How to Reset an iPhone 12

To reset an iPhone 12 without erasing data, force restart it with the volume and side buttons. To erase the iPhone completely, use Erase All Content and Settings or restore it in recovery mode if the phone is locked.

Force Restart vs. Factory Reset: What's the Difference?

An iPhone 12 reset can mean either restarting the phone or erasing everything on it. Choose the method based on whether you can unlock the iPhone and whether you need to preserve its data.

• Force restart: Turns the iPhone off and back on when the screen is frozen or the phone will not respond. It does not remove photos, apps, messages, accounts, or settings.
• Factory reset: Erases personal content, accounts, apps, and settings, then returns the iPhone to its setup screen. Use it before transferring the phone to a new owner or when troubleshooting requires a complete erase.
• Recovery-mode restore: Erases and reinstalls iOS through a computer. This is the usual option when the passcode is unknown or the screen says iPhone Unavailable.

If the iPhone still accepts your passcode and you only need to fix a temporary freeze, start with a force restart.

What Should You Check Before Resetting an iPhone 12?

Before you reset an iPhone 12, protect any information that cannot be replaced and confirm that you can activate the phone afterward.

1. Back up the iPhone to iCloud or to a trusted Mac or Windows computer. A factory reset and a recovery-mode restore erase data stored only on the phone.
2. Confirm that you know the password for the Apple Account signed in on the iPhone. Apple Account is the current name for the sign-in previously called an Apple ID.
3. Check whether Find My is enabled. Erasing the phone does not necessarily remove Activation Lock, which links the device to the owner's Apple Account.
4. If possible, keep the iPhone connected to power and a stable Wi-Fi network while backing up and preparing the reset.

Do not erase the phone merely to fix a frozen screen. Try a force restart first because it leaves personal data in place.

How Do You Force Restart an iPhone 12?

A force restart is the safest answer to how to reset an iPhone 12 that is frozen, showing a black screen, or ignoring taps. Perform the button presses quickly and in this exact order:

1. Press and immediately release the Volume Up button.
2. Press and immediately release the Volume Down button.
3. Press and hold the Side button.
4. Keep holding the Side button even if the power-off slider appears.
5. Release the Side button when the Apple logo appears.

The screen may remain dark briefly before the Apple logo appears. A successful force restart does not ask you to set up the iPhone again, but you will normally need the device passcode after it starts.

How Do You Factory Reset an iPhone 12 in Settings?

Use Settings when you can unlock the iPhone and want to erase all personal content. Make a backup first if you may need the current photos, messages, app data, or settings later.

1. Open Settings.
2. Select General.
3. Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Select Erase All Content and Settings.
5. Review what will be removed, then select Continue.
6. Enter the iPhone passcode when asked.
7. If prompted, enter the password for the Apple Account signed in on the phone. This allows the iPhone to turn off Find My and remove Activation Lock for a normal ownership transfer.
8. Confirm the erase and wait for the iPhone to restart at the setup screen.

Do not interrupt the iPhone while it is erasing. The exact confirmation screens can vary with the installed iOS version and whether an eSIM is present, so read each choice before confirming it.

How Do You Reset an iPhone 12 When Locked Out or Disabled?

If the passcode is unknown or the screen says iPhone Unavailable, recovery mode can restore the iPhone with a Mac or Windows computer. Recovery-mode restoration erases the phone, including data that was not backed up.

1. Connect the iPhone 12 to the computer with a compatible cable.
2. Open Finder on a supported Mac. On Windows, open the Apple Devices app; an older supported setup may use iTunes.
3. Press and immediately release Volume Up.
4. Press and immediately release Volume Down.
5. Press and hold the Side button. Keep holding after the Apple logo appears, and release only when the recovery-mode screen shows a cable and computer symbol.
6. Locate the iPhone in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.
7. When offered Update or Restore, choose Restore to erase the iPhone and reinstall iOS.
8. Keep the iPhone connected while the computer completes the process.

If the software download takes long enough for the iPhone to leave recovery mode, let the download finish and repeat the button sequence. Recovery mode removes the device passcode, but it does not bypass Activation Lock.

What Happens After an iPhone 12 Reset?

After a factory reset or recovery-mode restore, the iPhone 12 displays the initial setup screen. Follow the prompts to select a language, connect to a network, and activate the device.

If Activation Lock appears, enter the Apple Account and password previously associated with the iPhone. Erasing the device does not prove ownership or remove this protection.

During setup, you can restore an available iCloud backup or a backup stored on a computer. You can also set up the iPhone as new, but content that existed only on the erased phone cannot be recovered through the reset process.

When Should You Contact Apple Support About an iPhone 12 Reset?

Stop troubleshooting and contact official Apple Support if the iPhone 12 is linked to someone else's Apple Account, you cannot verify ownership, or Activation Lock remains after a legitimate ownership transfer. Apple may require proof of ownership and cannot simply be replaced by an unofficial unlocking service.

Official support is also appropriate if the buttons do not respond, the computer never recognizes the iPhone, restoration repeatedly fails, or the phone remains on the Apple logo after another force restart. If the iPhone contains important data with no backup, ask about available options before authorizing an erase, because neither a factory reset nor recovery mode preserves unbacked-up information.