What to Do with Old iPhone: Recycle or Repurpose It Securely

If you've recently upgraded to a new iPhone, your old device doesn't have to sit unused in a drawer. There are plenty of ways to give it new life - whether that's preparing it for sale, donating it, or repurposing it into something entirely different. Before doing anything else, though, it's essential to securely erase all your data to protect your privacy.

In this guide, we'll walk you through how to wipe your old iPhone for trade in, selling or donating it, and share creative ideas to repurpose it.

Part 1: Erase All Data and Settings on Old iPhone

Before selling, trading in, or donating your old iPhone, the single most important step is to securely erase all your personal data. Simply deleting apps or photos isn't enough; you need to perform a full factory reset. Make sure to back up your data to iCloud or a computer before erasing anything.

Even though you just want to repurpose your old iPhone, it's also useful to improve the performance of your old iPhone by releasing internal storage.

1.1 Erase Old iPhone via iReaShare iPhone Data Eraser

One of the most secure ways to wipe your iPhone is by using a dedicated data erasing tool like iReaShare iPhone Data Eraser. This software permanently removes all data and settings, making them unrecoverable - ideal if you're selling, donating, or recycling the device.

More details about iReaShare iPhone Data Eraser:

* Erase all the iPhone data at once.

* Permanently delete photos, videos, audio files, contacts, books, messages, passwords, bank accounts, system settings, etc.

* Overwrite deleted files with completely, ensuring no data can be recovered.

* Support most iOS devices, including iPhone 17/17 Pro/17 Pro Max/Air, iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X/8/7/6, iPhone SE, iPad Pro, iPad mini, iPad Air, iPod touch, etc.

* Compatible with iOS 5.0 or later, including iOS 26.

* No jailbreak required.

To erase your old iPhone completely with this software:

Download iReaShare iPhone Data Eraser.

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Follow the video guide to wipe your old iPhone with ease:

1.2 Erase Data with Settings

If you prefer not to use third-party tools, you can erase your iPhone directly from the device settings. This is simple and effective, though slightly less thorough than a dedicated erasing program.

1.3 Remotely Erase iPhone with iCloud

If your old iPhone isn't with you - perhaps you've already given it away or misplaced it — you can still erase it remotely using iCloud.

Part 2: Sell, Trade-In or Donate Old iPhone

Once your iPhone is completely wiped clean, you can decide how to let it go.

Sell: Selling your old device privately (via platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace) will usually yield the highest return, but it requires more effort in terms of listing, negotiating, and shipping.

Trade-In: Trading it in to Apple or a carrier is the easiest option. They give you instant credit towards your new purchase (or an electronic gift card), though the financial return is often lower than a private sale.

Donate: Donating your iPhone to a charity or organization is an excellent way to give back. Many non-profits use donated phones for their operations or refurbish them for use by people in need.

Part 3: Repurpose Old iPhone

If the phone is too old to fetch a decent price, or if you simply prefer to keep it, an old iPhone can be repurposed into a dedicated gadget, giving it a second life.

3.1 Secondary Phone

Keep it as a backup or emergency phone. It can be helpful while your main phone is being repaired, or you can keep it active on a low-cost prepaid plan. Please keep it factory reset with minimal apps to save battery. Ideal as a backup phone in case your primary one is lost or broken.

3.2 Remote Monitor

You can change your old iPhone into a security camera or monitor. In this case, you need to download a dedicated security camera or baby monitor app like Alfred Camera, Manything, or Cloud Baby Monitor. Position the iPhone using a small tripod or mount and keep it plugged in.

Keep it plugged in for continuous monitoring. Ensure both devices (the monitor and your viewing phone) are connected to the internet. Many apps offer motion detection alerts.

3.3 Digital Photo Library

Set it up as a Digital Photo Frame. Use the built-in Photos app and start a slideshow, or download a dedicated digital photo frame app like LiveFrame to display photos from an album or cloud service.

Please get an attractive stand or dock and keep it plugged in. Use a specific album that you sync from your main phone or cloud to control the content.

3.4 Ebook Reader

With its quality screen, an old iPhone is an excellent, compact eBook reader. You can remove other apps and data, and then download the reading apps you like, and import the ebooks to the old iPhone. Then you can start to read books with this old iPhone.

3.5 External USB Drive

While iPhones don't function as standard USB drives, you can use apps like Files or third-party storage apps to treat it as a dedicated portable storage for moving documents, media, and files between computers.

iPhone doesn't function like a standard flash drive by default. You need an app like Documents by Readdle or a similar file manager. Connect the iPhone to a computer, and use Finder (on Mac) or iTunes/third-party apps (on Windows/older Mac) under "File Sharing" to drag and drop files into the app's folder.

This is more of a local Wi-Fi or app-specific transfer hub than a true USB drive. Files must be placed inside an app's designated folder. For a Mac, you may be able to use a third-party utility like Commander One.

3.6 Music/Video Player

Turn it into a dedicated iPod. Load it up with music and podcasts and connect it to your car stereo or home speaker system, keeping it off Wi-Fi and maximizing its internal storage for media.

Use your old iPhone as a music or video streamer, which can effectively save the battery on your main phone, and then extend the battery life.

3.7 DIY Digital Clock/Calendar

You can mount your old iPhone on a stand and run a clock or calendar app full-time for a stylish, easily readable desk clock or kitchen calendar.

You can also download a dedicated clock/calendar app from the App Store (search for "bedside clock" or "digital calendar"). Some apps display the time and weather beautifully. Place it on your nightstand or desk and keep it permanently charging with a good stand for an always-on display.

3.8 Game Console

If you're a gamer, keep your favorite resource-heavy games on your old iPhone to avoid draining your new phone's battery or filling up its storage. It becomes a dedicated portable game console.

Conclusion

An old iPhone doesn't have to become obsolete just because you've upgraded. Whether you choose to sell or donate it to someone in need after erasing it completely with iReaShare iPhone Data Eraser, or repurpose it into something new and useful, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your device.

Anyway, by securely wiping your data first and exploring creative uses, you can extend the life of your iPhone while reducing electronic waste - a win for both you and the environment.

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Elowen Wilson Senior Editor

Elowen has been specializing in iOS devices and data transfer for over three years. She is very familiar with all generations of iPhones and iPads, so she is able to provide readers with all kinds of useful guides and tips about iOS backup, data recovery, unlocking, system repair, etc.