How to Factory Reset Your iPhone

04-Feb-2024

Whether you’re selling your iPhone, giving it to a friend or family member, or simply trying to solve a software-related performance issue, a factory reset is usually a good idea. Doing this will restore your device to its original factory state, clearing all personal data and customer settings and resetting the phone’s OS to a clean version ready for a fresh start.

If you’re trying to factory reset your iPhone for the first time, you may be unsure of how to go about it, but there’s no need to fret because we’ve got all the information you need right here. In this simple how-to, we’ll outline exactly the steps you need to take to carry out a full factory reset on your iPhone

How to factory reset your iPhone

Conveniently, the steps for factory resetting an iPhone are the same for all models. Regardless of the generation or whether you’re using a Plus, Pro, Max, Mini, X, XR, XS, S, or SE, you can factory reset your iPhone by following these simple steps:

Open the “Settings” application on your iPhone.
Go to “General”, then select “Transfer or Reset iPhone”.
Tap “Erase All Content and Settings”, then confirm your choice. Your device will then initiate a factory reset.

How to factory reset your iPhone via PC / Mac

Another option is to perform a full reset of your iPhone using your computer. Depending on if you’re using a PC or Mac, and also your MacOS version, the process may vary slightly.

On MacOS Catalina or later

To perform a factory reset on your iPhone using a Mac running MacOS Catalina or later, you can follow these steps:

Connect your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable.
Turn on your iPhone and open the Finder.
Select your device on the sidebar of your computer and go to the “Software” section in the device menu.
Click “Restore iPhone”, then click “Restore” again to confirm the action.

Once you’ve done this, your iPhone will factory reset itself, clearing all of your data and installing a fresh version of the latest available OS. Once it reboots, the process is done and it’s ready to be set up as new.

On MacOS Mojave or PC

If you want to reset your iPhone using a PC or a Mac that is running MacOS Mojave or earlier, then you will need to do so through iTunes. To do this, you can follow these steps:

Connect your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable.
Turn on your iPhone and open the iTunes app on your computer.
Find your in the sidebar of the iTunes app and go to the “Software” section in the device menu.
Select “Restore iPhone”, then click “Restore” again to confirm the action.

How to factory reset a locked iPhone

If you have forgotten your password and need to perform a factory reset on your iPhone, then you can do so by following the steps below:

Power down your iPhone and ensure the device is not plugged into your computer.
To put your iPhone into recovery mode, find the required button. For iPhone models 8, 8 plus, X, SE (gen 2 and 3), and later, this will be the power button to the right of the screen. iPhone 7 and 7 Plus should use the volume button, while users of iPhone models 6s, SE (gen 1), and earlier should use the Home button.
Hold down the relevant button while plugging your iPhone into your computer via USB, and continue to hold the button until the recovery mode screen appears. Then release, then button.
Access your iPhone on your computer (see steps above under ‘How to factory reset your iPhone via PC).
In the restore and update device options, select “Restore”.

This will prompt your computer to download and install a clean OS on your iPhone, reverting the device to its factory default state with the latest OS version available. Once the process has finished, your iPhone will restart, showing the setup screen.

That’s all you need to know to perform a full factory reset on your Apple iPhone. If you’ve followed the steps correctly, your device should now have cleared of data and custom settings and running a fresh version of its OS.

With your iPhone now reset to factory default, you are free to sell it, pass it on, are set it up again so for a fresh start and a problem-free user experience.