Performing a factory reset can help resolve issues with your iPhone by erasing all of its content and settings. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to reset your iPhone to factory default settings.
Back Up Your iPhone Before Resetting
Before resetting your iPhone, it’s important to back up your data so you don’t lose your files permanently:
- Back up to iCloud – Enable iCloud backup in Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Then connect to Wi-Fi and plug your iPhone in to power to back up.
- Back up to iTunes – Connect your iPhone to your computer and make an iTunes backup. This will save a snapshot of your device locally on your computer.
Once your iPhone data is backed up, you can proceed with the factory reset knowing your files are safe.
Reset Your iPhone Through Settings
Resetting your iPhone to factory default settings through Settings is the easiest way to erase your device:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset
- Tap “Erase All Content and Settings”
- Enter your passcode if prompted
- Tap “Erase Now” to confirm
Your iPhone will reboot into recovery mode and erase itself, resetting back to factory default settings. This removes all of your personal data, content, and customized settings.
Reset Your iPhone Through iTunes
You can also reset your iPhone by putting it into recovery mode and restoring via iTunes:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer running the latest version of iTunes
- While connected, force restart your iPhone – quickly press and release the Volume Up button, quickly press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen
- In iTunes, a pop-up will ask if you want to restore or update, choose restore
- Your iPhone will exit recovery mode and complete the reset process
This achieves the same factory reset result as using the Settings option. All data and settings will be erased.
Reset iPhone Without Passcode Via Recovery Mode
If you can’t unlock your iPhone to access Settings, you can force a factory reset through recovery mode even without the passcode:
- Force restart your iPhone using the keypress sequence (Volume Up, Volume Down, hold Side)
- Connect iPhone to computer with iTunes and enter recovery mode
- Hold Side and Home buttons together for 10 seconds, then release Side button while still holding Home button for another 10 seconds
- This will prompt iTunes to show iPhone in Recovery Mode
- Click “Restore” when prompted to reset without needing the passcode
This process still erases all contents and settings, resetting iPhone back to factory defaults.
Reset Network Settings on iPhone
For connectivity issues, try resetting just the network settings first instead of fully resetting the device:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset
- Tap “Reset Network Settings”
- Enter passcode if prompted, then confirm to reset networks
This clears any problematic network and internet configurations without deleting your data and customizations.
Quickly Erase All Content and Settings
The fastest way to factory reset iPhone and erase all content is through Find My app:
- Open Find My app and sign in with your Apple ID
- Select your iPhone
- Tap “Erase iPhone” at the bottom
- Enter Apple ID password to confirm erase
iPhone will reboot into recovery mode and reset itself back to factory default settings.
What Happens When You Reset an iPhone?
Resetting your iPhone to factory default settings erases all of the following from your device:
- User accounts and related data
- Media content like photos, videos, music
- Contacts, calendars, notes, messages
- Apps and their data and settings
- Customized settings like wallpaper, notifications, privacy options
- Home screen layout and folders
Personal content and customizations are removed. The operating system gets reinstalled as if it was new out of the box.
Check iPhone Storage Space After Reset
After you reset your iPhone to factory settings, check how much storage space is now available:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
- Review new total available space
Resetting typically frees up a large amount of previously used storage, since it erases all user content and data.
Now your iPhone is like new and ready to be set up from scratch. Sign in with your Apple ID to download apps and customize settings to your liking once again.
