Resetting your iPhone or iPad completely wipes the data on the device and returns it to manufactory settings. (This is singled-out from the less desperate processes of restarting and force-restarting, both of which retain your data and settings and should generally be tried start.)

To manufactory-reset an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

But there are some steps you should have offset, equally we'll outline in this commodity. We explicate how to reset an iPhone or iPad, the steps and precautions to take first, and how to rescue the data on a telephone or tablet you've wiped by mistake.

Why practice I need to reset my iPhone?

If your iPhone or iPad is misbehaving and initial solutions are not working, a full reset may exist necessary - although yous should beginning try restarting your iDevice (run across the link to a higher place). A factory reset tin can aid resolve bug with your phone if it's crashing or freezing, or suffering from problems you can't identify.

Modernistic electronic devices can be very complicated, and can go themselves into a bit of a dislocated state from time to time. Resetting and wiping a device can clear out issues that cause it to get stuck in a loop, appear sluggish or otherwise impair performance.

And if yous're selling your iPhone (or passing it down to a family member or friend) information technology's absolutely vital that you delete all the sensitive data stored on it. If not, an unscrupulous buyer could gain access to your social media profiles, your financial information and even your personal photos and videos, enabling them to browse through your private moments or steal your identity.

How to factory-reset your iPhone

If yous want to erase your device completely and return to factory settings, there are a few steps to accept.

Dorsum up your iPhone

We take a separate article explaining how to back up an iPhone, but here's the shortened version:

  1. You lot tin apply either iCloud or iTunes (or the Finder) to back upwardly your iOS device.
  2. For iCloud, go to Settings > iCloud > Backup and ensure that the feature is enabled. To encounter when the last backup was run, expect under the Back Up Now choice where the date and time should be displayed. If you haven't done a fill-in earlier, you lot tin can tap the Dorsum Up At present button and follow the instructions.

    How to factory-reset an iPhone or iPad: Back up

  3. To utilize iTunes/The Finder to back upward your iPhone or iPad, yous'll demand to plug your device into your PC or Mac using the charging cable. Click on the iPhone or iPad icon.

Mill-reset your iPhone

In one case you're confident that you've backed upward your iPad or iPhone, y'all're ready to perform a factory reset. This will completely wipe your device, which is why having a fill-in beforehand is so of import.

How to factory-reset an iPhone or iPad: Perform the reset

  1. To reset your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Reset and then select Erase All Content and Settings.
  2. If you lot've got an iCloud backup set up, iOS will ask if yous'd similar to update it, and then you don't lose unsaved data. We advise yous to follow this advice, and tap Back Up So Erase.
  3. Afterward typing in your passcode (if yous've set one), you'll get a warning box, with the option to Erase iPhone (or iPad) in crimson. Tap this.
  4. You lot'll need to enter your Apple ID password to confirm the action. The device volition be wiped and go dorsum to the initial setup screen y'all saw when you first used the device.
  5. Y'all can also fully reset your iPhone or iPad through iTunes or Finder (depending on whether you've updated to macOS Catalina or not). When yous plug in your iOS device, you should meet a 'Restore iPhone' button, which will fully reset the device.

Your iPhone or iPad is now prepare to sell.

Did you forget to support your iPhone before you wiped information technology?

If you're worried that your iPhone or iPad wasn't backed upwards, don't despair: there's a skilful adventure that at that place'southward a backup you're unaware of.

To find out if you're bankroll up to iCloud (you get complimentary 5GB of space) go to Settings > iCloud and tap on Storage. Wait a few seconds for Manage Storage to show up and tap on that. Here you will see your diverse backups for your iOS devices (in that location might even exist one for an old iPhone that you could delete if you need more than infinite).

One of the backups should say that it is This iPhone or This iPad. Tap on that and you can see what is, and isn't beingness backed upward. Yous can basically turn things on and off so that they don't take upwardly your total 5GB, or you lot can pay a few pounds/dollars a month for more storage.

You lot may call up that some of those apps don't demand to be backed up; after all, you lot will be able to download them over again from the App Store as you already ain them. But note that the data may include saved information for games, and other settings and preferences you would prefer not to lose.

To bank check when your iPhone last backed up, become to Settings and tap your ID card at the top of the main screen (it'll have your name and/or a motion-picture show of your confront). At present striking iCloud > iCloud Backup and await at the date and time of the last fill-in. It will have happened the last time you lot plugged your iPhone into charge and had Wi-Fi access available. It happens automatically.

If you're not currently using this method, nosotros recommend that you do so. Go to Settings > [your ID carte du jour] > iCloud > iCloud Fill-in and set iCloud Backup to on (the green toggle). This is the simplest way to back up and ways that y'all can always recover the data on your phone no affair where yous are - all you demand is a connection to the web.

How to rescue data from a wiped iPhone or iPad

On the other hand, if you lot can't observe a backup, it's probable that you won't exist able to retrieve data once you have deleted it.

The data on an iOS device is automatically encrypted, and wiping the device destroys the encryption key, making it more or less incommunicable to get annihilation back when it's been fully erased and reset without access to a backup.

In an emergency y'all could try speaking to someone at an Apple Genius Bar, simply it's a long shot to say the least. (This applies to a full erase/reset, mind y'all - in other circumstances, such as data corruption, a malfunctioning device and so on, the experts may be able to help.) This also reinforces our frequent communication to back up regularly.

How to restore an iPhone

If having erased the content of the telephone you intend to keep using it, you lot can restore the content to your phone from your fill-in. Here's how:

...via iCloud backup

With the factory reset completed you'll need to go through the setup of your iPhone again from the outset:

  1. Start up the iPhone and enter your details when prompted, including WiFi password, until you reach the folio where you're asked how you want to 'Prepare iPhone'.
  2. Y'all now have three options: Fix Upward as a New iPhone, Restore from iCloud Backup or Restore from iTunes fill-in - so select the iCloud option and you'll be prompted to enter your iCloud account details.
  3. Once y'all've done this, and agreed to the terms and weather, your iPhone will begin restoring all your information.

Plain this could take a while if you take large backups or a deadening internet connection, so don't attempt this if y'all're in a hurry. When the backup is completed your iPhone will reboot, then information technology will start the larger job of downloading all of your apps.

...via iTunes or Finder backup

  1. As with the iCloud instructions we've already outlined, follow the steps up to the 'Gear up iPhone' screen, then select Restore from iTunes.
  2. You'll be prompted to Connect to iTunes, so plug in your iPhone and you'll see a screen on iTunes that gives you the option to restore a backup. Click continue and your iPhone will be fix automatically, with the apps being restored from the iTunes backup.
  3. When it'due south finished, you'll accept a freshly cleaned arrangement. Hopefully any problems that you were encountering before will be a thing of the past.
  4. If you're installed macOS Catalina, iTunes will no longer be on your system - but the functions in a higher place will exist performed by Finder. Follow the same instructions in that awarding.

How to factory-reset an iPhone or iPad: Set up in iTunes