Wait. Before you go pushing buttons, let’s get one thing straight: "iPhone S" usually refers to the older, classic "S" cycles—think iPhone 6s, XS, or even the SE variants that people often mislabel. If you’re holding a device and looking for a way to wipe it clean, you're likely either selling it, fixing a glitchy mess, or you've just forgotten the passcode. It happens to the best of us. Honestly, performing a factory reset iPhone S procedure is less about the technical tap-dance and more about ensuring you don't accidentally vaporize your decade of vacation photos.
The process has shifted over the years. Apple loves to move things around in the Settings app just when you’ve finally memorized where they live.
The Backup Rule (Or Why You’ll Regret Skipping This)
Don't be that person. You know the one—the person who resets their phone and then realizes their 2FA codes for work were only saved locally. Modern iPhones are basically vaults. Once you pull that factory reset trigger, the encryption keys are tossed into a digital furnace. There is no "undo" button.
First, check your iCloud status. Go to Settings, tap your name at the very top, and hit iCloud. Is "iCloud Backup" on? Great. Tap "Back Up Now" just to be safe. If you're a bit old school and prefer a physical connection, plug that iPhone S into a Mac or PC. On newer Macs, it shows up in the Finder sidebar. On Windows, you're still stuck with the ghost of iTunes. Either way, click "Back Up All Data."
Why do this? Because factory reset iPhone S isn't just a refresh; it's a total lobotomy for the hardware.
The Standard Way: Through the Settings App
If your phone actually turns on and you can get past the lock screen, this is the path of least resistance. It's the official, Apple-sanctioned method that most people use before handing a device over to a buyer on Facebook Marketplace.
Open Settings. Scroll down to General. Keep scrolling until you hit the very bottom. You’re looking for "Transfer or Reset iPhone." Apple changed the wording here a few updates back to make it easier for people moving to new devices, but the nuclear option is still tucked away at the bottom of that screen.
Tap "Erase All Content and Settings."
You’ll see a screen that summarizes what’s about to happen. It’ll list your apps, your data, and your Apple ID. It’s basically a final warning. If you’re sure, hit Continue. You’ll be asked for your passcode. Then, you’ll probably be asked for your Apple ID password to turn off "Find My." This is crucial. If you don't turn off Find My, the phone stays "Activation Locked," making it a very expensive paperweight for whoever gets it next.
What if the Screen is Broken or Frozen?
Life is messy. Sometimes you need to perform a factory reset iPhone S because the touch screen has decided to stop responding or the software is stuck in a boot loop. This is where the hardware buttons come into play.
For the iPhone 6s or earlier (the physical home button era), you hold the Home button and the Power button at the same time. Keep holding them. Even when the screen goes black. Even when the Apple logo pops up. You wait until you see a cable pointing toward a computer icon. That’s Recovery Mode.
If you have an iPhone XS or something newer without a home button, the rhythm is different.
- Press and quickly release Volume Up.
- Press and quickly release Volume Down.
- Press and hold the Side button.
- Don't let go until the recovery screen appears.
Once you’re in Recovery Mode, plug it into your computer. A window will pop up asking if you want to Update or Restore. "Restore" is the factory reset option. It downloads a fresh copy of iOS and overwrites everything. It’s the ultimate "clean slate" for a device that's acting possessed.
Dealing with the Forgotten Passcode Nightmare
It's the most common reason for a forced factory reset iPhone S. You changed your passcode after a few drinks, woke up, and now you're locked out for 48 years.
If you're on iOS 15.2 or later, Apple actually added a "forgot passcode?" option right on the lockout screen. After a few wrong attempts, look at the bottom of the screen. It should say "Erase iPhone." If the phone is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, you can tap that, enter your Apple ID password, and the phone will wipe itself without needing a computer. It's a lifesaver, honestly.
If that option doesn't show up, you are back to the Recovery Mode method mentioned above. There is no way around this. Apple’s security is notoriously stubborn. Anyone claiming they can "bypass" this without a reset is usually trying to sell you sketchy software that doesn't work. Trust the official recovery paths.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Activation Lock
Here’s the thing: Erasing the data is not the same as removing the ownership.
I’ve seen dozens of people sell their old iPhone 6s or XS, thinking they did the right thing by wiping it, only to have the buyer call them two hours later because they can't sign in. This is Activation Lock. It’s a theft-deterrent system that links the serial number to your Apple ID in Apple’s cloud servers.
To properly factory reset iPhone S for a new owner, you must sign out of iCloud. If the phone is already wiped and you forgot to do this, go to iCloud.com/find on a different device. Sign in, find your old phone in the "All Devices" list, and select "Remove from Account." Only then is the phone truly "clean."
Technical Nuances: The Difference Between Reset Options
When you go into that Reset menu, you'll see a bunch of options. It can be confusing.
- Reset All Settings: This is the "light" version. It doesn't delete your photos or apps. It just resets things like Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth pairings, and display settings. Use this if your phone is just acting "buggy" with connections.
- Reset Network Settings: Great for when your 5G or Wi-Fi is acting like a jerk. It deletes all saved networks.
- Erase All Content and Settings: The real deal. This is the factory reset.
Choosing the wrong one won't break the phone, but it might waste your time. If the goal is a total wipe, don't settle for "Reset All Settings." It won't satisfy a buyer, and it won't fix deep-seated software corruption.
Actionable Steps for a Successful Reset
To ensure your factory reset iPhone S goes off without a hitch, follow this sequence. It’s the most efficient way to avoid the common "frozen on the Apple logo" or "locked out" scenarios that plague DIY tech support.
- Verify your credentials. Make absolutely sure you know your Apple ID password. If you reset the phone and can't remember the password to disable "Find My," you're in for a long afternoon with Apple Support.
- Unpair your Apple Watch. If you have one, unpair it through the Watch app on the iPhone first. This triggers a backup of the watch data to your phone (which then goes to the cloud).
- Ditch the SIM card. People forget this constantly. If your iPhone S has a physical SIM tray, pop it out with a paperclip. You don't want your phone number or contacts going to the next owner.
- Plug into power. A factory reset can take anywhere from five to twenty minutes depending on how much data is being encrypted and wiped. If the battery dies mid-reset, you might "brick" the device, requiring a full DFU (Device Firmware Update) restore via a computer.
- Check the "Welcome" screen. The reset is finished when you see "Hello" in multiple languages. Don't go past this screen if you're selling it. Leave it right there for the next person to set up.
If you are keeping the phone and just trying to fix performance issues, try a "Force Restart" before doing a full factory wipe. Sometimes a simple hard reboot clears the cache enough to avoid the nuclear option altogether. But if the lag is unbearable or the storage is "Other" categories are bloating the system, the full factory reset iPhone S is the only way to get that "new phone" feel back.
Remember, once that progress bar finishes, the data is gone. Secure, encrypted, and unrecoverable. That's the beauty—and the danger—of the Apple ecosystem.