1. Make sure your photos are backed up
- iCloud Photos: Settings › your name › iCloud › Photos. Check uploads are complete.
- Or transfer straight to your new iPhone with Quick Start when you set it up.
2. Move your private photos
Vault apps keep photos outside the Photos library, so check how yours backs up before you erase. In Ghost, make sure iCloud Backup shows Backed up in Settings, and that you have your recovery key. On the new iPhone, choose Restore Vault. More on Ghost’s encrypted backup.
On Ghost’s free plan there’s no backup: export the items you want to keep first.
3. Sign out and erase
- Settings › your name › Sign Out (this turns off Find My, so the buyer can activate the phone).
- Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings.
Erasing removes everything on the phone: your library, the Hidden album, Recently Deleted, and every app’s data, including vaults.
4. Remove the phone from your account
On another device, check Settings › your name and remove the old iPhone from your device list if it’s still there.