You're standing there holding your iPhone SE, and it’s acting up. Maybe it’s sluggish, or maybe you’re finally handing it off to a sibling or selling it on eBay. Whatever the reason, you've reached the "nuclear option." You need to know how to reset iPhone SE to factory settings because, frankly, sometimes a simple restart just doesn't cut it.
It feels a bit scary. Wiping a device is permanent. But honestly, if you follow the right steps, it’s actually the most refreshing thing you can do for your tech.
First things first: Don't be that person who forgets to back up
I've seen it a thousand times. Someone wipes their phone, thinks everything is in the cloud, and then realizes their three years of voice memos or specific app data are just... gone. Forever. Before you even think about the "Erase All Content and Settings" button, you have to be certain your data is somewhere else.
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Pop into your Settings, tap your name at the top, and hit iCloud. Check iCloud Backup. If it says "Last successful backup: 2 AM," and it's now 5 PM, hit Back Up Now. Just do it. If you’re low on cloud storage—which, let’s be real, most of us are—plug the thing into a Mac or a PC. Use Finder or iTunes. It’s old school, but it’s local, fast, and doesn't require a monthly subscription to Apple's storage tiers.
Another weirdly important thing? Turn off Find My iPhone. If you’re selling the device, the next owner will be stuck at an Activation Lock screen if you don't. That makes your phone a very expensive paperweight for them. You'll find this under Settings > [Your Name] > Find My. Toggle it off. You'll need your Apple ID password for this. If you’ve forgotten that password, stop right here. You’ve got a bigger project on your hands involving account recovery before you can factory reset anything.
How to reset iPhone SE to factory settings: The standard route
Depending on which generation of the SE you have—the original 2016 model, the 2020 version, or the 2022 5G model—the software might look a tiny bit different if you haven't updated iOS in a while. But generally, for anyone running iOS 15 or later, Apple changed the menu layout.
Go to Settings. Scroll down to General. Swipe all the way to the bottom. You’re looking for Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Don’t click "Reset" yet. That's a trap—well, not a trap, but it's usually not what people want. Tap Erase All Content and Settings. The phone will give you a little summary of what’s about to vanish: your apps, your data, your Apple ID, and your Find My settings. It's the point of no return.
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You’ll likely have to enter your passcode. Then, the phone might try to do one last "extra" backup to the cloud. If you're sure you've already backed up, you can skip this to save time. Hit the final confirmation, and the screen will go black. You’ll see the Apple logo and a progress bar. Go grab a coffee. This takes a few minutes.
What happens if the screen is frozen or you forgot the passcode?
This is where it gets spicy. If you can't get into the menus because the screen is unresponsive or you’re locked out, the standard "Settings" method is useless. You have to use Recovery Mode.
For the iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd gen), the button combo is a bit of a finger-dance. You have to:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button (the power button) until you see the recovery mode screen—it looks like a computer cable pointing toward a laptop.
If you have the ancient, original iPhone SE with the headphone jack, you hold the Home button and the Top button at the same time until that screen appears.
Once you’re in Recovery Mode, plug the phone into a computer. On a Mac, open Finder. On Windows, open iTunes. A pop-up will appear saying there’s a problem with the iPhone. It’ll give you two choices: Update or Restore. "Update" tries to fix the software without deleting data. "Restore" is the one you want for a factory reset. It downloads the entire operating system from scratch and wipes the device clean.
The "Erase iPhone" lock screen trick
Surprisingly, if you’re on iOS 15.2 or later, there’s an even easier way to handle a forgotten passcode without a computer. If you keep entering the wrong passcode, eventually the phone says "iPhone Unavailable" or "Security Lockout."
Look at the bottom corner of the screen. You should see an Erase iPhone option. Tap it. It will ask for your Apple ID password to remove the activation lock, and then it will wipe itself right there. It’s a lifesaver if you’re traveling and don't have access to a laptop.
Why is my iPhone SE still asking for a passcode after a reset?
This usually happens when people do a "Reset All Settings" instead of "Erase All Content and Settings." There’s a huge difference.
- Reset All Settings: Keeps your photos and apps but reverts your wallpaper, Wi-Fi passwords, and alerts to default.
- Erase All Content and Settings: This is the true factory reset.
If you did the latter and it’s still asking for a passcode during setup, you’re likely seeing the "Remote Management" or "Activation Lock" screen. If the phone was previously owned by a company, it might be enrolled in an MDM (Mobile Device Management) program. In that case, a factory reset won't save you; the serial number is flagged in Apple’s servers as belonging to that organization. You’ll need them to release it.
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Dealing with the physical SIM vs. eSIM
On the newer iPhone SE models, you might have an eSIM. When you go through the reset process, the iPhone will actually ask you: "Do you want to keep or delete your Cellular Plans?"
If you are keeping the phone and just want a fresh start, Keep eSIM. If you are selling the phone, Delete eSIM. If you forget to delete it, the next person can’t easily use their own plan, and you might still be billed for data used on a device you no longer own. It’s a small detail that’s easy to miss in the heat of the moment.
Finalizing the handoff
Once the phone reboots to the "Hello" screen in multiple languages, you’re done. Don't go through the setup process. Just hold the power button and shut it down.
If you're selling it, there's one more professional move. Go to icloud.com/find on another device, log in, and make sure that specific iPhone SE is no longer in your list of trusted devices. This ensures the new owner has a "clean" slate and won't be bugging you three days from now because they can't sign in.
Resetting tech can feel like a chore, but honestly, it's the best way to troubleshoot a device that has become "glitchy" over years of software updates. Think of it as a deep clean for your digital life.
Actionable Checklist for a Successful Reset
- Verify your iCloud Backup is current (Settings > Name > iCloud > Backup).
- Disable Find My iPhone to avoid Activation Lock issues.
- Save any eSIM settings if you plan on reusing the phone yourself.
- Use the Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone path for a clean wipe.
- If the phone is unresponsive, use the Volume Up, Volume Down, Hold Side Button sequence to enter Recovery Mode.
- Sign out of the device on icloud.com to fully de-register the hardware from your Apple ID.