How to Reset an iPhone: Restore Factory Settings

Do you want to reset your iPhone to its factory settings? There are several reasons you might need to: you are selling your device, giving it away, or simply want a fresh start. In this in-depth article, we explain step by step how to reset your iPhone, which preparations you need to make, and what you should know before you begin.

Why would you reset your iPhone?

There are various situations in which resetting your iPhone is the best solution. Maybe your phone is running slowly, you are having software problems, or you want to remove all personal data before you sell the device. A factory reset makes sure all data is erased and your iPhone returns to the state it was in when you originally bought it.

Common reasons for a reset

  • Selling or giving it away: When you sell or give away your iPhone, it is essential to remove all your personal data
  • Software problems: Persistent crashes, freezes or other software problems can often be solved with a reset
  • Slow performance: After years of use, a fresh start can work wonders for the speed of your device
  • Freeing up storage: Sometimes a full reset is the easiest way to free up space
  • A new beginning: Some users simply want to start with a clean slate

Preparing for the reset

Before you start resetting your iPhone, there are a few important steps you need to take. Skipping these preparations can lead to permanent data loss.

Back up your data

This is by far the most important step. A backup makes sure you can restore all your photos, contacts, messages and other important data to your current device or a new one.

Backup via iCloud:

  1. Go to Settings on your iPhone
  2. Tap your name (Apple ID) at the top
  3. Choose iCloud
  4. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup
  5. Tap Back Up Now
  6. Wait until the backup is complete

Backup via computer:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac or Windows computer
  2. Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows)
  3. Select your iPhone
  4. Choose Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this computer
  5. Click Back Up Now

Sign out of iCloud and Find My iPhone

This is a crucial step, especially if you are going to sell or give away your iPhone. If you skip it, the device stays linked to your Apple ID and the new owner cannot activate it.

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Tap your name at the top
  3. Scroll down and tap Sign Out
  4. Enter your Apple ID password
  5. Tap Turn Off to turn off Find My iPhone
  6. Tap Sign Out again to confirm

Unpair your Apple Watch

Do you have an Apple Watch paired with your iPhone? Unpair it first before you reset your iPhone. This makes sure a backup of your Watch is created automatically.

Step-by-step guide: resetting your iPhone

Now that you have made all the preparations, you can start the actual reset process. We cover the most common method, using the Settings app.

Method 1: Reset via Settings

This is the simplest and most widely used method to reset your iPhone.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone
  2. Tap General
  3. Scroll all the way down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone
  4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings
  5. If you want to make a backup, tap Continue (if you already have a backup) or Back Up Then Erase
  6. Enter your passcode if prompted
  7. Enter your Apple ID password to turn off Find My iPhone (if it is still active)
  8. Tap Erase iPhone to confirm

The reset process can take a few minutes. Your iPhone will restart and show the welcome screen when the process is complete.

Method 2: Reset via computer

If for whatever reason you cannot access the Settings app, you can also reset your iPhone using a computer.

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac or Windows computer
  2. Open Finder (on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (on Windows or an older Mac)
  3. Select your iPhone in the sidebar
  4. Click Restore iPhone
  5. Confirm your choice by clicking Restore again
  6. Wait until the process is complete

Method 3: Reset via recovery mode

This method is useful if your iPhone no longer works normally or if you have forgotten your passcode.

For iPhone 8 and later:

  1. Connect your iPhone to the computer
  2. Quickly press the volume up button
  3. Quickly press the volume down button
  4. Press and hold the side button until you see the recovery mode screen
  5. Choose Restore in Finder or iTunes

For iPhone 7:

  1. Connect your iPhone to the computer
  2. Press and hold the side button and the volume down button at the same time
  3. Keep holding them until you see the recovery mode screen
  4. Choose Restore

Other reset options explained

Besides the full factory reset, your iPhone also offers other reset options that are less drastic.

Reset All Settings

This option only resets your settings to their default values. Your apps, photos and other data are kept. This is useful for minor software problems.

Reset Network Settings

This erases all your saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN settings and Bluetooth pairings. Useful for connection problems.

Reset Keyboard Dictionary

Only erases the words your iPhone has learned from your typing habits.

Reset Home Screen Layout

Returns the layout of your apps on the Home Screen to the default view.

After the reset: what now?

After resetting your iPhone, you have two options:

Set up as a new iPhone: Choose this option if you want a completely fresh start without old data or settings.

Restore from a backup: Choose this option to restore all your apps, photos, messages and settings from an earlier backup.

Tips and warnings

  • Make sure your iPhone is charged to at least 50% before you start the reset
  • The reset process cannot be interrupted, so do not turn off your iPhone during the process
  • Check that your backup completed successfully before you begin
  • Write down important passwords you may need after the reset
  • If you are selling your iPhone, check that Find My iPhone is actually turned off

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose all my photos if I reset my iPhone?

Yes, a full factory reset erases all data, including photos. That is why making a backup is so important. If you made a backup via iCloud or your computer, you can restore all your photos after the reset. To be safe, check whether your photos are also in iCloud Photos, because then they are always stored safely in the cloud.

Can I reset my iPhone if I have forgotten my passcode?

Yes, this is possible via recovery mode. Connect your iPhone to a computer and follow the recovery mode steps described above. Keep in mind that you still need your Apple ID password to activate the device after the reset. This is a security measure from Apple to discourage theft.

How long does it take to reset an iPhone?

The reset process itself usually takes between 5 and 15 minutes, depending on your iPhone model and how much data needs to be erased. Setting up your iPhone again after the reset can take longer, especially if you are restoring a large backup. Count on 30 minutes to an hour in total for the whole process.

Does my Apple ID stay linked to my iPhone after a reset?

If you did not sign out of iCloud before the reset, Activation Lock can remain active. This means that anyone who tries to use the iPhone will need your Apple ID password. So always make sure you sign out of iCloud before you reset your iPhone, especially if you are going to sell or give away the device.

Conclusion

Resetting your iPhone to its factory settings is a simple process if you follow the right steps. The most important thing is to make a good backup beforehand and to sign out of iCloud. Whether you are selling your iPhone, having software problems, or just want a fresh start, this guide has you well prepared. Take your time with the preparations and follow the steps carefully, and very little can go wrong.