Reset iPhone 15 Pro Max: What Most People Get Wrong

You’ve been there. The screen on your $1,200 titanium slab is frozen on a weird ghost image of Instagram, or maybe you're finally ready to trade it in for the next big thing and realize you have no idea if "erasing" it actually erases it. Honestly, there's a lot of bad advice out there. People use "hard reset" and "factory reset" like they mean the same thing, but if you mix them up, you’re either going to lose all your photos or fail to fix the glitch that’s driving you crazy.

So, let's talk about how to reset iPhone 15 Pro Max without making a mess of things.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a beast, but even with that A17 Pro chip (or whatever iOS 19/20 is throwing at it by now in 2026), things get weird. Maybe your Dynamic Island is acting like a static continent. Maybe your eSIM is being stubborn. Whatever it is, you need a way out.

The "I’m Not Selling It" Reset (Force Restart)

Most people think they need to wipe their phone when it freezes.

📖 Related: How to Use the Magic Eraser Without Ruining Your Best Photos

You don't.

If your phone is unresponsive, you want a force restart. This is what techies call a "hard reset" in casual conversation, but Apple technically calls it a force reboot. It doesn't delete your data; it just cuts the power to the software and forces it to start over. It's like slapping someone who's hysterical—a bit aggressive, but effective.

1. Quickly click and release the Volume Up button.
2. Quickly click and release the Volume Down button.
3. Press and hold the Side button (the big one on the right).
4. Don't let go when you see the "Slide to Power Off" bar.
5. Keep holding until the screen goes pitch black and the Apple logo pops back up.

I’ve seen people let go too early because they’re afraid they’ll break something. Trust me, you won't. You have to be faster with those volume clicks than you’d think. If the volume bar shows up on the screen and just stays there, you were too slow. Try again.

Resetting for Trade-In or Resale

This is the big one. If you are handing your phone to a stranger or a guy at the Apple Store, you need to reset iPhone 15 Pro Max back to factory settings. In 2026, privacy is basically a myth, but this is the one way to ensure your banking apps and embarrassing selfies aren't part of the deal.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.

You’ll see two main choices: "Reset" and "Erase All Content and Settings."

If you tap Reset, you get a menu of "lite" resets. These are great for fixing specific bugs. Reset Network Settings is a godsend if your 5G is acting like 3G. Reset All Settings is the "nuclear option" for software bugs that doesn't touch your photos but wipes your wallpaper, Wi-Fi passwords, and alarm clocks.

But for a full wipe? You want Erase All Content and Settings.

The eSIM Headache

Since the iPhone 15 series is all-eSIM in the US, this part gets tricky. When you go to erase the phone, it will ask if you want to Keep or Delete your eSIMs.

If you're keeping the phone and just want a fresh start, keep them. If you're selling it, delete them. If you delete them by accident and you still need the service, you're going to be on a very long, very annoying phone call with your carrier’s support team.

When You’re Locked Out (The "I Forgot My Passcode" Scenario)

We’ve all been there. You changed your passcode after a late night and woke up with total amnesia.

If you enter the wrong code too many times, the phone will eventually say "iPhone Unavailable" or "Security Lockout." If you're lucky and you have "Find My" enabled, you might see an "Erase iPhone" option at the bottom of the lockout screen.

If not? You’re going to need a computer.

Using Recovery Mode

1. Turn off your iPhone 15 Pro Max.
2. Plug it into your Mac or PC.
3. Do the button dance: Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold the Side button.
4. Keep holding the Side button even after the Apple logo appears. You need to see a screen that shows a cable pointing toward a computer.
5. On your computer, open Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app/iTunes (Windows).
6. Choose Restore.

This will wipe everything. If you don't have an iCloud backup from yesterday, those memories are gone. Sorry.

DFU Mode: The Deepest Reset Possible

Hardly anyone needs DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode, but if your phone is truly "bricked"—meaning it won't even show the Apple logo—this is your last resort. It's a lower-level reset than Recovery Mode. It doesn't even load the bootloader.

It’s a bit like performing surgery while the patient is in a coma.

To enter DFU mode on an iPhone 15 Pro Max:

• Connect the phone to a computer.
• Quick-press Volume Up.
• Quick-press Volume Down.
• Hold the Side button for 10 seconds.
• While still holding the Side button, hold the Volume Down button for 5 seconds.
• Release the Side button but keep holding Volume Down for another 10 seconds.

If the screen stays black but your computer says it found an iPhone in recovery, you’ve done it. If the Apple logo appears, you held the buttons too long and need to start over. It’s finicky.

Why Your Phone Might Not Be Resetting

Sometimes, the "Erase All Content" button is grayed out.

Usually, this is because of Screen Time restrictions. If you or a parent set up "Content & Privacy Restrictions," the phone literally won't let you reset it. You have to go into Screen Time settings, turn off the restrictions (you’ll need that separate PIN), and then the reset options will magically reappear.

Also, verify your Find My iPhone is turned off. Apple's Activation Lock is a powerful anti-theft tool, but it's a pain when you're the actual owner. If you reset the phone through a computer without turning off Find My first, the phone will be "Activation Locked" to your Apple ID even after it's wiped.

Actionable Next Steps

Before you do anything, check your iCloud backup. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap "Back Up Now."

If you are selling the device:

1. Unpair your Apple Watch.
2. Sign out of iCloud (this turns off Find My automatically).
3. Perform the Erase All Content and Settings wipe.
4. Remove your physical SIM card if you’re using one from an international carrier.

If you are just troubleshooting a glitch, try the Force Restart first. It takes 20 seconds and preserves all your data. Only move to a full factory reset if the software is truly broken. Once the "Hello" screen in thirty different languages pops up, you'll know the process is complete and the phone is as "new" as the day it came out of the box.