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how to factory reset iphone

To factory reset an iPhone, you erase all data and return it to original settings, either from the Settings app or using a computer if the phone is locked or unresponsive.

Before you reset

  • Back up your iPhone to iCloud or to a computer so you can restore your photos, messages, and apps later.
  • Sign out of your Apple ID (Settings > your name > Sign Out) if you plan to sell or give it away, so Activation Lock does not block the next user.
  • Know that a factory reset permanently deletes data stored on the device (unless you restore from a backup afterward).

Method 1: From iPhone Settings (you know the passcode)

This is the standard way if the phone is working and you can unlock it.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone (on some older devices, it may just say Reset iPhone or Reset).
  1. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
  2. Tap Continue and follow the prompts; if you see options related to eSIM, choose to delete eSIM and data if you are wiping the phone completely.
  1. Enter your device passcode and, if asked, your Apple ID password to turn off Activation Lock and Find My.
  1. Confirm by tapping Erase iPhone and wait while it reboots and shows the Hello/setup screen.

After this, the iPhone behaves like it’s fresh out of the box; you can set it up as new or restore from an iCloud/computer backup.

Method 2: If the iPhone is locked or you forgot the passcode

If you can’t get into the phone, you’ll need a computer and Recovery Mode.

  1. Turn the iPhone off.
  2. Connect it to a Mac or PC with a USB cable.
  1. Put it into Recovery Mode (for Face ID / newer models):
    • Quickly press and release Volume Up.
    • Quickly press and release Volume Down.
    • Press and hold the Side button until you see the Recovery Mode screen (cable + computer icon), not just the Apple logo.
  1. On the computer, open Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (older macOS or Windows).
  1. Select your iPhone when it appears; when you see a message that it needs to be updated or restored , choose Restore.
  1. Confirm Restore again; your computer will download software and erase the device, then reinstall iOS.
  1. Keep the phone connected until the process finishes and it shows the setup screen.

If you had a backup from before you got locked out, you can restore your data during setup; otherwise, you’ll have to use it as a new device.

Quick HTML table of the main options

[5][1] [5][1] [5][1] [1][3] [3][1] [1][3] [3][1]
Method When to use Basic steps Needs passcode? Needs computer?
Erase via Settings Phone is working and you can unlock it.Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings > confirm.Yes.No.
Erase via Recovery Mode Forgot passcode, device disabled, or stuck screen.Connect to computer, enter Recovery Mode, choose Restore in Finder/iTunes, wait for reinstall.No (passcode is erased in the process).Yes.

Extra: Not a full factory reset, but related “reset” options

Some guides also mention lighter resets that do not erase all data, like resetting keyboard dictionary or home screen layout, useful if you just want to fix annoyances rather than wipe the phone.

  • Reset keyboard dictionary: clears custom words your keyboard learned.
  • Reset Home Screen layout: puts app icons back into default positions.
  • Reset Location & Privacy: resets all app permission prompts.

SEO-style extras (meta + context)

  • Focus keyphrase: how to factory reset iPhone (covers both Settings and Recovery Mode paths on modern iOS versions like iOS 17 and beyond).
  • Meta-style summary: Learn how to factory reset your iPhone from Settings or via Recovery Mode, including backup tips, Activation Lock notes, and what happens to your data afterward.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.