Verify the destination before erasing the source
The order is the whole guide. A factory reset can destroy local vault keys while leaving cloud copies and old exported backups untouched — so an incomplete migration becomes permanent at the moment you reset.
Nothing about the sale is urgent enough to justify resetting before the replacement device has been verified.
What verification actually means
Seeing the app installed on the new phone proves the app installed. Seeing thumbnails proves a cache rendered. Neither proves the data restored.
Open representative full-size items: an old photo, a recent one, a long video, a document, a note. Compare counts against what you expect.
The sequence
- Restore the encrypted vault on the replacement phone through its documented process.
- Open representative photos, videos, documents, and notes at full size.
- Confirm item counts rather than browsing impressionistically.
- Remove the SIM, any eSIM where required, and removable storage before handover.
- Sign out of accounts per the manufacturer's guidance, then run the supported factory reset.
- Remove the device from your account's device list afterwards.
Removable storage is separate
Removable storage can hold photos, downloads, and app data separately from the phone. Reset coverage varies by device and reset option, so remove the card or verify its separate handling before handover.
If it stays with the phone, follow the device and card provider's documented erase or removal guidance and verify the intended result.
Two errors that end badly
- Resetting after seeing only app icons or thumbnails on the new device.
- Leaving a written or stored backup phrase on the device being sold.
A fictional example
Leo starts with a non-sensitive test: “Restore the encrypted vault on the replacement phone.” Next, Leo follows the second check: “Open representative photos, videos, documents, and notes.” This fictional scenario demonstrates the decision process; it is not a report of product testing.
Common mistakes
- Resetting after seeing only app icons
- Leaving a backup phrase on the sold device
What this workflow does not change
- Resetting after seeing only app icons
- Leaving a backup phrase on the sold device
Questions people ask
Does panic wipe replace factory reset?
No. It invalidates NullVault local access by removing key material; platform erase and account cleanup remain separate.