How to wipe a smart TV before you get rid of it

Updated 6 November 2026 · By the TV Disposal team

Short answer: Before disposing of a smart TV, sign out of streaming apps and accounts, remove the TV from your accounts' device lists, then do a factory reset from the settings menu, usually found under General, System or Support. Also remove any USB drives, CI modules and remote batteries. A factory reset clears saved logins, Wi-Fi passwords and app data so the next owner or recycler cannot access them.

How to wipe a smart TV before you get rid of it

Why it matters

A smart TV holds more personal information than most people realise. It can store logins for streaming services, your Wi-Fi network name and password, voice assistant links, connected phone and tablet pairings, viewing history and sometimes payment details for apps and rentals. If the TV is sold, donated or simply picked up by someone before it reaches a recycler, those accounts could be used. Wiping it takes ten to fifteen minutes and costs nothing.

Step 1: sign out of accounts and devices

Open each streaming app you use and sign out from its settings or account menu
Sign out of the TV maker's own account, such as a Samsung, LG or Sony account
Sign out of any Google, Amazon or Apple account linked to the TV
Unlink voice assistants and smart home apps that control the TV
Unpair phones, tablets, headphones and soundbars connected by Bluetooth

If the TV no longer works or will not switch on, you can still protect yourself. Most streaming services let you see signed-in devices on their website and remove them or sign out of all devices, and changing your Wi-Fi password makes any stored password useless.

From a phone or computer, log in to your main streaming and TV accounts and check the list of devices. Remove the old TV from each, or use the sign out of all devices option and then sign back in on the devices you still use. This step also catches apps you forgot were installed.

Step 2: factory reset

The exact menu path differs by brand and year, but the reset option is almost always in the main settings menu. Look under headings such as General, System, Device Preferences or Support, then for an option called Reset, Factory reset or Reset to initial settings.

Brand	Where the reset option is usually found
Samsung	Settings, then General or General and Privacy, then Reset, often needing a PIN which is 0000 unless changed
LG	Settings, then General or System, then Reset to initial settings
Sony and other Google TV or Android TV models	Settings, then System, then About, then Reset or Factory reset
Hisense, TCL and others	Settings, then System or Support, then Factory reset or Restore defaults
Amazon Fire TV built-in models	Settings, then Device and Software or My Fire TV, then Reset to factory defaults

If you cannot find it, the manual or the manufacturer's support website will list the steps for your model. Many TVs ask you to confirm twice and then restart into the first-time setup screen, which shows the reset has worked.

Step 3: remove extras and accessories

USB drives, external hard drives and SD cards used for recordings or photos
CI or CAM modules and viewing cards for subscription TV
Batteries from the remote, which should be recycled separately
Streaming sticks and dongles plugged into HDMI ports
Any wall plates or cables you want to keep for a new TV

Other things to sort out

If you are not replacing the TV and will no longer watch or record live TV on any channel, or use BBC iPlayer, you may no longer need a TV Licence. TV Licensing allows you to cancel and, in some cases, claim a refund for unused full months. Check the current rules on the TV Licensing website before cancelling.

If the TV is rented or under a finance agreement, check with the provider before disposing of it. If it is still under warranty and faulty, contact the retailer or manufacturer first, as a repair or replacement may be available.

Selling or donating after a reset

If the TV still works, a reset prepares it for a new owner as well as protecting you. Once the setup screen appears, leave it there, as the new owner will connect it to their own Wi-Fi and accounts. Keep the remote, stand, power cable and any wall bracket screws together with the TV, as a set with all its parts is far easier to sell or give away. Photograph the screen switched on to show it works.

Check that any online listing does not show personal details in the background of photos, and arrange collection from a doorstep or hallway rather than inviting strangers further into the house. If a TV is going to a reuse charity or community group, ask whether they need it to be a certain age or to have a working remote, as many have specific requirements for electrical items.

Quick checklist

Signed out of every app and account on the TV
Removed the TV from device lists online
Factory reset completed and setup screen showing
USB drives, modules and dongles removed
Remote batteries out
Wi-Fi password changed if the TV could not be reset