Reset iPhone to Factory Default Settings

When the iPhone is unlocked, open Settings, select General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings, and then follow the prompts. If the iPhone is locked, use recovery mode with a Mac or Windows PC to erase it and reinstall iOS.

When should you reset an iPhone to factory default?

A factory reset erases personal information, settings, apps, and stored content from the iPhone. People commonly reset an iPhone before selling or giving it away, when persistent software problems remain after simpler troubleshooting, or when a forgotten passcode prevents access.

Erasing the iPhone is permanent unless its data was backed up. Restart the phone and install available iOS updates before using a factory reset solely to fix a software problem.

What should you check before resetting an iPhone?

Complete these checks before you reset an iPhone to factory default:

1. Back up information you want to keep. You can use iCloud or connect the iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC and create a computer backup.
2. Make sure you know the password for the Apple Account signed in on the iPhone. Apple Account is the current name for the sign-in formerly called an Apple ID.
3. If the iPhone is being transferred to another person, sign out of the Apple Account and turn off Find My when prompted. Find My is the Apple feature that locates the device and enables Activation Lock.
4. Transfer any authenticator accounts, important files, or other information that may not be included in the backup.
5. If the iPhone uses an eSIM, read the erase prompts carefully and decide whether the cellular plan should be kept or erased. Ask the carrier about restoring service if the eSIM is erased.
6. Keep the iPhone connected to power or confirm that it has enough battery charge to finish.

How do you reset an unlocked iPhone from Settings?

Use the Settings app when the iPhone works and you can enter its passcode:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select General.
3. Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Select Erase All Content and Settings.
5. Review the information that will be removed, then select Continue.
6. Enter the iPhone passcode when requested.
7. Enter the Apple Account password if requested. This allows the iPhone to turn off Find My and Activation Lock.
8. Confirm the erase and leave the iPhone connected to power while it restarts.

The exact prompts can vary with the iOS version, cellular setup, and security settings. Do not interrupt the iPhone after erasing begins.

How do you reset an iPhone when you forgot the passcode?

If the lock screen offers an option to start an iPhone reset, follow its prompts and enter the password for the Apple Account associated with the device. Availability and wording depend on the installed iOS version and whether the iPhone has a network connection.

If an on-screen reset option is unavailable, use recovery mode. Recovery mode is a startup state that lets a computer erase the iPhone and reinstall iOS:

1. Turn off the iPhone.
2. Connect the iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC while holding the correct button: the side button on iPhone 8 or later and iPhone SE models after the first generation, the volume-down button on iPhone 7 models, or the Home button on iPhone 6s or earlier and the first-generation iPhone SE.
3. Keep holding the button until the recovery-mode screen appears. Do not release it when the Apple logo appears.
4. On the computer, select the iPhone and choose Restore when offered Restore or Update.
5. Wait while the computer downloads and installs the software. If the download takes long enough for the iPhone to leave recovery mode, let the download finish and then repeat the recovery-mode steps.

How do you reset an iPhone using Finder or iTunes?

A computer can erase an unlocked iPhone even when Settings is inconvenient. Use Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later. On an older Mac or a Windows PC configured with iTunes, use iTunes. A Windows PC may instead use the Apple Devices app.

1. Connect the iPhone to the computer with a working cable.
2. Unlock the iPhone and trust the computer if prompted.
3. Select the iPhone in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.
4. Open the General or Summary area, depending on the program.
5. Select Restore iPhone and confirm the restore.
6. Keep the cable connected until the erase and iOS installation finish.

If Find My is active, the computer may require it to be turned off before a normal restore. When the iPhone cannot be unlocked, place it in recovery mode instead.

What happens after an iPhone factory reset?

After the reset, the iPhone restarts at the setup screen. You can configure it as a new iPhone, restore an available backup, or leave it at the setup screen for its next owner.

Activation Lock may request the Apple Account and password previously linked to the iPhone. Activation Lock is an anti-theft feature tied to Find My; erasing the device does not automatically prove that ownership changed.

If a previously owned iPhone requests another person's credentials, only that person can remove the device from their account. Erasing the iPhone again will not remove Activation Lock.

What should you do if the iPhone reset will not finish?

If the erase hangs or the iPhone does not reach the setup screen, try these checks:

• Connect the iPhone to power and allow time for the erase or software installation to finish.
• If the screen remains unchanged, force-restart the correct iPhone model and try again.
• When using a computer, update Finder, Apple Devices, iTunes, macOS, or Windows as applicable.
• Reconnect with a dependable cable and try another USB port. Connect directly to the computer rather than through a hub.
• Check that the computer has a working internet connection and enough available storage for the iOS download.
• If the iPhone repeatedly returns to the Apple logo or recovery screen, repeat the recovery-mode restore.
• If the computer reports an error or cannot detect the iPhone after those checks, contact Apple Support and provide the displayed error message.