so you know what to look for. Buying a Galaxy? The Samsung Galaxy repair guide covers model-specific issues, and our Google Pixel repair page covers Pixels.

The seller's checklist

Preparing your phone properly protects your data and makes the sale smoother. Do this at home, before you list it or meet anyone.

1. Back up everything: photos, contacts, messages and two-factor authentication apps. Make sure your authenticator codes have moved to your new phone before you erase the old one. Our post on backing up an iPhone walks through iCloud and computer backups.
2. Unpair accessories like a smartwatch, so it doesn't stay linked to the old phone.
3. Sign out of your accounts. On iPhone, go to Settings › [your name] › Sign Out, which also turns off Find My. On Android, remove your Google account, and on Samsung your Samsung account too, from the Accounts section of Settings.
4. Erase the phone. On iPhone, Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings. On Android, use the factory reset option in Settings. On Samsung, that's under General management › Reset.
5. Deal with your SIM. Remove the physical SIM card and any memory card. If you use an eSIM, you'll be asked whether to keep or remove it during the erase; contact your carrier if you're moving the number to another phone.
6. Remove the phone from your account online if you see it listed among your devices after the reset.
7. Request a carrier unlock if the phone is locked. It's free in Canada, and an unlocked phone is easier to sell.
8. Write an honest listing with real photos, the storage size, battery health and any repairs or flaws.

Meeting and getting paid safely

Whether you're buying or selling, the meetup is where most scams happen. A few simple habits help:

• Meet in a busy public place in daylight. Some Ontario police services have designated exchange spots for online sales, so check whether yours does.
• Bring someone with you or tell someone where you're going.
• Never share a verification code. Some fake buyers ask sellers for a code "to prove you're real." It's a way to take over your accounts.
• Confirm payment in your own banking app. Fake e-Transfer emails and texts look convincing. Only trust what your bank's app or website shows.
• Avoid cheques, gift cards and overpayments. A buyer who "accidentally" sends too much and asks for the difference back is running a scam.
• Don't hand over the phone until payment is confirmed, and don't hand over cash until the checks are done.
• Be wary of anyone in a hurry. Pressure to skip the checks is a warning sign.

Trade-in prep in brief

If you're trading in instead of selling privately, the same preparation applies: back up, sign out of every account, turn off Find My, erase the phone and remove your SIM. Trade-in programs typically grade phones on condition, so clean the phone and take a few photos of it in good light, along with its IMEI, before you send it off or hand it over.

Sometimes a small repair is worth doing first. A cracked screen or worn battery can lower what you're offered, so compare the repair quote with the difference in value. Our cracked screen guide can help you decide whether a screen is worth fixing.

Need a hand?

Woman Wireless On The Go helps with the repair side of buying and selling: carrier unlocking, battery replacements and screen repairs that make an older phone worth keeping or easier to sell. Our certified woman technician comes to your home, workplace, parked car or condo lobby across Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto and the rest of our service area.

You'll get a free quote before any work starts. Call or WhatsApp (365) 351-4247, or send us a request online.

Frequently asked questions