Need to reset your iPhone? Whether you're fixing a frozen screen, preparing to sell your device, or just want a clean slate, I will discuss every method there is, from a simple reset to Recovery Mode, DFU Mode, and what to do if you've forgotten your Apple ID or passcode. I will walk through exactly what each method does before you touch a single button.
Reset vs Restart vs Restore: What's the Difference
These three words are used interchangeably, and that mix-up is usually what sends people looking for the wrong guide. Let me break it down for you in simple terms:
| What it Does | Does It Delete Data? | |
|---|---|---|
| Restart | Powers the iPhone off and back on | No, nothing is deleted |
| Reset | Covers Reset Network Settings and Reset All Settings, which restore defaults, to Erase All Content and Settings, which wipes the device completely | It depends on which reset you choose |
| Restore | Uses a computer (Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes) to reinstall iOS from scratch, similar to a factory reset | Erases if reinstalling iOS, recovers data if restoring a backup |
- Restart: A restart requires you to switch off your iPhone and back on, and it is the first thing to try for almost any minor glitch, since it does not touch your data at all.
- Reset: A reset could imply resetting network settings or resetting all settings; both revert your iPhone settings to the default. However, a factory reset usually means Erase All Content and Settings, which wipes the iPhone completely and sets it up like new.
- Restore: A restore can mean using Finder, the Apple Devices app, or iTunes to erase your iPhone and reinstall iOS from scratch, similar to a factory reset. It can also mean restoring a backup to your iPhone after a reset to restore your data.
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Force Restart iPhone (No Data Loss)
If your iPhone is frozen, unresponsive, or stuck on a black or white screen, a force restart is the first thing you should try. It does not delete anything on the device; it simply forces the phone to restart.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen, then let go.
This works on every iPhone from the iPhone 8 onwards, including the iPhone 17 lineup. If you are on an iPhone with a Home button, like the iPhone 6s or the first-generation iPhone SE, the method is different:
- Press and hold both the Home and the Side (or Top) buttons together.
- Keep pressing until the Apple logo appears.
A force restart also clears the cache on your iPhone, helping fix any issues with system apps. It is worth trying before jumping to Recovery Mode, DFU Mode, or a full reset, since it has zero risk.
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Things to Do Before You Reset an iPhone
Before you start resetting your iPhone, there are a few things to take care of so you don't end up accidentally locking yourself out of the device or deleting every file and photo.
- Back up your data: It is a must that you sync all your important data, like contacts, photos, calendars, notes, and saved passwords, to iCloud so you can recover it after the reset.
- Sign out of your Apple ID: You also need to sign out of your Apple account if you're resetting your iPhone to give it to someone else. This prevents any "Unable to activate" issues later on.
- Turn off Find My iPhone: You should also unpair and turn off Find My for that iPhone. Go to Settings > your Apple account > Find My > Find My iPhone.
- Sign out of apps and services: Make sure that you sign out of all important apps and services, like banking apps and everything else that is sensitive, and cancel all subscriptions as well.
- Remove SIM card or delete eSIM: This is a pretty basic thing that you should do before you reset your iPhone. However, if you are factory resetting your device but still planning to use it afterwards, then you can ignore this step.
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How to Reset iPhone (All Methods)
Once you’ve done all of the above, you’re ready to move ahead with safely resetting your iPhone. I checked Apple Forums and their guides to make sure that we have included all the methods that work for all iPhone models.
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Reset iPhone from iOS Settings
The easiest way is to go to the Settings app on your iPhone and reset it.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and select General.
- Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Then, select Erase All Content and Settings.
- Tap on Continue at the bottom.
- In the prompt that shows up, select Erase iPhone.
- Then enter your iPhone passcode to confirm your decision.
Your iPhone will now start erasing the entire data and then restart to the "Hello" screen after completion.
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Restore Your iPhone Using Mac
If your iPhone is stuck, frozen or has become unresponsive to the touch, then you can use this method to back up and factory reset your iPhone. This is the method I used to reset my iPhone 13, but it will work across all iPhones.
- Connect the iPhone to a Mac using a cable (preferably the one that came inside your iPhone box).
- On your Mac, launch the Finder app and select your iPhone from the sidebar.
- Now, click on Restore iPhone.
- In the prompt that appears, confirm your action.
Finder will download the latest iOS version and erase your device completely.
Reset iPhone Using iTunes on Windows
In case your iPhone has become unresponsive and you only have a Windows PC, then you can use iTunes to reset the device.
- Download the latest version of iTunes for your Windows PC from the Microsoft Store.
- Once downloaded and set up, connect your iPhone to your PC via a USB cable.
- Now, open the iTunes app and click on the device icon.
- Here, select Restore iPhone and confirm the reset.
This erases your device and reinstalls iOS from scratch.
Factory Reset Your iPhone Using Recovery Mode
Some Reddit users also discussed issues where their iPhones became completely unresponsive, got stuck on the Apple logo or didn't boot at all. In these rare instances, many people commented that resetting the iPhone using recovery mode did the trick and helped them recover their device.
- Plug your iPhone into a Mac with a USB cable.
- Now, put your iPhone into recovery mode by pressing the Volume Up, then Volume down button.
- Then long-press the Side button until the recovery screen appears.
- Now, open Finder on the Mac, select iPhone.
- Here, choose Restore iPhone under "Software".
Only Reset iPhone Settings
If you are just facing a software issue, like the purple line issue or a white dot on the iPhone screen, then it is better to reset all settings instead. This will keep your data but restore all the settings to factory defaults, including Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth devices.
- Open the Settings app and go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Here, tap on Reset and select Reset All Settings.
Reset Network Settings Only
If you want to fix Wi-Fi issues, problems connecting to other devices via Bluetooth or change the hotspot name on your iPhone, then you can reset network settings. It resets your Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth pairings, and cellular settings back to default, without touching your personal data.
- Open the Settings app and go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- Select Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode if prompted, then confirm.
This will switch off your iPhone and restart it again. You will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi networks and re-pair any Bluetooth accessories afterwards, since those saved devices are wiped along with the reset.
Factory Reset Using DFU Mode
DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode is the deepest reset available on an iPhone. Unlike Recovery Mode, which reinstalls iOS while the existing bootloader stays intact, DFU mode lets a computer flash the iPhone's firmware directly, bypassing iOS entirely.
- Connect your iPhone to a computer with the Apple Devices app (or Finder on Mac) open.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Long-press the Side button until the screen goes completely black.
- As soon as the screen goes black, press and hold the Volume Down button as well while still holding the Side button.
- After 5 seconds, release the Side button but keep holding Volume Down for another 5 to 10 seconds.
If your screen stays black and your computer detects a device in DFU mode, you have done it correctly. If the Apple logo appears, you have entered Recovery Mode, and you will need to start over.
Once your computer detects the device, it will show a message saying it has found an iPhone in recovery mode. This confirms DFU mode worked correctly.
- Click on OK on the detection prompt if one appears.
- Click on Restore iPhone (this may just say Restore, depending on which app you're using).
- In the confirmation box, click on Restore and Update. This wipes the device and reinstalls the latest iOS version from scratch.
- Wait for the process to finish. This can take a few minutes to around half an hour, and the iPhone will restart on its own once it's done.
- Set up your iPhone as new, or restore it from a backup if you made one beforehand.
If Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes does not detect the device at all, disconnect and reconnect the cable, try a different USB port, and repeat the button sequence from the start.
And if the restore stalls for longer than 30 to 40 minutes, it has likely failed. Don't panic; this is recoverable. Just redo the DFU steps from scratch and try the restore again.
When Should You Factory Reset an iPhone?
A factory reset isn't always the answer, but there are some situations where it genuinely is the right call.
- Selling or trading in your iPhone: A clean reset removes your personal data and Apple ID, which is required before handing the device to a new owner or a trade-in programme.
- Persistent performance issues: If your iPhone keeps freezing, lagging, or crashing across multiple apps even after restarting and updating, a factory reset can rule out a corrupted setting or file as the cause.
- Boot loops: If your iPhone keeps restarting on its own or gets stuck cycling through the Apple logo, a factory reset (usually via Recovery Mode or DFU Mode) is often the only fix.
- Malware or suspicious activity: This is rare on iPhones given how locked down iOS is, but if you've sideloaded apps outside the App Store or are noticing unusual behaviour, a reset clears out anything that shouldn't be there.
- Storage or software issues: If an iOS update goes wrong and leaves your iPhone in a broken state, a factory reset through Recovery Mode or DFU Mode is usually the recommended fix.
Can You Reset an iPhone Without Apple ID?
Yes, you can reset an iPhone without the Apple ID since none of the methods mentioned above requires the Apple ID to erase the device. However, if Find My iPhone was enabled before the reset, you might see the 'iPhone not activated message' on the setup screen.
It is harmless if you are planning to use your iPhone as your own. However, if you are planning to sell it or give it to someone else, it is a must that you turn off Find My, for which you will need your Apple ID.
If the iPhone is locked to an Apple ID that isn't yours, such as a second-hand purchase where the previous owner didn't remove their account, then Apple will not help you in this situation. Your best option is to contact the previous owner directly.
Can You Reset an iPhone Without Passcode?
Yes, you can reset your iPhone without a passcode using recovery or DFU mode. However, this will result in loss of your data, making it difficult to recover your deleted photos and other files. You will need to sign in to your Apple account again when you are setting up the device after the reset.
If you have forgotten your iPhone passcode, then go to support.apple.com/passcode to reset your password and recover your data.
Does Factory Reset Remove eSIM?
It depends on which option you choose during the reset; iOS actually gives you a choice. Apple shows you exactly what's about to be deleted when you go to Erase All Content and Settings. If you have an eSIM installed, it appears as its own item. Tapping on it presents two options:
- Keep eSIM and Erase Data: Everything else on the phone is wiped, but your eSIM profile and cellular plan stay intact, so you don't have to re-add your plan afterwards.
- Delete eSIM and Erase Data: This removes the eSIM along with everything else, which is what Apple recommends if you're selling, trading in, or giving the phone away.
There's also an option to delete eSIM only. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Delete All eSIMs, which removes the eSIM profiles. You can activate a new eSIM on your iPhone later.
Unable to Reset Your iPhone? Try These Troubleshooting Tips
Having issues while trying to reset your iPhone, you can try out these troubleshooting methods to see if any of them help you solve the problem with your iPhone.
- Check your internet connection: A stable Wi-Fi connection is required to verify your Apple ID and complete the reset.
- Enter the correct Apple ID password: If you see an error, double-check your credentials or reset your password.
- Turn off Find My iPhone manually: If you are going with the Mac restore method, then it will not go forward until you turn off Find My. To do this, go to Settings > your Apple account name > Find My > Find My iPhone and disable it from there.
- Restart your iPhone: You can also try to restart your iPhone, as it fixes temporary glitches that may block the reset process.
- Update iOS to the latest version: Make sure that you are on the latest version of iOS or update your iPhone by going to Settings > General > Software Update to avoid any issues while performing the reset.
- Ensure enough battery: Keep your iPhone's battery charged to at least 50% so it does not switch off and interrupt the reset process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reset my iPhone without a computer?
Yes, Reset All Settings, Reset Network Settings, and Erase All Content and Settings can all be done directly from the Settings app on your iPhone. You only need a computer for Recovery Mode or DFU Mode, which are typically reserved for a frozen or unresponsive iPhone.
Does a factory reset on an iPhone delete everything?
Yes, a factory reset or Erase All Content and Settings deletes everything and returns the iPhone to its out-of-box state. You can create a backup before resetting your iPhone to make sure your data remains intact.
What happens after resetting an iPhone?
The iPhone restarts and boots into the setup screen, the same one you'd see on a brand new device. From there, you can set it up as new or restore your data from iCloud. If Find My was active before the reset, you'll also need to sign in with the original Apple ID to get past Activation Lock.
These are all the ways you can reset your iPhone. If you don't know the right steps, resetting your device can be hard, and one mistake could cost you all your data and memories. So, I hope that this guide was able to give you clarity on the reset process.
