How to Factory Reset your iPhone

Wipe your iPhone and start over new.
Ash Ash (362)
10 minutes

If you're selling your iPhone or just want to start over fresh, you may want to factory reset it. Factory resetting your phone will completely wipe the device. All of your personal data, settings, and more will be removed when the reset is complete. If you to preserve have something critical on your iPhone, be sure to back it up before you begin.

iPhoneiPhone ×1
Computer ×1
Lightning USB cableLightning USB cable ×1

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iTunes

Apple recommends using a computer to reset the iPhone. You can use a Mac or a PC for this process. However, the software you use depends on what computer you have.

If you have a Mac running macOS Catalina or Big Sur, open the Finder application. If you're using macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, open iTunes. Windows users can use iTunes as well.

Using an iPhone to USB cable, connect the iPhone to the computer. If the iPhone is locked with a passcode, you may be prompted to confirm it in a popup. If you see this prompt, go ahead and enter the passcode.

iTunes select iPhone

iTunes will show a list of connected Apple devices—this includes both iPhones and iPads. Look for the iPhone you connected on the list and select it by clicking the phone icon in the top left corner.

iTunes restore iPhone
  1. On the right-hand side of the screen, look for a blue button that says Restore iPhone... and click it.
  2. Click Restore on the popup to initiate the factory reset. This not only resets your iPhone but also applies the latest version of iOS.
  3. The phone will restart when the reset is complete. If the reset worked, all of the original data will be gone when you unlock the phone.

Congratulations! You've factory reset the iPhone.

Reset your iPhone home screen in seconds!
1 minute

Sometimes, when dealing with reorganizing a messy home screen, trying to track down missing but downloaded apps, or dealing with iOS, home screen issues, it can be difficult to find a practical solution. Oftentimes, restoring your iPhone can be the resolution offered for missing but downloaded apps or home screen issues, but that can be time consuming and ineffective. Alternatively, resetting your home screen to factory defaults can make reorganizing your home screen easier. If an app is missing, but you've redownloaded it or it is already downloaded from the app store, resettings your home screen layout is sure to resolve it as long as the app is not hidden. It also only takes mere seconds to reset your home screen layout! In this guide, I show you how to reset your home screen layout to factory default right within the Settings app. Keep in mind that this reset will reset the home screen layout back to factory defult and should only be done if necessary. If the reorganization of your home screen is insurmountable, you are missing apps from your home screen that have been downloaded, or you are experiencing an issue with your home screen that cannot be resolved otherwise, this is a great option.