How do I factory reset my iPhone?

YOUR iPhone can be born again with a simple factory reset – which wipes any apps and data you have stored, or files you have created.

This is helpful if your iPhone is getting glitchy, or if you are passing it on to someone else. But just how do you force a factory reset?

You might want to factory reset your iPhone if it is lost or if you are giving it away to someone else

How do I force my iPhone to factory reset?

Before you factory reset, you should make sure you have backed up any data you still want from Settings, Apple ID, iCloud, and iCloud Backup.

You should also make sure your iPhone is connected to WiFi, and plug it in to power to be safe.

1. First, open your iPhone settings.

2. Scroll down until you see General, and then tap on that.

3. Next, tap Reset – which is one up from the bottom of the list, just above Shut Down.

Forcing a factory reset on your iPhone will restore it to how it appeared when it was brand new

4. Tap Erase All Content and Setting’.

5. Follow the prompt to enter your passcode.

6. Confirm the reset when prompted.

7. Wait for the process to complete. When your phone restarts it will appear as it was when it was brand new.

The process of factory resetting is slightly different on an iPhone 7 than on any other modelCredit: Getty – Contributor

How do you factory reset an iPhone without the password?

On some models of iPhone you are not asked for the password, so you can use the steps above to factory reset your iPhone without a password.

You will need the password to restore your iPhone after the reset, and will only be able to restore up to your last backup.

You can reset your iPhone back to the latest version of iOS without the password using iTunes, which is still available although discontinued.

On a later iPhone model, or with a Mac computer, you can do this without needing iTunes.

You will need to hold down the Power button and a volume button in order to force an iPhone into recovery mode if you do not know your password

To use iTunes to factory reset your iPhone without a password…

1. On your computer, download the latest version of iTunes from the app store.

2. Put your phone into the Recovery mode, by following these steps:

press the Power button and one volume button at the same time (or just the Power button on iPhone 7) and hold them down until the Power Off slider appears.
Power off your iPhone using the slider.
Connect your iPhone to your computer while holding the power button pressed down (or one volume button for iPhone 7).
Release the button when your iPhone moves into the ‘recovery mode’ screen.

3. Once your iPhone is in Recovery mode, select Restore from the alert window.

4. Now your iPhone is ready for you to restore it from a backup or a new user to set it up as theirs.

You should plug your iPhone into a power source before beginning a factory reset, just to be safeCredit: Getty

You can also connect to a computer to erase all the data on your iPhone like a factory reset, using a third-party app designed to unlock an iPhone.

You can factory reset your iPhone without your password using iCloud and Find My iPhone – but only if Find My iPhone is enabled and you are signed in to iCloud.com.

To do this, go to iCloud.com, and choose Find iPhone.

Then, click All Devices, and select your iPhone earmarked for a factory reset. Lastly, click Erase iPhone.

Factory resetting your iPhone is a good idea if you are giving it to someone else, so they can use it as new

How do I reset my iPhone for a new user?

Your iPhone likely holds loads of information about you and yours – from pictures of you, family and friends, to banking, and even your thoughts, in diaries and journals.

You will want to factory reset your iPhone to delete all of this before giving or selling your iPhone to a new user.

It’s also important for a new user to be able to access your iPhone, so sign out of iCloud to disable the Apple “activation lock” to make this possible.

To sign out, first go to your iPhone Settings, usually from the first home screen.

Then, tap on your name, followed by Apple ID – which is right at the top of the screen, just below the search function.

Factory resetting your iPhone will log you out of all your apps and clear any data you had saved in themCredit: Alamy

On the next page, tap Sign Out right at the bottom. Follow the prompt to enter your password, then tap Turn Off.

Your iPhone is now ready for a factory reset.

Can you factory reset a stolen iPhone?

Yes – if your phone has been stolen and you have Find My iPhone enabled, you can factory reset your iPhone to prevent someone accessing your data.

Go to iCloud.com and log in using the Apple ID signed in on your stolen iPhone.

Choose Find iPhone, then click All Devices, and select your iPhone earmarked for a factory reset. Lastly, click Erase iPhone.

On recent iPhones, or with those running versions of iOS, earlier than V11, someone using an unlocking program to access your phone will reset the phone as part of this process.

You can even factory reset your iPhone if it is locked, as long as you can use iTunes to put it into recovery mode

How do you reset a locked iPhone?

You can reset a locked iPhone by connecting it to your computer. You may need to use iTunes, which is still available.

Before connecting to your computer, press the Power button and a volume button simultaneously (or just the Power button on iPhone 7), and hold until you see the slider to Power Off.

Power off your iPhone using the slider.