Guides

Used iPhone 11 Buying Guide

Last updated on September 18, 2019

There are many advantages to buying a used iPhone 11 as opposed to a new one. You can get it for much cheaper and unlocked out of the box without it being necessarily damaged. In fact, many people sell used phones that are in a brand-new-like condition.

However, buying used electronics also brings a few risks. You may not get what you asked for, you may get scammed, or even worse; you may fall a victim of a cyber-criminal.

This guide aims to explain how to buy a used iPhone 11 while avoiding such things. Let’s get right into it!

Buying Guide: How to Safely Buy A Used iPhone 11

Overall, this is the main guideline that we generally follow regardless of what we want to buy online:

Choose a trustworthy website and seller
Try avoiding credit and debit cards
Keep an eye out for extra import fees and charges
Pay attention to the condition of the phone
Prefer unlocked models when possible

That’s all in a nutshell. If you want the details, then keep on reading!

1: Choose Trustworthy Websites

It’s very important that you’ll only shop from websites that have been known to be trustworthy and reliable for a long time now. That’s because such websites have a significantly lower chance of attempting to scam you or selling something of inferior quality.

Not to mention that the services that popular websites offer are often much better compared to other less known solutions. You get things like insurance, return policy, tracking, refunds in case that something goes wrong, and more.

However, do keep in mind that websites and sellers are often not the same thing. For example, eBay is a popular and trustworthy platform, but that doesn’t mean that all of its sellers are trustworthy as well. In fact, we’ve seen numerous scammers on it before.

So, with that being said, don’t just choose a popular and trustworthy website, choose a good seller as well. Look at his past reviews and remember, if a deal is too good to be true, then it most likely is.

As for the websites, some very popular and trustworthy ones to choose from are:

Amazon
Swappa (Highly recommended and trust-worthy)
eBay

And there a few others to choose from. But, those are some of the most well-known ones. In the case of buying a used iPhone 11, Swappa is a particularly good choice since they are specializing in the specific task of selling used phones and laptops.

2: Try Avoiding Debit and Credit Cards

Credit and debit cards were once traditionally used as the standard online payment method. But, that doesn’t mean that they are safe to use. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

As mentioned above, even if the website is reputable, the same can’t be said for their individual sellers. And that’s especially true for websites like eBay where more or less everyone can sell.

For this reason, it’s highly recommended to rely on PayPal instead of just providing your credit card information. Because when things go wrong, chances are that you’ll be able to request a refund or found a solution with the seller, even if the website of your choice doesn’t allow for anything like that.

That’s especially useful in cases where you may fall victim to a scam or anything similar. PayPal offers a layer of security that you just don’t get with traditional payment methods. So, do keep that in mind!

3: Keep an Eye Out for Extra Import Fees and Charges

Most people don’t seem to know about this. But, if you’re importing a product from outside of your country, there is a good chance that you’ll have to pay extra fees upon delivery. That’s extra money that you weren’t intending on giving in the beginning.

In the worst-case scenario, you may end up having to pay more than the product’s original price. Best case scenario, all the extra costs are mentioned in the checkout page.

The thing is that in both cases, you’ll end up having to pay extra money and nobody wants that. Now, there are a couple of ways to avoid that. But, in the end, it comes down to your country’s regulations. So, do make your research on that.

Ideally, you should always order items only from websites that are based on your country. For example, those who live in the US may can use Amazon.com while the British can rely on Amazon.co.uk.

Do also keep in mind that as long as a website has warehouses in your country, then chances are that it doesn’t matter where it’s based. For example, Gearbest is based in China, but it also has numerous European warehouses. This allows Europeans to purchase specific items without having to pay anything extra.

There are also some other shady methods like Priority shipping, but let’s not go there since that’s not a reliable solution anyway.

4: Pay Attention to the Condition of Your Used iPhone 11

Another common mistake is that people buy a phone that’s offered in a good price without taking a second to look at the condition that it’s in. This often results in unpleasant experiences where you may get something that’s in terrible shape or outrightly broken.

So, with that being said, it’s terribly important that you pay attention to the condition of the used iPhone 11 that you’re going to buy! After all, every reputable website like Swappa is going to mention the condition of each device.

Now, each website may use slightly different terms to describe the overall condition of a device. But, still, here is our general descriptions that apply on most options out there:

Good/Refurbished/Like New/Grade A: These terms are often used to describe a phone that’s almost brand new without scratches or marks
Mint/Fair/Grade B/C: Scratches and other signs of wear/use may be present, but the device works normally
Bad/Damaged/Parts and Repairs only/Grade D: The phone is damaged to the point where normal operation is tough or impossible

Again, always look for the individual description of a phone on the specific website that you’re shopping from because they may be using slightly different terms.

5: Prefer Unlocked Used iPhone 11 Devices

If you’re going to buy a used iPhone 11, then try getting your hands on an unlocked version. Unlocked phones can work with all carriers and you also won’t have to worry about paying extra for an unlocking service down the line.

In case you don’t know about it, phones that are locked down to a specific carrier will only work with it. For example, if you get a phone that’s locked down to Sprint, then you’ll only be able to use it with a Sprint SIM card as the phone will refuse to “cooperate” with anything else.

So, if you’re going to buy a locked device, then at the very least make sure that it’s locked to the carrier of your preference. Otherwise, this may end up turning into a painful buy.

Again, most reputable sellers will mention if a phone is locked or not. So, keep an eye out for that!

Get your used iPhone 11 from Swappa

How to Change Netflix Region

Last updated on September 5, 2019

Looking on how to change Netflix region? It’s actually a very easy thing to do. You just need to know how. This guide shouldn’t take any more than 10 minutes to follow, so, keep on reading!

Why? Well, for those of you who don’t know, due to licensing issues, Netflix is not allowed to display all movies and shows universally. Some of them are geo-blocked. For example, “The Office”, which is a very popular show, isn’t available to watch in numerous parts of Europe.

Depending on your region, there is a chance that more than 50% of Netflix’s library is unavailable to watch. So, without any further ado, here’s how to bypass these kinds of restrictions!

1: Choose A Reliable VPN

The easiest and most effective way of changing our Netflix region is by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). VPNs can be installed as any other software on your device and offer an additional layer of security/privacy while using them.

However, the reason that we truly need one in this particular case is because they also give us the ability to “Disguise” ourselves. A VPN can fool websites; including Netflix; into thinking that you’re browsing from another place in the world.

This feature is extremely useful for bypassing geo-blocked websites and content like movies and shows on Netflix. That being said, this is why our first and most important step of changing our Netflix region is choosing a good VPN.

Normally, a Google search would be more than enough to find a VPN. However, there are tons of them to choose from. So, finding the ideal candidate can become a bit of a pain; which is why we’re here to help you out.

Things to Consider When Choosing A VPN

Most paid VPN apps will work just fine for most applications. But, when it comes to using one for Netflix? Let’s just say that your choice needs to meet some criteria:

Ideally, you want the best bang for your buck: Pretty obvious. Nobody wants to spend more money than needed
Needs to be able to bypass Netflix’s detection system: Netflix has an algorithm which detects if you’re using a VPN or not. You want something that can bypass that
Speed: Streaming high-quality videos is one of the most bandwidth-intensive tasks that one can do. Having a VPN that’s fast enough to stream movies or shows is an absolute requirement
Security and reliability: Using a VPN means that the user is switching from trusting his data to his ISP (Internet Service Provider) over to the VPN provider. So, make sure to choose someone who will surely not sell that data to 3rd parties
Available locations: Most VPN apps allow you to choose from a plethora of virtual locations. Make sure that you can get as many as possible
Cross-platform support: Most of us use at least a phone and a computer. If you’re intending on using the VPN for multiple devices, then pick one that supports multiple platforms (Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc)

With all of that being said, we think that Express VPN is a very solid option. It starts at 6.5 euros per month, works with Netflix while also offering the necessary speeds for streaming, and it’s also known as one of the most reliable choices out there.

It’s available for Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, and Linux and gives you a ton of regions to choose from. Overall, it’s a solid choice. Still, if you don’t like it, feel free to make your own choice.

Check out Express VPN on its official website

2: Setup The VPN

At this point, you hopefully understand what a VPN does and why we need it for this to work. So, after choosing a VPN, you need to set it up in order for it work with Netflix.

Guides are usually not necessary for such simple things, but here’s how to do it anyway:

Download and install your VPN from its official website
Select the region of your preference
Wait for the connection to establish
And that’s it

The process may slightly differ from VPN to VPN. But, generally, it’s as simple as opening the app and choosing a specific region to connect to.

When it comes to Netflix, the best choice is usually the US. Still, make your own research on that. If you Google search a show and it shows up on Netflix but you still can’t see it, then chances are that you’re still geo-blocked.

If that happens, just make a Google search, see which regions have access to the show or movie that you are after, and switch to that server with your VPN.

Can I Use My Netflix Account Overseas?

Yes, you absolutely can. If you are using a VPN, then your physical location doesn’t really matter. In the virtual world, you can live anywhere you want.

And if you don’t have a VPN? Well, then the situation slightly changes. Some regions, like Greece, can normally access but with limited content. Others, like China, will not allow you to get in at all.

So, to wrap things up:

For VPN users: doesn’t really make a difference
For non-VPN users: depends on your location

How to Change Netflix Region: Wrapping Up

So, for those of you who are looking on how to change Netflix region, all you basically need is a trustworthy and fast VPN that can bypass geo-restrictions.

90% of the process is all about trying to find the right VPN for the job. After that, it’s all a matter of opening the app and connecting to a location that is not geo-blocked.

Of course, it goes without saying that you’ll need to have a Netflix subscription as well. And it sucks that we need to pay for Netflix AND for a VPN service to access all of the content that we were paying for anyway. But, that’s how it is.

And that’s about it. If you’ve got any questions, you can drop them in the comments section down below and the WTLS team will try to get back to you. Till next time.

How to Backup iPhone (Locally or in Cloud)

Last updated on September 3, 2019

Learning how to backup iPhone data is one of the most important things to know. Not only because it’s extremely useful when switching phones, but also because it’s a great way to keep your files safe.

That includes pictures, songs, documents, videos, anything like that. There are multiple effective ways of backing up data both locally and on the cloud, so, keep on reading and choose whatever fits you best!

1: How to Backup iPhone With iCloud

One of the easiest ways of keeping backups with iPhones is by using Apple’s iCloud. However, do keep in mind that all the points that it earns in ease of use, it loses in terms of effectiveness.

That’s because the free plan only gives us 5 GB of data while the backup options are kinda limited. Upgrading to a plan with more data is relatively cheap, but it’s a subscription nonetheless.

Still, the least that you can do is use the free plan – just in case.

To backup your data by using the iCloud, all you need to do is:

Go to Settings
Select your name “Or iCloud; depending on the version of iOS that you’re running”
Enable”iCloud Backup”
And if you think that you’re not going to be using your Wi-Fi for a while, select “Back Up Now”

Depending on how much stuff there is to backup, the process may end up taking a while. So, the best idea is to probably do this before going to sleep.

Just leave that option enabled, stay connected to the Wi-Fi, and the phone should automatically start backing up everything on the cloud. If it doesn’t, you always have the option of selecting the “Back Up Now” option.

Pros:

Very easy to use
Works well with other Apple products
Extremely reliable

Cons:

Not a whole lot of control over what to backup or not
Those with a slow Internet connection may have to wait for a while before a backup finishes
Limited storage for free

2: How to Backup iPhone With Google Drive

Unlike iCloud, Google Drive gives you 15 gigabytes of storage for free while also offering more a few more options on what to backup or not. The catch, however, is that it doesn’t cooperate as “Smoothly” with other Apple products like iCloud does.

That being said, it does work very well with Android devices and other Google services like Google docs. So, if you’re planning on moving from an iPhone to an Android device any time soon, do seriously consider this option.

To backup your iPhone with Google Drive:

Go to the App Store
Download and install it
Log in to your Google account; or create one if you haven’t already
Open the menu by clicking on the icon that resides on the upper left corner of the screen
Go to “Settings”
Select “Backup”
And select “Start Backup”

This is a general backup that will backup contacts, the calendar, and any photos or videos. After that, you can get more control through the navigational menu and selectively backup anything you want.

And in case that 15 gigabytes of storage isn’t enough for you, just like with iCloud, there is always the option of upgrading to a premium subscription with more storage.

By the way, do keep in mind that depending on your Internet connection, the first backup may end up taking a while. Leaving the phone to update and make the backups while you’re sleeping is probably the best course of action here.

Pros:

Still relatively easy to use
Works well with Google services and products
Very reliable
Gives a lot of control over backup options
Offers 3 times the storage that iCloud does for free

Cons:

Those with a slow connection will have to wait for a while
Still need to pay for more storage
Subscriptions seem to be more expensive compared to iCloud (Depends on the region, though)

3: How to Backup iPhone With iTunes (Locally)

Cloud solutions have two big disadvantages:

They rely a lot on Internet speeds
They don’t offer a whole lot of storage for free

So, if that’s an issue for you and you already have a computer sitting at home, why not use it to make a local backup? Just do keep in mind that local backups are generally not as safe as cloud solutions.

After all, if something happens to the computer/drive, everything that’s stored there will be gone as well. As for the whole hacker breach that happened with iCloud accounts a few years ago, well, that’s a different story.

With that being said, here’s how to make a local backup by using iTunes:

In case you have a Windows PC, download and install iTunes first
Connect the iPhone with your computer
A message may come up on the phone which will ask if you trust this device/computer, select “Yes/Trust”
Open iTunes
Select your phone which should have appeared at this point
Then select “Backup now”

As the data transfer happens locally, this method is much faster compared to the cloud. So, chances are that leaving the phone sitting there for the rest of the night is going to be unnecessary.

Just like with iCloud, this option doesn’t give us a lot of options. But, for the most part, it gets the job done.

Pros:

Completely free to use
Very fast; regardless of the Internet connection

Cons:

The process is a tiny bit more complicated to other options
Not a whole lot of choices over the backup

4: How to Backup Locally (Manual Method-Photos Only)

Most of the backup options that we’ve checked out don’t give us a whole lot of options. In most cases, you just press a button and let the software do its thing.

But, as mentioned above, this can turn out to be a time-consuming process. Especially if you got lots of files. In such cases, manually selecting what is desired or not is usually the best course of action.

Overall, if you own a Windows PC and want to make manual photo backups, this is quite possibly one of the best solutions:

Connect the iPhone to the PC with the lightning cable
If a prompt comes up on the phone, select “Trust”
Open the Windows file explorer (Resides on the dock bar of Windows with a folder icon)
Select “This PC”
Click on your phone
Open DCIM
Select the photos that you wish to copy
And move them whenever you want

As far as we know, Apple doesn’t allow you to copy anything else apart from photos with this method. So, if you wish to make backups of songs, videos, or anything like that, then take a look at one of our other methods.

And while we are at it, in case you don’t know about it, multiple individual photos can be selected by holding down the CTRL button while clicking.

Pros:

Allows you to choose individual pictures
Very fast

Cons:

Can’t be used for other file types (Thanks, Apple)
Some pictures do not appear with the correct rotation

Summary

That’s all for now. If you got any other backup methods/recommendations, let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section down below!

iTunes Won’t Open? Here’s How to Fix it

Last updated on August 30, 2019

The “iTunes won’t open” issue has been getting more and more popular lately. Especially on Windows computers and often after big updates. Sounds familiar?

That’s not to say that the same issue is non-existent for Mac computers either. So, we’ll be mentioning how to fix it for both Operating Systems and on iPhones as well. That being said, let’s get right into it!

iTunes Won’t Open: Various Fixes

1: How to Fix “iTunes Won’t Open” on Windows Computers

Windows computers are the ones that most commonly face this issue. So, let’s start with that. There are various things that can go wrong and “brake” an application like iTunes. One of the most common ones is big updates that change the “structure” of the OS and sometimes, this messes up a few programs.

At this point, you can either try to repair or re-install iTunes to fix the above-mentioned issue. To repair it, go to:

Settings
Apps
iTunes
Modify
Repair

And while it says “repair”, this is more of an automatic re-installation process. Still, it should fix your issue and work just fine. If not, give it another try with the old, traditional method by going to:

Settings
Apps
iTunes
Uninstall

This uninstalls iTunes. To install them again, simply head over to the official website, download the app again, install it, log in, and pray that everything will work just fine.

If iTunes still refuses to cooperate, your best bet is to uninstall the update which messed up everything in the first place. This can be done by going to:

Settings
Update & Security
View update history
Uninstall updates
Then look for the most recent updates that were installed and remove them

After that, reboot your system and try running iTunes again. And if it still refuses to work, then your last two options are either running it in safe mode or taking it one step further and resetting your whole system.

How to Launch iTunes in Safe Mode and/or Reset Windows 10

Opening iTunes in safe mode is as easy as:

Holding down CTRL + Shift
Open iTunes while still holding down these buttons
And that’s it

If you’ve tried everything and iTunes still refuses to work, then your last line of defense is performing a factory reset. In order to do that, you must go to:

Settings
Update & recovery
Reset this PC
Get started

And here you can select to either keep your files or delete everything. Do keep in mind that no matter which way you go, all of your 3rd party apps will be deleted.

It would be for the best if you could actually perform a clean install. But, this requires Windows installation media, a valid Windows key, and secondary drives or the cloud for backups. It’s basically a whole new process. So, maybe just stick with a simple Windows reset for now.

That’s about all we got for Windows right now. And there a few other minor things that you may try like:

Restarting your system
Checking out the firewall and ensuring that it doesn’t block iTunes
Updating your drivers

And things like that. But, if you’ve tried everything that we mentioned above and it didn’t work out for you, then I highly doubt that such steps will be any more useful.

So, time to move on to Mac now.

2: How to Fix The “iTunes Won’t Open” Issue on Mac Computers

This problem is definitely a rarity for Mac users. But, if you were unfortunate enough to be one of the unlucky few, well, there’s not that much that we can really do.

The first thing that you always wanna try out in such cases is the updates. Always make sure that your system and apps are running their latest versions.

To check for updates on Mac, select the:

Apple icon
Software update

And if any updates are available, then click on the “Update now” button, wait for the installation to finish, reboot your computer, and then try opening iTunes again.

You could also try signing in with a different user account and then logging in back to your own. Alternatively, logging out and back in is worth a try if possible.

Other than that, you can also try some of the more standard fixes like rebooting your PC. But, reinstalling iTunes isn’t an option here. That’s mostly because it’s a core app for Macs and thus we’re not allowed to meddle with it like we can on Windows.

There are a few tricks to bypass that, but they sometimes lead into issues. Not to mention that the newest versions of Mac OS will not allow you to do anything anyway. You could try temporarily renaming the iTunes library folder, though. But, I doubt this will be of much help.

How to Repair Disk Permissions

One thing that may be helpful is repairing the disk permissions. To do that, you must first go into safe mode by:

Restart your Mac and upon boot, hold down the “Shift” key until you see the log-in screen
Log in
Open the Finder
Go to Application
Select “Utilities”
Disk utility
First aid
Then select “Repair Disc Permissions”

Depending on the version of Mac that you’re using, this option may not be available.

3: How to Fix “iTunes Won’t Open” on iPhone

An iPhone gives us even fewer options to work with. Still, let’s take our chances. The first thing you wanna try is restarting the phone. It poses zero risks and it’s something that may be able to fix your issue.

So, to restart an iPhone:

Hold down the power/sleep button
Slide to power off
Hold down the power/sleep button again until the phones powers on
Wait till it’s fully booted
Then give iTunes one more try

If that fails, make sure that you’re running the latest version of the app be heading over to the App Store. You could also try uninstalling and installing iTunes as you would do with any other app.

And if nothing seems to work, the only thing that remains is a factory reset. Of all the things that we’ve mentioned, this is the only one that will delete your data. So, make sure to keep backups on your PC or iCloud.

To factory reset an iPhone:

Go to Settings
General
Reset
Erase all content and settings

After that, simply follow the on-screen instructions. If memory serves right, you’ll need to double confirm your decision and insert your Apple ID for safety reasons.

This will turn your iPhone into a brand-new like state. But, it’ll also delete everything stored in the device.

That’s all for now. If you’ve got any questions or if you feel like there’s a good solution that we didn’t add, you can let us know about it in the comments section down below.

How to Switch iPhones (5-10 Minute Read)

Last updated on August 29, 2019

Looking for how to switch iPhones? Once you learn about it, the process is really easy. And just in case it wasn’t clear when we say “switching” iPhones, we’re talking about the process of moving over your previous data like contacts and media from the old iPhone to the new one.

So, if that’s what you’re looking for, then keep on reading!

How to Switch iPhones

Setting Up

When it comes to ease of use in the mobile world, Apple is without a doubt one of the best. Moving from your old iPhone to a new one is remarkably easy. However, there are a few things that must do before moving on with the process.

If you’ve got an Apple Watch, now is the time to unpair it from your smartphone. The watch will automatically backup everything after unpairing, which means that reconnecting it with your new phone will restore everything as it was.

After that, you also want to make sure that you have backups from your last iPhone. This can be done in a number of ways, but the easiest and most effective one is using either the iCloud or iTunes.

Backups are useful not only for moving our files to a new phone but also for security. For example, if something bad happens to the phone, all of your photos, documents, contacts, videos, and anything else will be safely stored on the cloud.

If you haven’t made your backups yet, we’ll explain how further down below in this article. You also want to have your password and Apple ID ready at hand. That’s assuming that you don’t remember them, of course.

And last, but not least, check out the SIM card slot of your new iPhone. It may be using a different format (Mini-SIM, Micro-SIM, e-SIM, etc). In which case, you’ll want to head over to your carrier and replace your SIM card with the appropriate size for your new phone.

Most carriers will do that for free. But, some of them may charge you a few bucks for the service. So, do keep that in mind.

Now that this is out of the way, let us move on with the guide.

1: How to Switch iPhones With iCloud

This is by far one of the easiest and quickest ways of switching iPhones. The only thing to remember is that you need to do this while setting up your new phone for the first time.

If your new phone is already logged in and you haven’t gone through this process, then you may have to wipe it and start from zero again. In any case, just keep on reading and we’ll figure it out.

The Whole Backup and Restore Process

The first thing you wanna do is backup everything to the iCloud with your old phone. If you’ve already done it, then feel free to skip these steps. If not, now is your chance:

Make sure you’re connected to the Wi-Fi
Go to your settings
Tap on your name (iCloud for those who are running an older version of iOS)
Select “iCloud”
Enable “iCloud backup”
If the phone doesn’t start backing up automatically at that point, select “Backup now”

After the old phone finishes backing up, you need to log in with the new one, log in to your account, and then restore everything that was backed up with the old iPhone. To do that:

Power up the phone and erase it if you went through the setup before without bringing your old data to it
Keep on going through the on-screen instruction texts until you reach the “Set up your iPhone screen”
Once there, select “Restore from iCloud Backup”
Now is the time to bring up your Apple ID and password. Again, no need to do that if you remember everything
Choose the backup that you previously made
Wait for the download to finish

Now, do keep in mind that the loading times will greatly vary depending on how you much stuff you backed up and also your internet connection. You may have to wait anywhere from a few minutes to even hours.

So, if you notice that the restore process is taking a while, consider leaving the phone plugged in and connected to the Internet. It’s not uncommon for those with slow Internet to leave the phone downloading through the night.

2: How to Switch iPhones With Quick Start

Quick Start is a little bit easier to use, but it also requires you to have at least iOS 11 for a simple setup and at least iOS 12.4 if you wish to transfer files as well. For those who can’t transfer their files due to outdated software, relying on iCloud is pretty much necessary.

Now, do keep in mind that this process may end up taking a while and it will keep both of your phones busy. So, don’t do it until you’re sure that you won’t need the phones for a while; just to be safe.

Now that this is out of the way, here is how to use Quick Start:

Make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on both devices
Put your new phone right next to the old one and Quick Start should appear (Both phones need to be running at least iOS 11)
Insert your Apple ID
Use your camera to authenticate or do it manually if, for any reason, you can’t rely on the camera
Follow the on-screen instructions
Select anything that you want to keep/restore

If you wish to restore anything that was backed up over to iCloud, then an Internet connection is required. Wi-Fi is recommended; otherwise; data charges may apply.

3: How to Switch iPhones With iTunes

This is a very good solution for those who own a computer and are using a very slow internet connection. That’s because you’ll essentially be backing up everything from your phone to the computer and then back to the new phone. The only thing that you’ll need is an iTunes account/Apple ID.

In order to backup your old data to the computer:

Open iTunes on the PC
Select the phone
On the summary tab, go to where it says “Automatically Back Up” and select “Back up Now”
Select the “Encrypt iPhone Backup” box if you want to backup passwords and health-related data as well
Hit apply
And wait for the process to finish

Now that we finished backing up your data to the computer, it’s time to restore them on the new iPhone. To do that :

Grab your new iPhone
If you’ve set it up before without restoring your data then you need to erase it
Follow the instructions until you reach the part where you select what to do with the new device
Select “Restore from iTunes Backup”
Connect the phone to the PC
Launch iTunes
On the phone summary tab, click on the “Restore Backup” button to the right
Enter the password if you are asked to

And that’s about it. Now you just wait and everything should be good to go after the last few steps. Just follow the on-screen instructions until the end.

iCloud Unlock – How To Easily Remove Activation Lock On Used iPhone ?

Last updated on August 26, 2019

(WE HAVE NEW TESTING RESULTS FOR 2019 – UPDATED)

SUMMARY:

iCloud Unlock -Is it possible?

Did you recently purchase a used iPhone and realized that the phone is locked to the previous iCloud account? If your iPhone has an iCloud lock on it, it means that regardless of how much you paid for your second-hand phone, the previous owner can still block you from using it. They can do this by keeping the device locked to their iCloud account and not allowing you to log into the phone.There are two ways to get an iCloud unlocked by having the previous owner unlock it or by using a service that specializes in unlocking iCloud locks. The service frees your phone from the previous owner’s account and allows you to setup your own unlocked iCloud account on that phone, meaning you can start making calls, sending messages, and using apps.

Of the 9 iCloud activation unlock services we found and 2 we tested, the fastest, cheapest, and best supported provider is AppleiPhoneUnlock. They unlocked all 12 accounts we sent them, for the least money, and did it in the fastest time.

Recommended Unlocking Service

AppleiPhoneUnlock is quick, convenient, cheap and safe. It doesn’t get any better than that right? Unlock iCloud account with AppleiPhoneUnlock.

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At the start of 2014, Apple added a quirk to iOS7 that changed the way that iPhone accounts were made available. It was a little thing called iCloud Bypass Activation Lock. The change made to iOS 7 (and carried through to iOS10, iOS11 and iOS 12) is that your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch is now locked to your personal iCloud account.

This means when you restart your Apple device you have to enter your iCloud username and password to access the features, functions, and files.

It’s not a big problem when you’re just using your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, but when you buy a second-hand device from StarGazer77 on eBay, and he doesn’t either remove his iCloud details or give you his access details, the phone is useless. Literally, useless.

It doesn’t matter if you reset it, jailbreak it, allow the battery to run completely flat, or pay someone to hack into it, you couldn’t use the phone. That means your $400 is down the drain, and you’re left with most expensive paperweight you’ve ever purchased.

In response to the massive demand that suddenly sprung up from disgruntled consumers who’d legitimately bought an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch and couldn’t use it, clever providers started investigating ways to bypass this barrier.

There were a lot of false starts and loopholes closed by Apple, but eventually, a fool-proof loophole emerged. And now, you can get the iCloud activation lock removed and use the iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch you paid your hard earned money for.

How to Choose The Right iCloud Unlock Provider

With all the providers flooding the market, it became difficult to tell who could legitimately unlock your iCloud account and who was just a scam shopfront setup to rip you off.

After being scammed three times by ‘Official’ unlock solutions, I decided to test and review them to find out who was the most reliable.

Click here to skip testing methodology and go straight to the reviews

Why I’m qualified to help tell you about iCloud Lock for you phone

There are no degrees available in bypassing the iCloud lock so there are no technical qualifications I could hold to make me more qualified than the next guy to tell you about iCloud activation unlock, but there is one thing that makes me more of an expert than anyone else: testing.

I’ve reviewed 9 providers and tested 3 providers on all active iPhone models. And the simple fact that I’ve actually tested these providers with all models makes me the expert in the space.

There are other reviews available but most of them have never reviewed even one carrier, let alone reviewed all nine. That’s why I’m qualified to tell you this.

It’s easy. The steps to iCloud Unlock for an Apple Device

Step 1 – Visit the one of the recommended services we review found below in this article

Step 2 – Enter your IMEI or Serial Number of your phone or device

If your iPhone is active: Dial *#06# to get your IMEI or go to Settings -> General -> About -> then Scroll down to find the IMEI number
If your device is not active: Located on the activation screen, there will be a little “i” icon on the screen. Tap to that button and you will get your IMEI number

Step 3 – Wait for confirmation that your iCloud Lock has been unlocked!

Step 4 – Now create a new account and start using your device

This service works on all iPhone 7, 7 plus, 6, 6 plus, 5S, 5C, 5, 4S, 4 and iPad 4, 3, 2 Air 2.

Test Methodology For Removing iCloud Lock

The way I conducted these tests was simple. First of all, I Googled iCloud unlock providers and drew up a list of everyone I could find. After removing services that didn’t look like they were still active, I was left with nine services.

The next step in the process was to cull that list down from nine operators to my top three. I wanted my test of each operator to be comprehensive and complete and it wasn’t possible to rigorously test all 9 operators. To do this, I jumped onto review websites such as TrustPilot and RipoffReport to weed out any obviously dodgy operators.

I read the reviews and tallied up the average score of each service provider giving me an average score for each. I cut the lowest scoring six services and was left with three to test.

To make sure I had enough devices to thoroughly test each provider, I put the call out to all my readers to get iPhones that need unlocking. I wanted to get people in a variety of countries and using a variety of models.

Of the 73 who responded, I chose 12 to test (12 for each provider):

1 x iPhone X
1 x iPhone XS
1 x iPhone XS Max
1 x iPhone 8
1 x iPhone 7
1 x iPhone 7 Plus
1 x iPhone 6
1 x iPhone 6 Plus
1 x iPhone 6s
1 x iPhone 6s Plus
1 x iPad Pro 2018
1 x iPad Air

The chosen applicants then sent me their IMEI codes and I placed the orders.

Activation Lock – Testing Criteria

The iCloud providers were judged based on 4 criteria:

Criteria 1: Price

Price range varied greatly between providers. Some were as little as $15 whilst others were as much as $149. There are very few people on this earth who can purchase services without being price conscious so this is where we started our assessment.

Criteria 2: Customer service

Handing over your device details and a chunk of cash to an unknown website to perform a service you know very little about can be a little nerve-wracking, but having a supportive and understanding person on the other end of the customer support line can help calm those nerves.

We tested each service provider three times during the course of the unlocking process:

Before the purchase
After the purchase but before the unlock was complete
After the unlock iCloud service was complete

This was to get a comprehensive understanding of who was really there to help and who was there just to take your money.

Criteria 3: Success

What the point in great prices and caring customer support if they can deliver on what they promised? Because of this, the third criteria is: success. It’s a simple pass/fail criteria. If the iCloud account was unlocked, it was a success. If not, then no.

Criteria 4: Speed

Getting your iCloud account unlocked is great, but waiting can be frustrating. To compare apples to apples, we didn’t assess the sites on how long they said it would take to free the iCloud account, just how long it actually took to unlock them.

After processing all of this data, we can confidently say that the following two providers are the best.

The Top 2 iCloud Unlock Providers

As with anything in life, not all iCloud activation unlock providers are the same. Some have low prices but no customer support. Some will answer your email within five minutes, but take four weeks to unlock your iPhone.

After assessing 9 providers and testing them, these are the top two providers:

1. AppleiPhoneUnlock – 9.5/10 (Best Unlocking iCloud Activation Lock Provider)

They are my number 1 choice for iCloud unlocks. We’ve tested them based on the above four criteria and they came out top in all four.

PROs:

First of all, they unlocked every device we sent them. They were assigned versions of iPads and iPhone models from 6 to XS to unlock and completed every single one of them (the only one to do so). That’s always a good place to start.

Secondly, they unlocked them all quickly. The total time for completing all twelve iPhones was only a TOTAL of 24 days. This is the breakdown:

1 x iPhone X – 2 days
1 x iPhone XS – 2 days
1 x iPhone XS Max – 2 days
1 x iPhone 8 – 3 days
1 x iPhone 7 – 2 days
1 x iPhone 7 Plus – 2 days
1 x iPhone 6 – 1 day
1 x iPhone 6 Plus – 2 days
1 x iPhone 6s – 2 days
1 x iPhone 6s Plus – 1 day
1 x iPad Pro 2018 – 3 days
1 x iPad Air – 2 days

When you consider that most iCloud unlock providers take at least a week, this is stellar.

Thirdly, their customer support rocks. I contacted them before, during, and after the service was completed and the most I ever had to wait to hear back was forty-five minutes.And even better than that, when I did contact them, they were polite, helpful, and answered my questions completely.

And finally, they’re the cheapest of the bunch. They might only be $1 cheaper than our #2 recommendation, but we live in a world where every dollar counts and it’s better to have it in your pocket than someone else’s!

CONs:

Unfortunately, there’s nothing really to write here. I try to make my reviews as unbiased and even-handed as possible and I don’t have anything to add right now. Could their customer support have responded in less than 45 minutes? Sure, they could have, but it wouldn’t have made that much difference. Could they have unlocked all the iCloud accounts in less time? Possibly, but it wouldn’t have made that much difference.

Without nit-picking for the sake of it, there’s nothing to really add here.

OVERALL:

AppleiPhoneUnlock was the only provider to unlock all 6 accounts and because of that, they’re my #1 choice. And if that wasn’t enough, they have great customer service, the cheapest prices (even if it’s only by $1), and they’re the fastest of the group.

If your iPhone is locked to an iCloud account and you need to get it unlocked –> iCloud Unlock.

2. DoctorUnlock – Alternative Bypass iCloud Lock Service 7.5/10

DoctorUnlock is my second choice. Not because they’re a terrible provider, but simply because they’re not as good as AppleiPhoneUnlock..

PROs:

DoctorUnlock mostly do what they say they’re going to do. I purchased 12 iCloud unlocks and they managed to unlock 11 of them. 11 out of 12 isn’t bad when you consider that most providers have less than a 50% success rate, but it’s still not 8 out of 8.

The total time it took to unlock the iCloud accounts was longer than advertised (30 days total), but they still delivered. Here’s a breakdown of how long it took to unlock each iCloud account.

1 x iPhone X – 3 days
1 x iPhone XS – 2 days
1 x iPhone XS Max – 3 days
1 x iPhone 8 – 3 days
1 x iPhone 7 – 4 days
1 x iPhone 7 Plus – 2 days
1 x iPhone 6 – 2 day
1 x iPhone 6 Plus – 2 days
1 x iPhone 6s – 3 days
1 x iPhone 6s Plus – 1 day
1 x iPad Pro 2018 – 3 days
1 x iPad Air – N/A

Their customer support is efficient and will answer your questions, but it might take a few days. And as I said above, they’re only $1 more expensive than AppleiPhoneUnlock.

CONs:

Firstly, they failed to unlock 1 iCloud account. Yes, they gave us a refund straight away, but they still failed to deliver.

Secondly, their unlock times are a slower as well. DoctorUnlock was unlocking iCloud accounts in 1-2 days, these guys are more like 3-4 days. It’s not a HUGE issue, but it’s still twice as long to wait without a phone you’ve already paid for.

And finally, whilst their customer support responded in a few days, their responses were always curt and specific. There was nothing in the email other than the only information they needed to answer the question. Whilst they technically did their job, it was very cold and clinical.

OVERALL:

DoctorUnlock are a solid provider and there’s a better-than-average chance your iCloud account will be unlocked, but why take the risk when AppleiPhoneUnlock are more reliable and cheaper?

You can check out their website for unlocking iCloud here: Remove iCloud

In Conclusion

Having an iPhone locked to someone else’s iCloud account sucks. They can effectively hold you ransom and make you pay whatever they wanted to get access to the phone you’ve already paid for. And nobody wants that. If you have your icloud locked, there are many available services and you can beat their scams without having to pay them a cent.

Of the 9 iCloud unlock providers we found and the 3 we tested, the winner was clear: AppleiPhoneUnlock.

They’re the fastest, cheapest, have the more responsive customer support, and were the only provider who successfully completed all 6 iCloud unlocks we sent them.

If you need an Locked iCloud for your iPhone, visit AppleiPhoneUnlock today.

Other similar unlock, bypass and activation removal guides for other Apple or Samsung devices here:

iPhone 8

Samsung Reactivation or Bypass Lock

How to Buy A Used iPhone 4: Safe Shopping Tips

Last updated on July 24, 2019

Buying a used iPhone 4 is a great way to save some money while getting the phone that you want. However, the used market can be full of traps where one wrong turn can cost you dearly a number of different ways.

With that being said, that’s why we decided to make this article for you where we explain some things that you need to know before buying a used iPhone or any used electronic for that matter. So, let’s get right into it!

Used iPhone 4 Buying Guide

Amidst all the chaos in the used market, there are primarily 5 things that you need to know before buying a used iPhone 4 or any used electronics:

Your seller
Payment methods
Extra fees and charges
Condition of the item
Locked and unlocked devices

1: Know Your Seller

First of all, knowing that you’re buying from a trustworthy seller is very important. And when we say trustworthy we don’t just mean a big name like Amazon or eBay, but also their individual sub-sellers – the ones that use the platform to sell their products.

Buying from the wrong guy can put you into a lot of trouble. Things like:

Broken products that can’t be returned
Misinformation about the product and its condition (More on that later)
Hidden fees (Also more on that later)
And possibly more

To find the right seller, the first thing that you can do is to look only at reputable platforms like Amazon, eBay, Swappa, Newegg, or anything like that.

When it comes to used iPhones, we generally prefer Swappa because they are the pros of selling used phones. Not only they are extremely reputable and trustworthy, but they also mention every detail that you might need like the condition of the phone, its carrier, and more.

Speaking of information, that’s another important thing that you want to look out for. More on that further below.

2: Choose a Safe Payment Method

Finding a good seller is one thing. How about finding a good payment option as well? There are many people out there who are still shopping online with their credit/debit card without knowing that this poses two big risks:

Identity and banking information theft
Lack of buyer protection

If you got a reputable seller, then you obviously don’t need to worry about identity theft or anything like that. Amazon, Swappa, Newegg, eBay, all these big names can’t potentially risk scamming you.

However, we’re talking about the used market here and there’s no guarantee that someone will not at least try to. For example, take a look at this item. A graphics card that normally costs 300+ euros for 63? And it’s also brand new? Boy oh boy what a crazy bargain this is, right? Except it’s clearly a scam attempt.

And mind you, this is on one of the world’s biggest shopping websites. So, if there are people who are willing to try and scam you on the big platforms, imagine how bad things can get when we’re walking on thin ice with unknown sellers.

A secure payment method like PayPal can help you protect yourself from both scams and identity theft. That’s because if you buy something by using PayPal and you realize that you were scammed, you can always reach out to them, provide proof that this happened, and the seller will be forced to issue a refund. In most cases, it works.

Even when things don’t go according to plan, having a small layer of protection instead is always better than nothing. Because let’s be honest, chances are that our banks are not going to lift a finger in case we buy the wrong item.

3: Watch Out For Extra Fees And Charges

One thing that lots of people don’t know is that you can end up paying extra money upon delivery. So, you basically buy whatever you want, pay for it while thinking that you’re done, and only once your used iPhone 4 arrives at your doorstep you are asked to pay the extra fees and charges.

Not all regions do this. But, the EU is definitely a continent that has this law. It doesn’t apply for every single item. After all, those who check for imports can’t possibly have the time to go through the process of taxing every little thing. And for this reason, only items that have a specific price and above will be checked and will have to be paid for import fees.

Unfortunately, a used iPhone 4 usually costs more than enough to be placed on this range and unless you get lucky, chances are that you’ll have to pay the extra fees for it upon delivery. Of course, that is unless you buy it from a seller who is within your country. That, or someone who is living outside of your country but offers a warehouse that’s inside.

American buyers don’t really have to worry too much about this as the major platforms like Swappa and Amazon all have warehouses within the USA. Just do make your research for the individual states. Just in case.

Apart from that, watch out for the obvious stuff. Shipping costs, standard taxes, anything like this that commonly appears only after you’ve inserted the payment and delivery details. So, don’t be in a massive hurry to press that “buy” button.

4: Watch Out For The Condition Of Your Used iPhone 4

This is another thing that lots of people forget to check out. Sometimes, it’s not even mentioned in the details – in which, case, maybe you should look for another website/platform/seller.

The condition of your used iPhone 4, or any used phone for that matter, reflects the overall shape of the device. Scratches, cracks, broken things, anything like that.

Generally speaking, the more flaws that a phone has, the cheaper that you can get it. And remember: If something looks too good to be true, then it most likely is!

Now, different sellers may use different terms to describe the condition of a device. But, generally speaking, this is what you can expect:

Good/Refurbished/Like New: These terms are often used to describe a phone that’s almost brand new without scratches or marks
Mint/Fair: Scratches and other signs of wear/use may be present, but the device works normally
Bad/Damaged/Parts and Repairs only: The phone is damaged to the point where normal operation is tough or impossible.

Again, don’t forget to read the individual descriptions of your particular seller. He/she may have different conditions in mind when using each and every one of these terms.

5: Watch Out For Carrier Locked Devices

There are numerous countries that offer carrier-locked devices. A carrier-locked phone will basically refuse to work with any other carrier apart from the one that it is locked down to.

For example, if you get a used iPhone 4 that’s locked to AT&T, then it doesn’t matter what you want to use. That phone will only work with AT&T. Period.

And if you happen to do the mistake of falling into that trap, then your only choice is to either use the carrier that you’re locked to or pay for unlocking services to get yourself out of that situation. The last thing that anyone would want after getting a new/used device is to pay extra money just to be able to use his phone.

Thankfully, most reputable sellers always mention if their phones are locked or unlocked and they also mention exactly what carrier they are locked down to. So, keep an eye out for that.

Check out Used iPhone 4 Devices on Swappa

Safely Buying a Used iPhone 4: Wrapping Up

That’s all for now. Hopefully, our little guide helped you out and you’ll be able to buy a used iPhone 4 without anything going wrong. To wrap things up, this is all we talked about and that you need to remember:

Buy from a reputable seller
Choose a safe payment method
Watch out for extra fees and charges
Keep an eye on the condition of the device
Careful with the carrier-locked devices

Proxy Vs VPN – What’s the Difference?

Last updated on July 22, 2019

Can’t decide between proxy vs VPN when it comes to choosing the tool to safeguard your online browsing experience? Here’s everything you need to know about these two services and the uses both of them have to offer.

The inception of virtual private networks took place to fulfil the necessity of securing online activity for corporate and business entities. Over the years, improved infrastructure, faster internet technology, and the growing interest of public has led to widespread demand for VPNs all across the globe. Not only have VPN services become popular for accessing geo-restricted websites and web-based services, but also as a means to protect the user’s data and keep the prying eyes of the federal authorities at bay.

Generally speaking, a VPN service allows you to connect to a remote server, which changes your IP address, thus effectively hiding your location and user activity. However, there is yet another networking technology that allows you to do the same, which is called proxy server. Since proxy servers also allow you to mask your IP address, it would be safe to assume that the two security options are the same. However, taking a closer with proxy vs VPN reveals some key differences between the two, which every user should be aware before they choose either of these services to safeguard their internet browsing experience.

What is a VPN Service?

Imagine your IP address to be a fingerprint through which your ISP, and even government authorities can track your geological location on the map. The way a virtual private network is designed to work is that it allows you to hide the IP address of your device, effectively hiding your location of access as well. A VPN works as a software for your computer, mobile phone, or can even be installed on your wireless router.

A dependable VPN service not only changes your IP address, but secures the network connection as well. The data that is sent out and received by your computer or mobile device when using a VPN service, is first routed to a remote server, which encrypts it. The encrypted data is then rerouted, thus spoofing your location, while ensuring that the browsing data cannot be identified and traced back to you.

Pros of using a VPN:

Premium VPN services offer end-to-end encryption along with a slew of security features that allow you to keep your browsing data on a lockdown.
The ability to change your IP address gives you a way to get past geo-restrictions set by web-based services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
A dependable VPN service would be available not just for the computer, but for mobile phones and media streaming devices as well.
ISP throttling can be bypassed when using a VPN service.

Cons of using a VPN:

Premium VPN services, although worth the added cost, can be expensive to use at times.
VPN services are generally frowned upon by banking and legal authorities due to their close association with hackers.
Data encryption does offer protection, but the time it takes for the data to reach the remote servers and then be encrypted before being transferred, can slow down your connection in certain cases.

What is a Proxy Server?

A means to effectively make your browsing experience anonymous, proxy servers take a simplified approach in comparison to VPN services. Generally speaking, proxy servers were introduced as a means to facilitate browsing privacy by simply acting as an extended bridge between devices and the network. Unlike VPN services which have an entire framework of remote servers that are tied together using a web-based software, proxy servers are fairly lightweight and do not require a software platform to be established.

A proxy server serves just one purpose, which is hiding your IP address, and unlike VPN which requires connecting to a remote server, a proxy can be set up on a local server as well. Proxy servers, being feasible and fairly easy to establish, are large available for free all over the internet, allowing you to access a website or online service outside of your country, with no security protocol in place whatsoever.

Pros of using a Proxy Server:

Public proxy servers, which are easy to obtain online, are free to use and can be accessed at anytime from anywhere.
Simplified setup allows users to bypass geo-restrictions and gain access to regional websites and online services.

Cons of a Proxy Server:

Proxy servers can be run by any entity, who can easily gain access to the data that you’re transferring while using their proxy server.
Most public proxy servers have no form of encryption in place, while leaves you vulnerable to phishing and federal surveillance.
Proxy servers are barely ever established permanently, and can be blocked by websites when flagged.

Proxy Vs VPN – Which one should you choose?

The end-user who is looking for a way to bypass the regional restrictions put forth by their ISP or the government agencies is just looking for a solution that works. In theory, when you compare proxy vs VPN in terms of functionality, both of these services are able to deliver the ability to hide your IP address.

What makes VPNs better

If basic browsing is not your only purpose, and you need more than just anonymity online, a VPN service is required. Apart from barring access of your personal browsing information from prying eyes when you’re connect to a public Wi-Fi network, a VPN service also helps you encrypt every kilobyte of data that is transferred to and from your devices. Whether you want to access your financial information securely, or need multiple layers of security that is enabled at all times, a virtual private network service is what you need.

What makes Proxy better

If you’re looking for a simple and straightforward way to access a website that has been blocked in your region, proxy servers can help you with it. You can turn towards the basic options for a free proxy server that lets you connect instantaneously, regardless of the computer or mobile device you use it from. The process involves no software installation, and can be done for most of your regular browsing needs, such as watching Netflix from another region, or just browsing through regional websites on a public domain.

We Recommend ExpressVPN

If you don’t mind shelling out a few bucks for a VPN service rather than depending on an unreliable public proxy server to mask your IP address, there are plenty of service providers to choose from. We’ve sieved through the market and hand-picked ExpressVPN, not just based on its longstanding reputation in the online web security market, but the number of security and functionality features that it has to offer.

Bypassing Geo-restrictions – Depending on where you live, you won’t be able to access the services online, but ExpressVPN offer you a way around this. Allowing you to connect to hundreds of remote servers across the world, you can choose to log in from more than 60 different locations.

Avoid ISP Logging – Even if a website or service is not barred in your region, the ISP (internet service provider) can still keep an on-file record of the user data. The online activity that you perform on your devices can be logged, which poses not only a privacy treat, but the problem of being fined for unauthorized usage as well.

High-speed Streaming –When you choose a mediocre VPN service that helps you get past the ISP but underperforms in terms of connectivity, you could end up with minutes of buffering, which can impact the browsing experience. With ExpressVPN and its smart filtering of servers that rank highest on the Speed Index, you can choose a network server with the fastest speeds on your computer and mobile devices.

Native Support – The sheer popularity of ExpressVPN not only makes it a viable solution for desktop and mobile devices, but for computers, streaming devices, and even wireless routers. Easily choose your service location, and even monitor your streaming speeds for a surreal viewing experience, all from the official ExpressVPN app.

Final Words

As the treat to privacy grows, and the malicious activities of phishing and data breaches become a common sight, even the end-user is looking to find ways to secure their online browsing experience. The purpose of hiding the IP address of a device is resolved by proxy servers as well as VPNs, but the two technologies perform differently, whereas as one only offer anonymity (proxy), and the other offering you encrypted data transmission as well (VPN).

At the end of the day, the competition between proxy vs VPN boils down to the what serves your need the best. So are you going to choose the affordability and ease of use that comes with setting up a proxy server, even if it does not push forth high-level security? Or would you rather spend a few more dollars but secure your network connection with the best in the business? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section right down below.

How to Safely Buy a Used iPhone SE

Last updated on July 16, 2019

Looking for a used iPhone SE? You should know that buying stuff from the used market requires a lot of attention. It can be a risky procedure in a number of different ways.

You may get a different phone, something damaged, or not anything at all. Worst case scenario, you may even get robbed. The odds of that last one happening are rather slim, but, still, buying used electronics is without a doubt a process that has its risks. And that’s why you need to know where to look. Without any further ado, let’s get right into it!

Used iPhone SE Buying Guide

There are primarily 4 things to keep in mind when buying a used phone, or any used electronic for that matter:

Seller
Condition
Locked and unlocked devices
Extra fees, taxes, anything like that

So, let’s start with the first big issue, the seller.

1: Only Buy From Trustworthy And Reputable Sellers

Buying from someone who you know that you can trust is extremely important. And finding reputable sellers is seriously tougher than you may think. If you know where to look, even huge websites like eBay are full of scams.

There are a number of ways that the seller himself can harm your buying experience. Particularly:

You may get a defective phone with no RMA support
The website or seller may claim that they offer RMA in case that something goes wrong. But, when you mention that the phone was dead on arrival they’ll say that you broke it
False information about the state of the phone. Condition, locked or unlocked, etc
You may have to pay extra fees on arrival
And more

This certainly sounds scary, so, what can we do about it? Well, our best advice is to always buy from places and people who you know that you can absolutely trust.

There is a chance that you’ll find better offers on questionable websites and contacts. But, do you truly want to take the risk? It’s your call. We’d recommend only buying from known sellers like Swappa and Amazon.

While Amazon is one of the biggest websites, their individual sellers are often not the best. Just look at the reviews of used products there. That’s why we often prefer Swappa as it offers a more controlled environment for used products.

Get a used or refurbished iPhone SE from Swappa

Get a Used or Refurbished iPhone SE from Amazon

2: Condition

The second thing to keep in mind when buying a used iPhone SE, or any phone for that matter, is the condition of the device. When it comes to used devices, every listing should mention the condition of the product.

If you’re on a website that lists used phones but it doesn’t mention the condition of the devices everywhere, then do seriously consider staying away from it. Every decent seller should accurately report what you’re looking at.

After all, nobody wants to pay a hundred bucks or more for a broken phone. So, firstly, as mentioned above, always buy your used products from reputable sellers to avoid things like that. Secondly, understand what the used terms mean and you’ll be able to avoid a lot of misunderstandings:

Good/Refurbished/Like New: These terms are often used to describe a phone that’s almost brand new without scratches or marks
Mint/Fair: Scratches and other signs of wear/use may be present, but the device works normally
Bad/Damaged/Parts and Repairs only: The phone is damaged to the point where normal operation is tough or impossible.

Do keep in mind that every website may use slightly different terms to describe the condition of their products. Mint/Fair can sometimes mean that the phone is damaged while “Good” can still mean that there are a few scratches. It comes down to the seller.

If you can get photos of the phone, then that would be best. But, more often than not, we don’t have that luxury.

3: Carriers And Locked Devices

Many phones, especially in the US, come locked out of the box. This means that they’ll only work with a specific carrier unless you pay someone to unlock it for you.

If you want to avoid that, then you need to either:

Buy an unlocked device
Or at least buy a phone that is locked down to your preferred carrier

Do keep in mind that there are times where certain carriers/SIMs will refuse to work with an unlocked device. Maybe out of stubbornness. Especially the ones that were officially locked down to that one specific carrier.

So, do keep an eye out for this. There are a lot of sellers which mention the carrier state of a device – including Swappa.

4: Extra Fees And Taxes

This is something that a lot of people don’t know about. Let’s start with the standard fees:

Shipping
Tax

When you’re checking out a used device, always assume that the final price is going to be a bit higher due to the added costs of shipping and taxes. Shipping costs can wildly vary even on the same website. Especially those like Amazon, Swappa, and eBay because they are mostly relying on individual sellers.

Then there are the import fees and taxes. That’s one thing that most people don’t know and they only find out when it’s too late and they already need to pay upwards of 200 bucks on delivery.

See, there are a lot of countries that ask you to pay taxes and import fees for goods that have been imported from another region. And when you buy something that’s from another region, you’re being treated as an importer.

That mostly happens because the taxes for a product that’s out of the country haven’t been paid yet. And well, they do need to be paid. So, if not the buyer, then who else is going to do it?

To solve this, try not to buy anything that’s out of your country. The rules generally differ from region to region. So, you’ll have to make your own research on that.

Europe generally allows you to buy anything from European countries without having to deal with things like that. But, for other continents, we can’t vouch for anything.

Why Buy a Used iPhone SE?

So, when everything is said and done, buying used devices can be a bit of a pain in the butt. There’s a bit of a learning curve and until you go over it, things do definitely look a bit tough. Then why would we want to buy used devices at all? Mainly two reasons:

Used iPhones are much cheaper
Some models come unlocked without any extra costs

First, to state the obvious, used phones are cheaper. Buying a used iPhone SE is a great way to get a decent device and save a lot of money in the process. Just make sure you do it right and you’ll end up being a winner.

Secondly, as we mentioned above, there are a lot of locked phones out in the market. Finding brand new devices in the US that are unlocked out of the box is a challenging task, to say the least. But, finding unlocked devices on the used market? Piece of cake.

The latter one is particularly useful if you don’t feel like being tied to any carriers. And that’s about it for now. Let us know if you’ve got any questions in the comments down below and we’ll try to help!

How to Jailbreak FireStick TV – The Complete Guide

Last updated on July 15, 2019

Want to find out how to jailbreak FireStick TV and unleash the streaming capabilities of the portable entertainment system? Here’s everything to know about jailbreak the Amazon Fire TV Stick, how you can do it, and the benefits that it has to offer.

The modern age of entertainment is a cord cutter’s dream come true, with the biggest names in the business moving towards online streaming. Google may have started the online push after taking over YouTube and making it the largest database of videos online, but a list of names has followed since. The entertainment industry has flourished upon the arrival of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and other premium subscription-based services, but bringing the streaming services to the big screen has been the effort put in through devices such as Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and many others.

In order to make premium content available to the masses on various streaming platforms, Amazon introduced the Fire TV Stick. Offered as a compact and affordable solution to connect your home entertainment system to the internet and enjoy online streamed content along with live TV channels over the web, the Amazon Fire TV Stick has been revered by users all across the world. However, users have been buzzing the support forums all over the internet to discover different methods on how to jailbreak FireStick TV and unlock its true potential.

What Does Jailbreaking FireStick TV Mean?

The term jailbreaking is usually associated with Apple’s iOS devices, where a user is able to enjoy unprecedented software and hardware access by modifying the system files. Unlike the iPhone or the iPad, the system installed on the Amazon Fire TV Stick is actually based on Android 5.0 Lollipop, although it does not include the traditionally preinstalled suite of Google apps and services. Amazon offers its very own App Store, with thousands of offerings that are tailored to work best with the Fire TV on the big screen with navigation support from the Alexa Remote.

When we speak about learning how to jailbreak Amazon Fire Stick, it refers to the ability to install apps on the device while bypassing the App Store. The ability to so has existed natively on all Android devices right from the get-go, which is offered as a feature embedded in the Developer Options menu. Jailbreaking the Fire TV Stick allows you to “Install from Unknown Sources”, which essentially means that you can install apps in their raw format (APK) directly on the device, without requiring the permission of the Amazon App Store, and is generally referred to as “sideloading”.

Why Jailbreak Amazon Fire Stick TV?

Generally speaking, the reason Google Play Store has been put in place is to act as an inspector, ensuring that all apps are put through a screening process before being installed on your phone. While you would wish for the same on your Amazon Fire TV Stick, but the exclusion of the Google Play Store in lieu of the Amazon App Store limits the number of available apps for use significantly. Thanks to the ability to sideload apps to the Fire TV Stick, you get the ability to install thousands of big-screen apps to your TV.

Additionally, the popularity of Android streaming devices has led to the release of third-party app stores built for simplified navigation. For instance, the Aptoide TV App Store allows you to find some of the best Android TV apps and install them to your Amazon Fire TV device. These third-party app stores and app repositories also allow you to install apps such as Showbox for Android, that aren’t officially available neither on the Amazon App Store, nor the Google Play Store.

Once you jailbreak the Fire TV Stick, you can also install the Kodi media player app on it, which unlocks the doors to entertainment heaven for you. From enjoying live TV shows, to having the latest and greatest movies and TV shows at the click of a button, Kodi media player on your Amazon Fire TV devices brings a whole new dimension to your entertainment experience on the big screen.

How to Jailbreak FireStick TV

Now that you you’ve understood what jailbreaking Amazon Fire Stick means and how you can use it to your advantage, it’s time to understand how you can start using it. You need to start by enabling the ability to sideload apps to the Amazon Fire TV Stick, which comes by switching on the “Unknown Sources” feature in the Developer Options menu.

Right from the main screen on your Amazon Fire device, head over to the Settings
Head over to Device tab and then navigate to the Developer Options
You will find the tab that reads Apps from Unknown Sources and click on it to turn the feature ON.

Now that you have enabled the “Unknown Sources” option from the Settings, you can begin to sideload apps on your Amazon Fire TV Stick.

How to Sideload Apps on FireStick TV

Once you have the Unknown Sources features enabled on your Fire TV Stick, you will now be able to bypass the Amazon App Store and install apps directly. But before you can start doing this, you will need the App Store on your Fire TV one last time, to fetch the Downloader app. This app essentially works as a web browser and download manager, allowing you to get APK files online and then directly install them to your streaming device.

From the main menu screen, look out for the Apps
Using the search bar, find the Downloader
Press the Install button and wait for the app to be installed on the Amazon Fire TV.

Bonus: Install the Aptoide TV App

A third-party app store that is designed especially for the Android TV platform, Aptoide TV brings you access to thousands of apps. Apart from apps that are available on the Google Play Store, you can find a bunch of independent apps as well.

Open the Downloader app and go to the Home section to enter the URL.
Type in the following URL in the empty box – http://m.aptoid.com/installer-aptoid-tv/ and hit the Go
Select OK when the app asks to you to enable JavaScript, which is essential for webpages to load within the Aptoide TV app.
Wait for the Aptoide TV APK file to be downloaded, and then press the Install button and once again to confirm.

The Aptoide TV app will now be installed on your Amazon Fire TV Stick, so you can press the Done button to exit, or choose to launch it by pressing the Open button.

Use ExpressVPN When You Jailbreak FireStick TV

One of the primary reasons to jailbreak your Amazon Fire Stick TV is to be able to enjoy video streaming content from apps that are aren’t originally available. This may include regional apps which are not supported officially by the Amazon App Store, but there may be other barriers in the way too. Geo-restrictions are put in place by several big names in the online streaming business, and the only way to get around these restrictions is to put a VPN service such as ExpressVPN to use.

Bypassing Geo-restrictions – Depending on where you live, you won’t be able to access the services online even with a jailbroken Fire TV, but ExpressVPN offer you a way around this. Allowing you to connect to hundreds of remote servers across the world, you can choose to log in from more than 60 different locations.

Avoid ISP Logging – Even if a streaming service is not barred in your region, the ISP (internet service provider) can still keep an on-file record of the user data. The online activity that you perform on the Fire TV Stick can be logged, which poses not only a privacy treat, but the problem of being fined for unauthorized usage as well.

High-speed Streaming –When you choose a mediocre VPN service that helps you get past the ISP but underperforms in terms of connectivity, you could end up with minutes of buffering, which can impact the entertainment experience. With ExpressVPN and its smart filtering of servers that rank highest on the Speed Index, you can choose a network server with the best streaming speeds on the Fire TV Stick.

Native Support – The sheer popularity of ExpressVPN not only makes it a viable solution for desktop and mobile devices, but for streaming devices such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick as well. The Amazon App Store officially supports the ExpressVPN app, allowing you to hook up to a proxy server, easily choose your service location, and even monitor your streaming speeds for a surreal viewing experience.

Get ExpressVPN to protect your viewing behavior

Final Words

With the massive improvements in the communication infrastructure, there is high-speed wireless connectivity across not just the United States, but the entire world. This evolution in the communications industry has bolstered the efforts to cut the cord when it comes to entertainment and ditch the local cable companies in favor of premium streaming services. Bringing the ability to stream content online directly to the big screen has been made possible for the masses, thanks to budget streamers such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Since people are always looking to make the most of the capabilities of what their gadgets can do, the ability to jailbreak FireStick TV has become a popular trend. We’ve highlighted the reasons why an individual would be inclined to take up the process steps and get their device enabled for sideloading apps. If you have any questions regarding how sideloading works on the Fire TV, or have any other queries, just reach out to us in the comments.