A factory reset wipes your iPhone completely and restores it to the same state it was in when it left the factory. It sounds drastic, but it is one of the most useful things you can do to your device in the right situation. Whether you are troubleshooting, selling, or starting over, this guide walks you through the entire process clearly and in the right order.
Pro Tip
Always back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer before resetting to avoid losing important photos, apps, and personal data.
Why Would You Need to Factory Reset Your iPhone?
Most people only think about a factory reset when something goes wrong, but there are several valid reasons to do it:
Selling or giving away your iPhone
Before handing your device to someone else, a factory reset ensures all your personal data, accounts, and settings are completely removed. No one should be able to access your information after the reset.
Fixing persistent software problems
If your iPhone is freezing, crashing, running unusually slow, or behaving erratically and nothing else has worked, a factory reset clears out corrupted files and software conflicts that regular troubleshooting cannot reach.
Starting fresh
Over time, iPhones accumulate unused apps, leftover data, and cluttered storage. A reset gives you a clean slate, which many users find improves both performance and battery life.
Removing a forgotten passcode
If you are locked out of your own device, a factory reset through Recovery Mode is the only way back in without the passcode.
Preparing a device for return
If you borrowed, rented, or received a work iPhone, a factory reset ensures the next user starts with a completely clean device.
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Does a Factory Reset Erase Everything Off Your iPhone?
Yes, completely. A factory reset removes everything stored on your iPhone including photos, videos, contacts, messages, app data, saved passwords, Apple Pay cards, email accounts, and all personal settings.
After the reset, your iPhone has no trace of your data. It returns to exactly the same state as a brand new device fresh out of the box.
This is why the order of steps matters. If you reset without backing up first, that data is gone permanently with no way to recover it. Apple cannot retrieve it and neither can any third-party tool. The reset is final.
What Should I Do Before I Reset My iPhone?
Two things are non-negotiable before you reset.
Back up your iPhone
If you want to keep your data and transfer it to a new device later, you need a backup first. There are two ways to do this:
Go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then iCloud Backup, and tap Back Up Now. Make sure you are on Wi-Fi and wait for the backup to complete fully before moving on.
Alternatively, connect your iPhone to a Mac or PC, open Finder on Mac or iTunes on Windows, select your device, and click Back Up Now. A local backup is faster and does not depend on your iCloud storage limit.
Sign out of iCloud and turn off Find My
This step is essential if you are selling or giving the device away. Without it, the iPhone remains locked to your Apple ID after the reset, making it completely unusable for the next person.
Go to Settings, tap your name, scroll to the bottom, and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password when prompted and confirm. This automatically turns off Find My iPhone as part of the sign-out process.
Once these two steps are done, you are ready to reset.
How to Factory Reset Your iPhone
The simplest and most common method works directly from your iPhone settings with no computer needed.
- Open Settings and tap General.
- Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Tap Erase iPhone and confirm.
Your iPhone will begin the reset process. The screen will go dark, an Apple logo will appear, and a progress bar will run underneath it. This takes anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on your model and how much data is being erased.
When it finishes, your iPhone restarts and shows the Hello screen, the same one that appears when you first take a device out of the box. From here you can set it up as new, restore from an iCloud backup, or hand it to its next owner and power it off.
Resetting remotely through iCloud
If your iPhone is not with you but Find My was enabled, go to icloud.com, sign in, open Find My, select your device, and click Erase iPhone. The wipe begins immediately if the phone is online, or the moment it reconnects to the internet if it is currently offline.
How to Factory Reset Your iPhone Without the Passcode
If you are locked out of your iPhone and cannot access Settings, Recovery Mode is the only option. This requires a Mac or PC.
On iPhone 8 and later:
- Connect your iPhone to a Mac or PC using a USB cable.
- Open Finder on Mac or iTunes on Windows.
- Quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Recovery Mode screen appears on the iPhone.
- In Finder or iTunes, click Restore when the option appears.
On iPhone 7 and earlier:
The same principle applies but the button combination differs by model.
- iPhone 7: Press and hold Volume Down and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously.
- iPhone 6s and earlier: Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously.
Hold until the Recovery Mode screen appears, then click Restore in Finder or iTunes.
Recovery Mode erases the device fully and reinstalls the latest version of iOS. Any data that was not backed up before the lockout will be permanently lost.
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Conclusion
A factory reset is one of the most effective tools available on your iPhone when used at the right time. Back up your data, sign out of iCloud, and then reset through Settings for a standard wipe, through iCloud for a remote erase, or through Recovery Mode if you are locked out. Follow the steps in order and the process is straightforward every time.
FAQs
Will a factory reset fix a hacked or compromised iPhone?
In most cases yes. A factory reset removes all software, apps, and data including anything malicious. Setting up as new rather than restoring a backup afterward prevents reintroducing the problem.
Can I factory reset my iPhone if the screen is broken?
If the screen is too damaged to navigate Settings, use Recovery Mode through a computer instead. Connect via USB, open Finder or iTunes, and restore from there without needing to interact with the screen.
Does a factory reset cancel my iPhone plan or contract?
No. A factory reset only affects the software and data on the device. Your carrier plan, phone number, and contract remain completely unaffected.