How to delete your personal data safely from smart devices

Destroy your data, don’t just delete it.

This follows advice from the Government’s National Cyber Security Centre

Before passing on your smart device for reuse or recycling you need to permanently delete all personal and private data so that it can’t be retrieved.

Think about all the devices where you store photos, forms, financial records and documents with information like your address, date of birth and even passwords. Your information could still be recoverable from your old device if you just delete it – so you need to ensure your data is properly destroyed.

It’s important to follow the instructions shown here or on the device manufacturer’s website to permanently delete your data. This will ensure it can’t be retrieved by anyone else. If you’re using a windows computer older than Windows 10, factory reset isn’t a guarantee that all the data on your computer will be wiped. You’ll need to use data-shredding software to be completely sure your data is gone for good.

Find your device type below and read our step by step instructions to be sure your data is destroyed, not just deleted.

How do I permanently delete my data on my devices? Overview

Some people choose to download specialist data deletion software, or employ a reputable professional to do the job. However, you can permanently delete your data on devices yourself by following these 4 simple steps:

1. Back up important files, such as documents and photos, and transfer them to your new computer, an external hard drive or iCloud. Remember to record the licence numbers of software you may need to reinstall on your new devices.
2. Sign out of all accounts on your device.
3. Destroy your data.
4. Remove any SIM or Memory cards.

For information about your specific device:

• Apple computers and laptops
• iPhones and iPads
• Windows computers and laptops
• Android devices
• Games consoles, printers & cameras.

How do I permanently delete my data on Apple computers and laptops?

1. Back up important files, such as documents and photos, and transfer them to your new computer, an external hard drive or iCloud.

2. Sign out of iCloud
If you’re using macOS Catalina or later:
Apple menu
> System preferences
> Apple ID
> Overview
> Sign out

If you’re using macOS or earlier:
Apple menu
> System preferences
> iCloud
> Sign out

3. Sign out of Music (iTunes)
Open Music (iTunes):
Account
> Authorisations
> Deauthorize this computer
> Enter your Apple ID
> Deauthorize

4. Sign out of iMessage
Open Messages:
Messages
> Preferences
> iMessage
> Sign out

5. Destroy your data by erasing your hard drive to remove any files and programmes you’ve added
> Restart Your Mac
> Open in Recovery Mode by holding Command + Q until you see the Apple logo
> Erase your data

Apple has more detailed information, and support here.

How do I permanently delete my data on iPhones and iPads?

1. Back up your device through iCloud:
Plug in your device and connect it to WiFi
Go to Settings:
> Apple ID banner
> iCloud
> iCloud Backup
> Back up now.
(The steps may vary slightly depending on model.)

2. Sign out of iCloud, iTunes, and the app store.
Turn off Find my iphone:
Go to Settings:
> Apple ID banner
> iCloud,
> Find My iPhone
> Turn it off

3. Destroy your data by returning your device to factory settings:
Go to Settings:
> General
> Reset
> Erase All Content and Settings.

4. Complete the process by entering your passcode and remove the SIM card, leaving a blank set-up screen for the next user.

Apple has more detailed information and support here .

How do I permanently delete my data on Windows computers and laptops?

1. Back up important files such as documents and photos you want to keep, and transfer them to your new computer, to an external hard drive or to the Cloud (eg Dropbox).

2. Destroy your data using data shredding software.

3. Do a factory reset to remove files and programmes you’ve added, leaving only the basic operating systems and pre-installed programmes:
Go to Settings
> Update & Security > Recovery
> Reset this PC.

Which? has more detailed information, and support here .

How do I permanently delete my data from my Android device?

1. Back up your device:
Plug in your device and connect it to WiFi
> Navigate through Settings
> Backup & Reset
> Back up my Data
> Accounts
> Google.
(The steps may vary slightly depending on manufacturer/ Android version.)

2. Sign out of your Google account.

3. Destroy your data by returning your device to factory settings:
Go to Settings
> Security
> Encrypt Phone.
Once this has been completed:
Go to Settings
> Backup & Reset
> Factory Data Reset
> Erase Phone Data.

4. Remove SIM card.
If your Android device has a microSD card, remove it by flipping open the little hatch covering it, using your fingernail to press and release the card and then sliding it out. See Dummies’ guide to removing a microSD card.

Google has more detailed information, and support here.
We also recommend checking the manufacturer’s support site.

How do I permanently delete my data on games consoles, cameras,  printers, and external hard drives?

1. Back up important files such as documents and photos you want to keep, and transfer them to your computer, to another hard drive or to the Cloud (eg Dropbox).

2. Destroy your data by returning your device to factory settings.
Please visit the manufacturer’s website for more detailed information on how to perform a factory reset.

3. Remove any SD or memory cards from the device.
For hard drives a factory reset is performed by connecting to a computer.
There are more detailed instructions and support here.

Deleting your data: Frequently asked questions

How do I disconnect my Apple device from my iCloud account?

Disconnecting your iPhone or iPad from your iCloud account is easy:

Sign into your account from another device > Click ‘All devices’ > Select the one you’re disconnecting (eg iPhone) and click ‘Erase’ > When the erase is complete, click ‘Remove from account’. (With older devices you may also have to click ‘x’ to disconnect.)

How do I disable the security locks on my Apple device?

To disable your security pin/password, touch ID or face recognition:

Go to Settings > Select ‘Touch ID & Passcode’, or, on more recent devices, ‘Face ID & Passcode’ > Enter passcode and select ‘Turn Passcode Off’.

What’s the difference between destroying my data and deleting my data?

Just because data has been deleted from the hard drive on your devices, this doesn’t mean they are gone forever, instead this information just isn’t ‘in sight’.

Data experts or a digital criminal may be able to restore this data, even when it seems deleted.

Take time to permanently delete your data before passing it on even if you’re just handing over to a friend as you can’t control what they’ll do when they pass it on.