How to Factory Reset Your iPhone: Erase Your iPhone & Restore Factory Settings

If you're getting ready to trade, give away, or sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you're probably wondering how to erase your iPhone, then restore your iPhone to factory settings, so all your data and settings are deleted. If you want to know how to factory reset an iPhone, there are two methods for accomplishing this. If you have a computer available, you can factory reset your iPhone with iTunes or the Finder. If you need to know how to reset your iPhone or iPad without a computer, you can still factory reset your iPhone from the Settings app. If you're wondering how to delete everything on your iPhone, it doesn't matter which model you have. A factory reset for an iPhone works the same way, whether it's an older generation like an iPhone 4, 5, 6, 7, or a newer iPhone 8, X, or 11. Ready to learn how to wipe an iPhone or iPad and completely reset it? Let's get started! 

Related: How to Sell or Trade In Your iPhone So You Can Get the New One

We've already shown you how to restart your iPhone and how to hard reset and iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus. For more great, free iPhone tutorials, check out our Tip of the Day.

Stop! What happens when you reset your iPhone or iPad? A factory reset will erase all contents, settings, and data on your iPhone or iPad; it will be like your device is brand new out of the box. Unless you want to lose everything you delete, create either an iCloud backup or iTunes backup before deleting everything on your iPhone or iPad.

Before you restore your iPhone to factory settings, there are a couple of things we recommend doing first if you’re going to give away, sell, or trade the iPhone you’re resetting.

• Log out of iCloud.
• Unpair Apple Watch 

How to Reset Your iPhone to Factory Settings from the Settings App

If you've been wondering how to do a factory reset on your iPhone, it's very quick and easy! To reset your iPhone to factory settings:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
   
   
    
3. Scroll down to the bottom and tap Reset.
4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
   
   
    

You'll be asked to confirm that you really want to wipe your device; read the prompts carefully to make sure there’s nothing else you need to do or finish before resetting your device. Then confirm, and your iPhone will reset!

How to Restore Your iPad & iPhone with iTunes on a Computer

If resetting your iPhone from the Settings app isn't possible, you can use iTunes. To do this, you'll need a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or a PC. Also, make sure you have iTunes downloaded on your computer and updated to the latest version. If you have a newer Mac running macOS Catalina or later, read the section below on restoring your iPhone with Finder.

1. Plug your iPhone into your computer with the Lightning-to-USB cable.
2. Open the iTunes app.
   
   
    
3. Select your iPhone or iPad when it appears on screen.
4. The first box will have two options: Update and Restore iPhone.
5. Click Restore iPhone.
   
   
    
6. If you haven’t logged out of iCloud, you'll need to turn off Find My iPhone to continue.
7. iTunes may ask for your Apple ID password and to confirm before actually restoring your iPhone to factory settings. Follow the onscreen prompts to confirm.
8. Once your device restores to factory settings, it will restart. Now, set it up as if it was a brand new phone or tablet. 

How to Restore Your iPhone & iPad from a Backup with the Finder on a Computer

To restore your iPhone or iPad using the finder, you'll need a Mac running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later. 

1. Connect your device to your computer with the Lightning-to-USB cable.
2. A message may ask for your device passcode or to Trust This Computer. Follow the steps on screen. 
3. Select your device in the Finder sidebar. 
   
   
    
4. Click General.
   
   
    
5. Select Restore Backup.
   
   
    
6. A menu of backups will pop up; click the backup you want to restore your device with. 
7. Once your device restores to factory settings, it will restart. Now, set it up as if it was a brand new phone or tablet. 
    

Check out our free Tip of the Day for more great Apple device tutorials!