A factory reset erases everything on your iPhone and returns it to the state it left the factory

When you reset an iPhone, the device wipes all your data — photos, messages, apps, settings, contacts, everything — and reinstalls the operating system fresh. The phone then boots up as if you just unboxed it, asking you to set a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in with an Apple ID. This is called a factory reset or erase all content and settings.

There are two ways this happens. You can do it yourself through Settings on the phone, or you can do it remotely through iCloud if the phone is lost or you no longer have it. Either way, the result is the same: a blank slate.

Most people reset an iPhone when selling it, giving it away, trading it in, or troubleshooting a serious software problem. It is also what happens when someone remotely wipes a phone through Find My iPhone after it is stolen.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset deletes all photos, messages, apps, and personal settings, and you cannot undo it once the process finishes.
  • You can reset your own iPhone through Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, which takes 5 to 15 minutes.
  • If you forget your Apple ID password, you will need to reset it through Apple's website before you can set up the phone again after erasing it.
  • Backing up to iCloud or a computer before resetting lets you restore your data, apps, and settings to the same phone or a different one afterward.
  • A remote reset through Find My iPhone works even if the phone is off or you do not have it in your hands, but it requires you to sign in to iCloud.com first.

What gets deleted and what stays

Everything stored on the phone itself is erased: photos, videos, messages, notes, calendar events, reminders, voice memos, downloaded apps, email accounts, saved Wi-Fi passwords, and your home screen layout. Your phone number and carrier information stay with your carrier, not the phone, so resetting does not change your phone number.

What does not get deleted is anything tied to your Apple ID or cloud accounts. If you sign back in with the same Apple ID after the reset, iCloud will restore your photos, contacts, calendars, reminders, notes, and any apps you had before — but only if you had iCloud backup turned on. If you never backed up, those things are gone.

Your Apple ID itself is not erased. The phone will ask for it during setup. If you forget the password, you will need to reset it on Apple's website before you can proceed.

How to reset your own iPhone

Open Settings, then go to General. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. The phone will ask you to confirm and may ask for your Apple ID password to disable Find My iPhone — this is a security feature to prevent theft. Once you confirm, the process begins and takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much data is on the phone.

Do not turn off the phone or unplug it during the reset. Let it finish completely. When it is done, the iPhone will restart and show the setup screen, as if it is brand new.

If you want to keep your data, back up to iCloud or to a Mac or Windows computer using Finder or iTunes before you reset. Then, during setup after the reset, choose Restore from Backup and sign in with your Apple ID. The phone will download your photos, apps, messages, and settings back onto the device.

Resetting a phone you do not have access to

If your iPhone is lost, stolen, or you no longer have it, you can erase it remotely through Find My iPhone. Go to iCloud.com on any computer or another device, sign in with your Apple ID, and click Find My iPhone. Select the phone from the list, then click Erase iPhone. The phone will be wiped the next time it connects to the internet, even if it is powered off.

This works only if Find My iPhone was turned on before the phone was lost. If it was not, you cannot erase it remotely. You can still change your Apple ID password on Apple's website to prevent someone from signing in with your account.

After a remote erase, the phone is locked to your Apple ID. Whoever has it cannot set it up or use it without your password. This is called Activation Lock, and it is designed to make a stolen iPhone worthless to a thief.

What happens if you forget your Apple ID password

If you reset your iPhone and then forget your Apple ID password during setup, you cannot proceed. The phone will not let you skip this step. You will need to reset your password on Apple's website using a trusted device or a recovery email address.

Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the steps to reset the password. Once you have a new password, go back to the iPhone setup and enter it. If you do not have access to a trusted device or recovery email, you may need to contact Apple Support to verify your identity.

Selling or giving away your iPhone

Before you hand over your phone, reset it and make sure the reset completed fully. The new owner will see the setup screen and can set it up with their own Apple ID. They will not see any of your data, messages, or accounts.

If you are trading the phone in to a carrier or retailer, ask them whether they want you to reset it first. Some do, some do not. If they do not, they will reset it themselves, but resetting it yourself first ensures your data is gone before it leaves your hands.

Do not just sign out of your Apple ID and leave the phone as-is. Someone with physical access can still see your photos, messages, and other data. A full reset is the only way to be sure.

Troubleshooting with a reset

If your iPhone is running slowly, crashing repeatedly, or behaving strangely, a factory reset can sometimes fix it by removing corrupted files or problematic apps. However, a reset should be a last resort after you have tried restarting the phone, updating to the latest iOS version, and uninstalling recently added apps.

If the phone is so broken that it will not turn on or get past the setup screen, you may need to use Recovery Mode instead. Connect the phone to a Mac or Windows computer with Finder or iTunes, force restart the phone while plugged in, and choose Restore. This is more thorough than a standard reset and can fix some hardware-related software problems.

After a reset, if the same problem comes back, the issue is likely hardware-related and a reset will not fix it. Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a factory reset?

No. Once the reset finishes, the data is gone permanently. The only way to get it back is if you backed up to iCloud or a computer before resetting. If you did, you can restore from that backup during setup.

Will resetting my iPhone remove viruses or malware?

A factory reset removes any malicious software that was installed on the phone, because it deletes everything and reinstalls the operating system. However, iPhone viruses are extremely rare because of how iOS is designed. If you think your phone has malware, a reset is a safe way to be sure it is gone.

Does a reset remove the SIM card or eSIM?

No. A reset does not touch your SIM card or eSIM. Your phone number and carrier information stay active. You will need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and set up your cellular plan again during setup, but your service will not be interrupted.

What if my iPhone is stuck on the setup screen after a reset?

Try signing in with your Apple ID again, making sure the password is correct. If you forgot the password, reset it at iforgot.apple.com first. If the phone still will not proceed, try connecting to a different Wi-Fi network or using cellular data. If it remains stuck, contact Apple Support.

Can someone reset my iPhone without my permission?

Not easily. To reset an iPhone in Settings, you need the device itself and usually the Apple ID password. If someone has your phone and your password, they can reset it. This is why a strong, unique Apple ID password and turning on two-factor authentication are important.