Factory Reset iPhone 15: Step-by-Step Guide

To factory reset an iPhone 15, open Settings, select General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings, and then Continue. Enter the iPhone passcode and Apple Account password when prompted to erase the phone and return it to factory defaults.

A factory reset permanently removes personal data, apps, accounts, and settings. The current name for an Apple ID is Apple Account, although some screens may still use the older term.

What should you do before factory resetting an iPhone 15?

1. Back up anything you want to keep. Use iCloud Backup in Settings under your name, iCloud, and iCloud Backup, or create an encrypted backup with Finder on a Mac or Apple Devices or iTunes on a Windows PC.

2. Make sure you know your Apple Account password. The iPhone may request it to turn off Find My and remove Activation Lock, which prevents another person from activating a device still linked to your account.

3. If you are giving the iPhone to someone else, sign out by opening Settings, tapping your name, scrolling down, and selecting Sign Out. Follow the prompts to disable Find My. Erasing through Settings may also offer to sign out and remove Find My during the process.

4. Charge the iPhone and keep it connected to power if the battery is low. Do not deliberately restart or disconnect it while erasure is underway.

5. Decide what to do with the cellular plan. On an iPhone using an eSIM, the erase assistant may let you keep or delete the eSIM. Keep it if you will continue using the phone; delete it if the phone is leaving your possession. Your carrier may be needed to reactivate a deleted eSIM.

6. Unpair an Apple Watch before the reset if the watch is paired with this iPhone. Unpairing creates a current watch backup and removes Activation Lock from the watch.

How do you factory reset an iPhone 15 from Settings?

1. Open Settings.

2. Select General.

3. Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.

4. Select Erase All Content and Settings. Do not choose Reset if you intend to erase personal data; that menu resets selected settings without necessarily deleting the phone’s content.

5. Review the items that will be removed, then select Continue.

6. Enter the iPhone passcode. If requested, enter the Apple Account password to turn off Find My and Activation Lock.

7. Choose whether to keep or erase the eSIM if that choice appears, then confirm the erasure.

The iPhone restarts and displays an Apple logo with a progress bar. When the factory reset of the iPhone 15 finishes, the Hello screen appears. Menu wording can differ slightly after an iOS update, but Erase All Content and Settings remains under Transfer or Reset iPhone on current versions.

How do you factory reset an iPhone 15 with Finder or a Windows PC?

1. On a Mac with a current macOS version, open Finder. On Windows, open Apple Devices; use iTunes only on a computer where Apple Devices is unavailable.

2. Connect the iPhone 15 with a compatible USB cable, unlock it, and select Trust if prompted.

3. Select the iPhone in the Finder sidebar or in Apple Devices or iTunes.

4. Create a backup first if the data is still accessible and needed.

5. Select Restore iPhone, then confirm. The computer downloads current iPhone software, erases the device, and installs iOS again.

6. Keep the cable connected until the restore finishes and the iPhone reaches the Hello screen.

If Find My is enabled, the computer may require it to be turned off before a normal restore. A computer restore does not remove Activation Lock by itself.

How do you factory reset an iPhone 15 if you forgot the passcode?

Recovery Mode is a startup state that lets a computer reinstall iOS when the iPhone cannot be unlocked. This process erases the iPhone, but it does not bypass Activation Lock or the Apple Account password required afterward.

1. Connect the iPhone 15 to a Mac or Windows PC and open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.

2. Quickly press and release Volume Up.

3. Quickly press and release Volume Down.

4. Press and hold the Side button. Keep holding it after the Apple logo appears, and release it only when the cable-and-computer recovery screen appears.

5. Select the iPhone on the computer and choose Restore, not Update, to erase it and reinstall iOS.

6. If the software download takes long enough for the iPhone to leave Recovery Mode, let the download finish and repeat the button sequence.

DFU mode, or Device Firmware Update mode, is a deeper restore state with a completely black iPhone screen. Use it only if Recovery Mode repeatedly fails, because its button timing is difficult and a black screen can also mean the phone is simply off. Connect the iPhone, quickly press Volume Up and then Volume Down, hold the Side button until the screen turns black, hold Side and Volume Down together for about five seconds, then release Side while continuing to hold Volume Down for about ten seconds. If the computer detects an iPhone in recovery while the screen remains black, select Restore. If a logo appears, retry the sequence or seek Apple support.

What should you do after resetting an iPhone 15?

1. At the Hello screen, choose a language and region, then connect to Wi-Fi or cellular service.

2. Activate the iPhone. If Activation Lock appears, enter the Apple Account credentials previously linked to the device.

3. Choose Set Up as New iPhone, restore from an iCloud backup, or restore from a Mac or PC backup.

4. Sign in to your Apple Account and finish setting up the passcode, Face ID, cellular service, and other preferences.

5. Check Settings under your name and Find My to confirm Find My iPhone is enabled if you are keeping the device.

What can you do if an iPhone 15 factory reset fails?

• Progress bar appears stuck: Keep the iPhone connected to power and allow the current process to continue. If it remains unchanged for an unusually long period, connect it to a computer and use Recovery Mode.

• Activation Lock requests an unfamiliar account: Only the account owner can remove the device from that Apple Account. A factory reset, Recovery Mode, or DFU restore cannot bypass Activation Lock.

• The computer shows an error: Update macOS, Apple Devices, or iTunes; restart the computer; reconnect with a reliable cable; and try another USB port. Avoid USB hubs when possible.

• The computer does not detect the iPhone: Inspect the cable and charging port, try another compatible cable or computer port, and repeat the Recovery Mode sequence.

• The iPhone repeatedly restarts or will not complete setup: Restore it again in Recovery Mode. If another restore fails, contact Apple support because the phone may need service.