Erasing content on old iPhone

[frankandhonest]

How can I erase my old iPhone 5c without a SIM card? I want to wipe the phone before recycling it.

[chistery]

Hi @frankandhonest 

This should help you -> https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201351 

Any questions, let us know!

[frankandhonest]

This doesn't work because without a SIM card, I get:

"Verification Failed. There was an error connecting to the Apple ID server."

[Christopher_B]

@chistery

I hope you're well and having a nice day, other than this issue.

When you're trying to do this is the phone connected to an internet connection such as WiFi?

Thanks

Chris

[frankandhonest]

No it is not connected to the Internet.

I would like to just erase all content on this old iPhone 5c, which I haven't used in years.  I don't want to take the chance of erasing any data on my current iPhone, which is why I am hoping I don't need to install my current EE SIM card in the old phone.

[Christopher_B]

@frankandhonest You should be able to do a factory reset by being connected to any internet connection, you shouldn't need to have the SIM in.

Apple have a handy user guide on how to do that.

Thanks 

Chris