How to Completely Reset an iPhone

To reset an iPhone completely, open Settings, select General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, and Erase All Content and Settings. The iPhone removes personal data and settings, restarts, and returns to the Hello setup screen.

What should you do before you reset your iPhone?

A complete iPhone reset removes photos, messages, downloaded files, apps, saved accounts, payment cards, device settings, and other personal information stored on the phone. It does not erase information already stored in iCloud or another online service.

Before erasing the iPhone, check the following:

• Back up any information you want to keep. You can use iCloud or connect the iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer for a local backup.
• Confirm that recent photos, contacts, notes, messages, and important files have finished syncing or are included in the backup.
• Make sure you know the iPhone passcode and the password for the Apple Account signed in on the device. Apple Account is the current name for the account previously called an Apple ID.
• If the iPhone is paired with an Apple Watch, unpair the watch before transferring the phone to another person.
• Decide whether to keep or erase the eSIM when the iPhone asks. Erasing an eSIM removes the cellular plan from the device, but it does not necessarily cancel service with the carrier.

Do not erase the iPhone until you have confirmed that the backup contains what you need. A factory reset cannot recover forgotten account credentials or restore files that were never backed up or synced.

How do you reset an iPhone completely in Settings?

Use this official process when the iPhone turns on and you can unlock it:

1. Connect the iPhone to power if its battery is low.
2. Open Settings.
3. Select General.
4. Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
5. Select Erase All Content and Settings.
6. Review the information that the iPhone says will be removed, then select Continue.
7. Enter the iPhone passcode when requested.
8. Enter the Apple Account password if requested. This allows the iPhone to turn off Find My and remove Activation Lock.
9. Choose whether to keep or erase the eSIM if that choice appears.
10. Confirm that you want to erase the iPhone.

The iPhone will erase its contents and restart. Do not interrupt the device while the erase process is underway.

How do you reset an iPhone completely without the passcode?

If you cannot unlock the iPhone, Apple provides two official recovery methods. Neither method reveals the forgotten passcode; both erase the device so it can be set up again.

On supported software versions, the lock screen may display Forgot Passcode? or an erase option after repeated unsuccessful attempts. If that option appears, follow the prompts and authenticate with the Apple Account password associated with the iPhone. The device must be able to communicate with Apple’s services for this method to work.

If no on-screen erase option is available, use recovery mode:

1. Turn off the iPhone.
2. Connect it to a Mac or Windows computer while holding the model-specific recovery button. The required button varies by iPhone model.
3. Keep holding the button until the recovery-mode screen appears.
4. On a Mac, locate the iPhone in Finder. On Windows, use the Apple Devices app or the supported Apple device-management software installed on the computer.
5. Select Restore when the computer offers Restore or Update.
6. Allow the computer to reinstall iOS and erase the iPhone.

If you are unsure which button applies to your model, open the company’s official website and search Apple Support for the recovery-mode instructions for your exact iPhone.

What should you do about Apple Account and Activation Lock?

Activation Lock is an anti-theft feature that links an iPhone to the Apple Account used with Find My. Erasing the phone does not provide a workaround for Activation Lock.

During an erase from Settings, the iPhone may request the Apple Account password so it can turn off Find My and remove Activation Lock. Enter the password for the account currently shown on the device, not the password for a different Apple Account.

When transferring the iPhone to another person, confirm that the phone reaches the Hello screen and is no longer associated with your account. Do not complete setup for the next person. If the setup process requests the previous owner’s Apple Account, Activation Lock is still active.

If you forgot the Apple Account password, use Apple’s official account-recovery process. If the iPhone belongs to someone else or an organization, the owner or administrator must handle the account removal. Avoid unofficial bypass software or services.

What happens after the iPhone reset is complete?

A successfully erased iPhone displays the Hello screen and asks for language, region, network, and activation choices. From there, you can set it up as a new iPhone or restore information from an available iCloud or computer backup.

If you are keeping the iPhone, sign in with your Apple Account during setup and select the appropriate restoration choice. Some synced information and apps may return after setup as the iPhone reconnects to online services.

If you are transferring the iPhone, leave it at the Hello screen. Seeing that screen confirms that locally stored personal data and settings were erased, but also check that Activation Lock no longer asks for your account.

What should you do if the iPhone will not reset?

If the erase option is unavailable, the iPhone freezes, or the process reports an error, try these checks:

• Restart the iPhone and attempt the Settings process again if you can still unlock it.
• Connect the iPhone to power and confirm that it has a working network connection.
• Use recovery mode with another compatible cable or computer port if the computer does not recognize the device.
• Update the Mac, Windows computer, or Apple device-management software before retrying a computer restore.
• Record any error message or error number exactly as shown.

If the iPhone still will not erase or restore, open the company’s official website and choose the Apple Support option for iPhone repair, passcode problems, or restore errors. Provide the exact model and error message, but never share an Apple Account password or device passcode with another person.