Smart-home guide

Selling or giving away a smart device

Before transferring a connected device, remove it from accounts, stored homes and cloud services using the vendor's supported reset and transfer process.

LifecyclePrivacy

Editorial review: August 12, 2026 · Julian M. Carverton

Account removal comes first

A physical reset may not remove every cloud association.

Delete stored media or maps where applicable

Cameras and mapping devices can retain sensitive information.

Provide only transfer information

Do not give the next owner your account credentials or recovery codes.

Check current instructions

Reset and ownership-transfer procedures can change with firmware and platform updates.

Keep in mind. Compatibility is not permanent. Confirm the current manufacturer, platform and certification information before purchasing, resetting or migrating a device.