Pumpkin spice season has begun, and that can only mean two things: PSL hate on the timeline and new Apple products.

As has been the case every fall for a decade, Tim Cook took to the stage (once again virtual), and announced a series of Apple products. This time it was four new iPhones (iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max), two iPads and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Apple Watch Series 7.

Phones were arguably the star of the show. While a notchless iPhone remains a fiction, new features like longer battery life, refreshed cameras, and an A15 Bionic chip mean many will be buying a new phone.

If you're in the market for an upgrade, you might want to sell or trade in your old iPhone to cut the price of a new phone. But to get rid of your old phone, it's not enough to put it back and wait for the money to arrive in your bank account.

Privacy issues abound with phones, from photos stored in iCloud to personal data hosted in apps, so erasing your phone before selling it is a must. And don't forget to back up, so you don't have to manually redownload hundreds of apps onto your new iPhone.

Below is our step-by-step guide to getting your phone ready for sale, along with some reputable sites that will get rid of it for a hefty price.

Backup

The first thing to do is to make sure you don't lose your mind. And by that, we mean your data. Back up everything before erasing it from your phone.

To back up to iCloud from your device, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back up now.

To back up to your Mac, connect your iPhone and computer with a cable. or Wi-Fi. If you have macOS 10.15 or later, go to Finder and select your iPhone. If you have an earlier version, go to iTunes. If you're using the Finder, click General and select Back up all your iPhone data to this Mac. Then click Backup Now. If you're backing up on iTunes, connect your phone, open iTunes, click your phone picture, select Summary, then choose Back Up Now.

For Windows, connect your iPhone to your computer via cable or Wi-Fi and open iTunes. Click on your phone image, select Summary, then choose Back up now.

Find your iPhone

Apple's Find My app (formerly known as Find My iPhone) can sometimes block activation by a new owner, so you'll need to deactivate before disposing of your device. Although the Find My app is automatically disabled when you erase all content and settings, which you will do below, it is still a security issue. good step to take as a precaution.

For iOS 13 or later, go to Settings > [your name] > Find My then disable Find My [device]. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Disable. For iOS 12 or earlier, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, turn off Find My [device], enter your Apple ID password, then tap Turn off.

Signing out of Messages

For a period of time, iPhone users who switched from their device to another platform without logging out of Messages were not receiving messages from other users on iOS. All messages sent from one iPhone to another were received by the old iPhone and not by the new device, so your messages were in a kind of purgatory. The issue is next now fixable and only really affects those who switch from iOS to Android. But it's probably a good idea to turn it off just in case. Go to Settings > Messages and disable iMessage.

Unpairing AirPods

Similarly, you can still connect your AirPods to a new iPhone without unpairing them from the old one, but it can't hurt to switch the sponge. Place your AirPods or AirPods Pro and iPhone close together and go to Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the information icon next to your AirPods, then select Forget This Device.

Moving the Apple Watch

If you have an Apple WatchIf you don't have an Apple Watch, avoid later headaches and separate it from the iPhone you go sell. Place them close together and open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Go to the My Watch tab and select your watch at the top of the screen. Select the info circle next to the watch you want to unpair. Tap Unpair Apple Watch and tap to confirm, which may ask you to enter your Apple ID password.

Signing out of iCloud

You are going to want to sign out of iCloud, iTunes, and the App Store before selling your device. Tap Settings > [your name] > Sign out. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Power off.

How to erase your iPhone and delete data

Don't let anyone dig into your data. Erase your phone by heading to Settings > General > Reset > Erase all content and settings. and approving all subsequent prompts.

Removing the SIM card

In most cases, you can simply deactivate your mobile phone service on the device and swap it out with the intact SIM card. But this SIM card is the repository of your phone number, various pieces of security data and all the information necessary for billing. It identifies you, identifies your phone, and identifies much of your activity on your phone. So you might want to remove it before selling your phone. Fortunately, it's simple. Locate the SIM card ejector on your phone, then insert a paperclip until the tray pops out. Remove the SIM card, put the tray back in place, and you're ready to ship your phone.

The best places to sell your phone

(Thomas Imo/Photothek via Getty Images)

Best Buy

If you know you're going to sell your iPhone and use the money to buy electronics, remove one step at a time. BestBuy. You can trade in your phone at a store or mail it in for a digital gift card. For a space gray 256GB iPhone 11 Pro on Verizon in good condition, expect to get around $460.

Apple Trade In

The Apple Trade In site The Apple Trade In program will pay you in the form of instant credit towards the purchase of your new iPhone or a credit card. gift from the apple store. At the September 14 Apple event, Cook said people could get up to $700 for a new phone by trading in their old device. Visit the site, select the model of iPhone you have, answer a few questions about its condition, get a quote (and find out if Apple covers packaging and shipping costs), accept the quote, and receive the gift card once you receive your iPhone. You can also visit an Apple Store and redeem it in person for an instant credit towards a purchase (Check if your local store has COVID restrictions before you travel). Get up to $500 for an iPhone 11 Pro.

uSell

Want to sell your iPhone fast? One option is uSell. Select your model, carrier, capacity and state to receive an offer. If you choose to accept it, you ship your iPhone to uSell for free. If your device is in the condition you declared, you will be paid by check or PayPal. A 256GB iPhone 11 Pro on Verizon is currently worth around $420.

decluttr

Make an agreement with decluttr and you will receive a shipping label which will allow you to send your phone for free. In return, you will receive payment by direct deposit or PayPal. A 256GB iPhone 11 Pro on Verizon is currently worth $519.

GameStop

Most apps on your iPhone are games? In that case, it's a safe bet that you would do well to return your iPhone for credit. store credit at GameStop. (Take your device to the nearest GameStop (estimates are available on the site before you make the trip), ask a seller for a quote, then receive credit or money on the spot. For an iPhone 11 Pro 256GB from Verizon will get you $450 in store credit or $360 cash ($495 in store credit or $396 cash if you're a GameStop Customer Pro Member of Power Up Rewards).

eBay

If you want to sell your device yourself, there is always eBay. The site offers a quick procedure that allows you to enter the specifications of your phone before choosing to sell it through eBay's traditional auction procedure or select the quick sale option which allows you to obtain money immediately after eBay receives the phone.

Swappa

Swappa is a marketplace where you can sell your iPhone directly. You select your phone model on the site, upload some photos and set a price. When someone buys it, you get paid immediately by PayPal. You are responsible for the safe shipment of your phone to the buyer. The iPhone 11 Pros sells for around $562 on the site.