How to reset an iPhone to factory settings? Step-by-step guide, and watch out for the backup!
Resetting an iPhone to factory settings: (1) back up to iCloud or a Mac, (2) sign out of your Apple ID (Settings → Your name → Sign Out) — a critical step, otherwise Activation Lock remains, (3) Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content and Settings, (4) enter your Apple ID password to confirm. The reset takes 5–10 minutes and cannot be undone.
Resetting an iPhone to factory settings: (1) back up to iCloud or a Mac, (2) sign out of your Apple ID (Settings → Your name → Sign Out) — a critical step, otherwise Activation Lock remains, (3) Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content and Settings, (4) enter your Apple ID password to confirm. The reset takes 5–10 minutes and cannot be undone.
In this article
- Why back up your iPhone before resetting it?
- How to update iTunes?
- How to back up data from your iPhone?
- Backing up via iCloud
- Tip:
- Backing up via MacBook
- Backing up via PC
- Resetting your iPhone to factory settings
- Reset options:
- Note:
- We recommend:
Why back up your iPhone before resetting it?
Backing up your iPhone's data protects you from losing it. If you're not resetting the iPhone in order to sell it and want to keep your data, don't forget to back it up. First check that you have the latest version of iTunes on your computer or MacBook, which enables data syncing between devices.
How to update iTunes?
- Open iTunes on your computer and from the menu bar choose Help -> Check for Updates.
- If a new version is available, follow the instructions to install it.
How to back up data from your iPhone?
Once you've confirmed you have the latest version of iTunes, you can start backing up. There are three methods: via iCloud, a MacBook, or a PC.
Backing up via iCloud
- Make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings.
- Tap your name and select iCloud.
- Turn on iCloud Backup (the toggle will turn green).
- Tap Back Up Now and let the process finish without interrupting the Wi-Fi connection.
Tip:
If you don't have enough space in iCloud, you can purchase an additional 50 GB, 200 GB or 2 TB of storage directly in your iPhone's Settings.
Backing up via MacBook
- If you have macOS Catalina or later, use Finder. For older versions (macOS Mojave and earlier), use iTunes:
- Connect the iPhone to your MacBook using a USB cable.
- Open Finder or iTunes, select the device, and click Back Up Now.
Backing up via PC
- If you're using Windows, open iTunes, connect the iPhone using a USB cable, select the device, and in the Summary section click Back Up Now.
Resetting your iPhone to factory settings
Once your backup is done, go to Settings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone and choose one of the options:
Reset options:
- Erase All Content and Settings:: You'll see an overview of what will be erased. After confirming, you'll enter your Apple ID and wait for the process to finish.
- Reset:: This option lets you reset only selected settings, such as network, keyboard, home screen layout, or location and privacy, without erasing any data.
Note:
After choosing an option, you'll be asked to enter your Apple ID.
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