How to Factory Reset an iPhone: Complete Guide
Table of Contents
Before You Begin: Back Up Your iPhone Data
How to Force Restart Your iPhone
How to Factory Reset an iPhone Through Settings
Step 1: Open the Settings Menu
Step 2: Navigate to General and Select Transfer or Reset
Step 3: Choose Erase All Content and Settings
Step 4: Confirm Your Selection
Factory Reset iPhone Without Apple ID Password
What to Do If You Forgot Your Passcode
Resetting Your iPhone Without a Functional Screen
Removing Activation Lock Before Factory Reset
Troubleshooting 'Unable to Erase' Errors
Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: September 19, 2026
Before You Begin: Back Up Your iPhone Data
Backing up your iPhone before a factory reset is essential, once you erase all content and settings, everything disappears permanently.
You have two main options: iCloud backup (automatic if signed in to your Apple account) or computer backup using a Mac or Windows PC with iTunes or Finder.
To back up to iCloud, open Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn it on. Your iPhone will back up automatically when plugged in, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi (How to back up your iPhone or iPad with iCloud).
For a computer backup, connect your iPhone to Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) and select "Back up all of the data on your iPhone."
Pro Tip Before you factory reset iPhone data, verify your backup actually worked. Sign into iCloud.com on another device and check that your photos, contacts, and other data appear there. A backup that didn't complete is worse than no backup at all.
How to Force Restart Your iPhone
A force restart forces your iPhone to shut down and restart immediately, clearing temporary memory but erasing no data. A factory reset permanently erases all personal data and returns the device to its original state.
Attempt a force restart before a factory reset if your iPhone is freezing, crashing, or unresponsive, many issues resolve without data loss.
How to force restart by iPhone model:
For iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, X, XS, XR, and 8: Press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears (about 10 seconds after the power-off slider).
For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold Volume Down and the Side button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears (about 10 seconds).
For iPhone 6S, 6, and earlier: Press and hold the Top button and Home button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
How to know if the force restart worked:
After the Apple logo appears, your iPhone should show your lock screen or home screen. If you see the setup screen, the device may have accidentally erased. If the original problem is resolved, the force restart was successful.
Watch Out A force restart will NOT erase your data, apps, or settings. It simply restarts your device by forcing it to shut down and power back on. If your iPhone still has problems after a force restart, or if the same app keeps crashing, then you can move forward with a factory reset. However, if only one app is malfunctioning, try deleting and reinstalling that app first before resorting to a full factory reset.
If a force restart doesn't resolve your issue, document the problem before proceeding to factory reset, this helps Apple Support diagnose hardware issues.
How to Factory Reset an iPhone Through Settings
The most common way to factory reset an iPhone is through Settings. You'll need your Apple ID password and passcode.
Step 1: Open the Settings Menu
Tap Settings and scroll down to General.
Step 2: Navigate to General and Select Transfer or Reset
In General, scroll to the bottom and tap "Transfer or Reset."
Step 3: Choose Erase All Content and Settings
Tap "Erase All Content and Settings" and enter your passcode when prompted.
Step 4: Confirm Your Selection
Enter your Apple ID password when prompted. Your iPhone will begin erasing (5-15 minutes). Do not turn it off. Once complete, your iPhone will restart and show the setup screen with factory settings restored.
Key Takeaway A factory reset iPhone returns your device to its original state, as if it just came from the factory. All personal data, apps, and settings are permanently erased. You cannot recover data after this point unless you restore from a backup.
Factory Reset iPhone Without Apple ID Password
If you don't have your Apple ID password, you can still factory reset your iPhone, but the process is more complicated. Apple built this security feature to prevent theft. Without the password, you'll need to use Find My iPhone or contact Apple Support.
If you have access to another Apple device, open Find My, select your device, and choose "Erase This Device."
If you don't have another Apple device, visit iCloud.com, sign in, click Find My iPhone, select your device, and choose "Erase iPhone."
If none of these options work, contact Apple Support directly. They can verify your identity and help you reset your device.
What to Do If You Forgot Your Passcode
If you've forgotten your passcode but remember your Apple ID password, use Find My iPhone to erase remotely.
Resetting Your iPhone Without a Functional Screen
If your screen is cracked or unresponsive, connect your iPhone to a computer, force restart it while connected, and select "Restore" in Finder or iTunes. The process takes 10-20 minutes.
Removing Activation Lock Before Factory Reset
Activation Lock is Apple's anti-theft feature. After you factory reset an iPhone, the first person to set it up must sign in with the Apple ID that was on the device before the reset. This prevents thieves from erasing stolen iPhones and reselling them.
Pro Tip If you're trading in your iPhone at PHONEPROBS, we'll guide you through removing Activation Lock before you hand over your device. This ensures the device is ready for the next owner and protects your privacy.
Troubleshooting 'Unable to Erase' Errors
Sometimes your iPhone refuses to erase during a factory reset. You might see error messages like "Unable to Erase iPhone," "An error occurred during restore," "iPhone could not be restored," or "This device is not eligible for the requested build." These errors usually have straightforward fixes, but some require more advanced troubleshooting.
Common causes and immediate solutions:
If basic troubleshooting doesn't work: Using DFU Mode
To enter DFU mode:
Connect your iPhone to a computer with Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows).
Open Finder or iTunes and locate your device in the sidebar.
Force restart your iPhone using the button combination for your model (see the Force Restart section above) while the device is connected.
Watch the screen carefully. You will see three screens in sequence: first the recovery mode screen (with the iTunes/Finder logo and USB cable), then a brief black screen, then the recovery mode screen again. Do not release the buttons during this sequence.
When you see the recovery mode screen the second time, release the buttons. Your device is now in DFU mode (though the screen may look identical to recovery mode).
In Finder or iTunes, you should see a prompt saying your device is in recovery mode. Click "Restore" (not "Update"). This will erase your iPhone completely and reinstall iOS from scratch.
The process takes 10 to 20 minutes. Do not disconnect your device or close Finder/iTunes during this time.
If errors persist: Hardware diagnosis and post-reset verification
Verify the device is factory-fresh: After reset, your iPhone should show the initial setup screen ("Hello" or "Quick Start"). If it shows your home screen or asks for a passcode, the reset did not complete properly, try again.
Check iCloud is not linked: During setup, do not sign in to iCloud yet. Instead, go to Settings > [Your Name] (or "Sign in with your Apple ID") and confirm no account is listed. If an Apple ID appears, the device is still linked to that account, this is a sign the reset was incomplete.
Verify Find My is off: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and confirm Location Services is off. Then check Settings > [Your Name] > Find My and confirm your device is not listed. If Find My still shows your device, Activation Lock may not have been fully removed.
Check for residual data: If you have access to iCloud.com, sign in and go to Find My iPhone. Your device should not appear in the list. If it does, the reset did not fully remove Activation Lock.
Test with a fresh Apple ID: If you're preparing the device for sale or trade-in, complete the initial setup with a temporary test Apple ID (create a new one if needed). This confirms the device can be set up fresh without errors. Then erase again before handing it over to the new owner.
Key Takeaway If your iPhone fails to erase multiple times, the issue is usually connection-related (try DFU mode with a different cable/computer) or storage-related (free up space first). If DFU mode fails, a hardware issue is likely and professional diagnosis is needed. Always verify post-reset that your device is truly wiped, unlinked from iCloud, and free of Activation Lock before selling or trading in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my data when I factory reset my iPhone?
A factory reset erases all content and settings from your device, including apps, photos, messages, contacts, and system preferences. This returns your iPhone to factory default condition. That's why backing up to iCloud before resetting is critical, it preserves your data so you can restore it after the reset completes. Without a backup, deleted data cannot be recovered.
Can I factory reset my iPhone without knowing my Apple ID password?
You can initiate a factory reset through Settings without your Apple ID password, but you'll need it to reactivate the device afterward due to activation lock. If you've forgotten your Apple ID password, use Apple's account recovery process at iforgot.apple.com or contact Apple Support. This prevents unauthorized resets and protects your device ownership.
How do I force restart my iPhone if it's frozen before a factory reset?
Force restart methods vary by iPhone model. On iPhone 8 and newer, press Volume Up, press Volume Down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. On iPhone 7 and earlier, hold both the top (or side) button and Volume Down together. This forces a hard reset without erasing data and can resolve frozen screens before attempting a full factory reset.
Do I need to sign out of iCloud before a factory reset?
You don't have to manually sign out before initiating a factory reset, the erase process handles it. However, signing out first prevents activation lock issues and ensures a smoother reset. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out if you want to disconnect iCloud before erasing. Always back up your data to iCloud before doing either.
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