TL;DR Erase All Content and Settings (Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone) is the fastest full reset and works on every model. If the phone won’t boot or the passcode is lost, restore it with a computer instead. Back up first: a reset deletes photos, messages, and app data.
Knowing how to reset an iPhone is the difference between a ten-minute fix and a lost afternoon. A reset returns the software to a clean, factory-fresh state, which is exactly what you want before selling the phone, after a bug that survived every update, or when a forgotten passcode has locked you out. There are three ways to do it, and the right one depends on whether the phone still turns on. Below are the exact taps for each method, what you will lose, and how to bring your data back afterwards.
When a reset is the right call — and when it isn’t
A reset is a blunt tool, and blunt is sometimes perfect. Reach for it when you are selling, trading in, or handing the phone to someone else; when an iOS update has left the phone unstable; when storage is pinned at 99% and nothing else frees it; or when you have forgotten the passcode and have no other way in.
Skip it when the problem has a smaller fix. A slow connection is usually a router or channel issue, not a corrupted phone — start with why your Wi-Fi feels slow before you wipe anything. One misbehaving app only needs a reinstall. And if you deleted photos or files by accident, read how to recover deleted files first, because a reset overwrites the very space recovery tools need.
If you are unsure whether your issue is software or hardware, work through the Tech Troubleshooting Guide first. It walks the same diagnostic order a repair desk uses, and it will tell you within five minutes whether a reset is worth your time.
Before you reset: back up and know what disappears
A full reset erases everything on the device. That includes photos and videos that never reached iCloud, message history, call logs, saved Wi-Fi passwords, downloaded music and offline video, and the local data inside every app. Some things are easy to bring back; others are not.
Three categories catch people out:
- Authenticator apps. If your two-factor codes live in an app with no cloud sync, a reset can lock you out of your own accounts. Export or note recovery codes before you start.
- Banking and payment tokens. Card tokens in Apple Wallet are removed and must be re-added by the issuing bank. Expect a verification step.
- Chat history in third-party apps. WhatsApp, Signal, and WeChat each keep their own backup setting. Turn it on and run a backup inside the app itself; an iCloud device backup alone may not include the messages.
Back up in one of two ways. For iCloud, open Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now. For a computer, connect to a Mac (Finder) or PC (Apple Devices app), select the device, and choose Back Up Now — ticking “Encrypt local backup” if you want saved passwords and Health data included.
⚠️ Warning A backup is not a clone. Apps come back, but their logins, in-app purchases tied to a local account, and some documents do not. Before erasing, open the two or three apps you cannot afford to lose and confirm each one has a working cloud account or export.
Method 1 — Erase All Content and Settings (no computer needed)
This is the standard route on any iPhone that still responds to touch. It removes your data and Apple Account association in one pass, and it is the only method that lets you keep the eSIM active for a quick handover.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Tap Continue.
- Choose whether to keep or delete the eSIM. Keep it if you are resetting your own phone; delete it if the phone is leaving your account, otherwise the new owner inherits a dead profile.
- Enter your device passcode.
- If prompted, wait for the backup to finish, then enter your Apple Account password.
- Tap the confirm button on the keyboard and let the phone work. It restarts a few times.
The process usually takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on model and storage. When it finishes you will see the “Hello” screen, which means the erase completed.
After the erase, sign in with your Apple Account when prompted, then choose Restore from iCloud Backup or Restore from Mac or PC. Turn Find My back on once you are in, re-add your cards to Wallet, and re-pair your Apple Watch — it will ask to be set up again.
Method 2 — Restore with a computer (won’t boot, or passcode lost)
Use this when the screen is unresponsive, the phone is stuck on the Apple logo, or you cannot get past the passcode. It is also the dependable way to reset an iPhone that refuses to boot at all. A computer restore reinstalls the operating system, so it clears software corruption that a simple erase cannot.
Prepare first. Update your Mac or PC, and turn off Find My so Activation Lock does not block the restore. Go to Settings → [your name] → Find My → Find My iPhone and switch it off. Skip this step and the restore will fail at the activation stage.
- Connect the iPhone to your computer with a cable, and tap Trust on the phone if asked.
- On a Mac open Finder; on a PC open the Apple Devices app.
- Select your iPhone in the sidebar.
- Click Restore iPhone, then confirm.
- Agree to the terms and wait. The computer downloads the latest iOS, wipes the device, and installs a clean system.
- Leave the cable connected until the “Hello” screen appears.
Restoring through a computer does not delete your eSIM, so a phone restored this way keeps its cellular plan. If you need the eSIM gone — before a sale, for example — erase it separately in Settings → Cellular.
💡 Info If the phone is disabled and the computer route is blocked by a passcode prompt, put the device into recovery mode before connecting. The screen stays black or shows a cable icon; the restore then runs without needing the passcode.
Method 3 — Reset settings only (and keep your data)
Sometimes the smartest way to reset an iPhone is not to erase it at all. If the phone works but Wi-Fi keeps dropping, Bluetooth pairings are flaky, or the layout has become a mess, reset the settings layer instead. Photos, apps, messages, and files all stay where they are.
- Open Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- Choose the narrowest option that matches your problem:
- Reset All Settings — restores defaults for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, keyboard dictionaries, wallpaper, privacy permissions, and home screen layout.
- Reset Network Settings — clears saved Wi-Fi networks, cellular settings, and VPN configurations only.
- Reset Keyboard Dictionary — stops autocorrect from “learning” your typos.
- Reset Location & Privacy — resets per-app permission prompts.
- Confirm with your passcode and let the phone restart.
Expect to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and re-pair Bluetooth devices afterwards. If browser oddities were the reason you started, clearing your cache is a lighter first step than any reset.
Frequently asked questions
Does resetting an iPhone delete everything?
A full erase does — photos, messages, apps, and settings are all removed. “Reset All Settings” is different: it restores preferences and permissions but leaves your data intact. Read the option label carefully, because the two sit one tap apart.
How long does a factory reset take?
Typically 5 to 15 minutes for Erase All Content and Settings. A computer restore takes longer, often 20 to 40 minutes, because it downloads and reinstalls iOS before wiping the device.
Will a reset remove Activation Lock?
No. Activation Lock stays tied to the Apple Account until Find My is turned off, either before the erase or by signing in with that account afterwards. This is why a second-hand iPhone with a previous owner’s lock cannot be reset into use.
Can I reset an iPhone without the passcode?
Yes, but only with a computer. A restore through Finder or the Apple Devices app erases the phone without the passcode, and you then set it up as new or restore a backup. You will still need the Apple Account credentials to get past activation.
Do I lose my eSIM when I reset?
Only if you choose to. Erase All Content and Settings asks whether to keep or delete the eSIM, and a computer restore leaves it in place. Deleting it means contacting your carrier to reactivate the plan.
- Apple Support — How to factory reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
- Apple Support — Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings using a computer
- Apple Support — How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
- Apple Support — Reset a forgotten passcode
Tags: #iphone #ios #factory-reset #data-backup #troubleshooting
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