You’re standing there, thumb hovering over the screen, wondering if you’re about to turn your $1,000 piece of glass and titanium into a very expensive paperweight. Maybe you’re selling it on eBay. Maybe the software has become so buggy that opening Instagram feels like trying to start a lawnmower in a blizzard. Whatever the reason, learning how to reset iPhone to factory settings is one of those "nuclear option" skills every Apple user eventually needs.
It’s scary. I get it.
The phrase "factory settings" sounds so final, like you’re erasing your digital soul. But honestly? It’s often the best thing you can do for a device that’s been chugging along for three years without a fresh start. Apple has made this process significantly easier over the last few iOS updates, specifically since iOS 15, but there are still plenty of ways to mess it up if you aren't paying attention to the fine print.
The Pre-Reset Checklist (Don't Skip This)
Before you even think about touching that reset button, you have to talk about backups. If you don't back up, your photos are gone. Your high scores are gone. That voice memo of your grandma? Gone.
Most people think iCloud is just "doing its thing" in the background. Don't trust that. Go into Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and hit Back Up Now. Do it while you’re on stable Wi-Fi. If you’re old school or have a massive amount of data (like 500GB of 4K video), plug that thing into a Mac or a PC. Use Finder or iTunes. It’s faster, and it’s a physical copy you can actually see.
The Find My iPhone Trap
This is the big one. If you’re selling your phone, you must turn off Find My iPhone. If you don't, the next person who buys it will hit the "Activation Lock" screen, and they’ll have a brick. They will call you. They will be annoyed. You will have to give them your Apple ID password or remove the device from your account remotely via iCloud.com, which is a massive headache.
How to Reset iPhone to Factory Settings: The Direct Path
Okay, let's get into the actual steps.
Open your Settings app. Scroll down to General. Swipe all the way to the bottom—Apple hides this stuff for a reason—and tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Now, you’ll see two main options. One says "Reset" and the other says "Erase All Content and Settings."
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- A screen will pop up showing you exactly what’s about to be deleted. This includes your Apple ID, Find My data, and your Wallet cards.
- Hit Continue.
- Enter your passcode. This is the 4 or 6-digit code you use to unlock your phone every day.
- If prompted, enter your Apple ID password to turn off Find My and Activation Lock.
- Confirm.
The screen will go black. You’ll see the Apple logo. A little progress bar will crawl across the screen like a tired snail. This can take anywhere from two minutes to ten, depending on how much data the encryption engine has to scramble. When the "Hello" screen pops up in various languages, you’ve successfully learned how to reset iPhone to factory settings.
Why Your iPhone Might Be Acting Weird After a Reset
Sometimes, a factory reset doesn't go as planned. I’ve seen cases where the phone hangs on the Apple logo for an hour. Usually, this happens because the battery was too low. Never, ever start a factory reset with 10% battery. Plug it into a wall outlet.
There is also the "eSIM" question. If you have a modern iPhone (iPhone 14 or newer in the US), you don't have a physical SIM card. When you go to erase your phone, iOS will ask if you want to Keep or Delete your eSIM.
If you are keeping the phone and just want a fresh start because the software is glitchy, Keep the eSIM. If you are selling the phone or trading it in at the Apple Store, Delete the eSIM. If you delete it by accident and you weren't supposed to, you’re going to be spending a very fun afternoon on the phone with Verizon or AT&T customer support trying to get a new QR code.
👉 See also: How do I AirPlay from Mac to Apple TV? The Setup That Actually Works Every Time
The "Soft Reset" vs. The Factory Reset
Wait. Do you actually need to erase everything?
I talk to people all the time who want to know how to reset iPhone to factory settings because their Wi-Fi is slow or their Bluetooth won't connect to their car. That’s like burning down your house because the kitchen sink is leaking.
Try a "Reset Network Settings" first. You’ll find it under Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset. This clears out your saved Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairings but leaves your photos and apps untouched. It fixes 90% of connectivity issues without the trauma of a full wipe.
What about the "Force Restart"?
If your screen is frozen and you can't even get into Settings, you don't need a factory reset. You need a force restart. On any iPhone with Face ID:
- Click Volume Up.
- Click Volume Down.
- Hold the Side Button until the Apple logo appears.
- Let go.
It feels like a secret cheat code, but it works.
Privacy Concerns: Can Data Be Recovered?
A common myth is that hackers can "un-erase" your iPhone. Back in the days of spinning hard drives and Windows XP, that was true. You had to overwrite data seven times to make it disappear.
Modern iPhones use file-based encryption. When you perform a factory reset, the iPhone doesn't just "delete" the files; it destroys the encryption key. It’s like having a vault that is physically impossible to pick, and you just threw the only key into a volcano. Even if someone gets the chips off the motherboard, the data is gibberish. You can sell your phone to a stranger with total confidence.
Dealing with a Broken Screen
What if you can't see the screen to tap the buttons? This happens a lot with trade-ins. You dropped your phone, the OLED is bleeding purple ink, and you need to wipe it before mailing it to Apple.
You’ll need a computer.
- Connect the iPhone to your Mac or PC.
- Put it into DFU Mode (Device Firmware Update). This involves a specific sequence of button presses while plugged in.
- Your computer will say "There is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored."
- Choose Restore.
This will pull the latest version of iOS from Apple’s servers and force-flash it onto the device, wiping everything in the process.
Moving Forward with a Clean Slate
Once you've mastered how to reset iPhone to factory settings, you have a choice. When you set the phone back up, you can either "Restore from Backup" or "Set Up as New."
If you’re fixing a bug, Set Up as New is actually better. Sometimes the "junk" that’s making your phone slow is hidden inside your backup. Starting fresh is annoying because you have to log back into all your apps, but the performance boost is undeniable. It’s like that new-phone feeling without spending $1,200.
Actionable Steps to Take Right Now:
- Check your iCloud Storage: Go to Settings and make sure you actually have enough room for a full backup before you wipe the device.
- Verify your Apple ID Password: You’ll need this to turn off Find My. If you’ve forgotten it, reset it at iforgot.apple.com before you start the phone reset.
- Charge to 50%: Or just keep it plugged in. A power failure during a factory reset can lead to a "bricked" state that requires a trip to the Genius Bar.
- Unpair your Apple Watch: If you’re moving to a new phone, unpairing the watch from the old phone automatically creates a watch backup and releases the Activation Lock on the watch too.
The process isn't nearly as scary as it looks. Just take it slow, double-check your backup, and make sure you've got your passwords handy. Your iPhone will thank you for the fresh start.