I gave my old tablet to my niece and forgot how much of me was still on it

I planned to turn an old tablet into a drawing and video device for my niece. I deleted a few apps, changed the wallpaper, and felt generous and efficient.

Then a message preview from my group chat appeared on the lock screen.

The tablet was still connected to my account. My photos were not downloaded locally, but the library was visible. Browser tabs included a medical bill and a half-finished job application. The password manager was locked, thankfully, but its presence reminded me that deleting visible apps was not the same as preparing a device for someone else.

I took the tablet back before handing it over. Now I am treating the transfer as a data-removal job first and a gift second. I need to save anything unique, sign out of services, remove the device from accounts where appropriate, disable activation or tracking locks according to the maker's instructions, and perform the supported erase process. Afterward, I will set it up as a new device for the intended user rather than restoring my own backup.

Because the recipient is a child, the second setup also needs family decisions: who owns the account, who can approve purchases, which communication features are enabled, and what happens when storage fills up. Those choices belong with her parent, not with the uncle who happened to find a tablet in a drawer.

I am relieved the message preview appeared before the handoff. What is on your checklist before giving away a phone, tablet, or computer to someone you know? I am especially interested in the overlooked traces that survive casual cleanup: notifications, browsers, cloud libraries, saved accounts, and paired devices.