No "Encrypt Phone" option on Android 7.0 Samsung Galaxy S7 In order to sell my Samsung Galaxy S7, I want to clear it of all personal data. I did a full factory reset thinking this would do the trick. But, after the full factory rest, I read this online


  ...a security firm has determined returning Android devices to factory
  settings doesn't actually wipe them clean. Security firm Avast
  purchased twenty used Android phones on eBay. Through extraction
  methods, they were able to recover old emails, texts, and even photos.


I then go on to read that a full file based encryption of the phone should make it safe for resale. I plan to fully encrypt the phone with file based encryption and then do another factory reset. However, I cannot find where to encrypt the phone!

I have tried every step-by-step guide I can find online and I simply do not see the "encrypt phone" option.

I've tried from here


  
  Launch the Settings Application
  Scroll Down and Tap on the ‘Lock Screen and Security’ Option
  Then Tap on the ‘Protect Encrypted Data’ Option
  


But there's no "Protect Encrypted Data" option!

I tried the answer from this StackExchange question. I went into developer options and there was no “Covert to file encryption” option anywhere on the phone!

In fact, when I search "encrypt" in settings the only thing that comes up is "Encrypt SD Card" (even when developer settings are on).
Thanks to Samsung non standard implementation, OP couldn't factory-reset and encrypt before selling. They couldn't :


Check if the device was encrypted
Locate the option for encryption


Steps advised :


Install minimal adb on your laptop
(Is there a minimal installation of ADB?) and check device encryption status (Is there a way for a user to tell if their Android device is encrypted or not?). Alternatively, install Termux on your device and type getprop ro.crypto.state
Encrypt device from Settings &rarr; Lock Screen and security &rarr; secure start up &rarr; require password (Source)
factory-reset after signing out from Google account, else you will have problems with factory reset protection and buyer will not be able to use your device
Confirm device is encrypted. Decrypt device (to remove lock screen PIN ) and sell :)