Need to reset your iPhone to factory settings? Do not have a computer? Follow these easy-to-follow tips on how to factory reset an iPhone without computer, even when your iPhone is locked out.
There're multiple ways to factory reset your iPhone without using a computer, which deletes all your data.
Even though iPhone is reliable, there might be chances that it requires a factory reset, rendering itself returned to the original state - whether you're experiencing lag, Apple logo loop, etc., or forgetting lock screen passcode to unlock your iPhone. Also, if you're looking to sell, give away or trade-in, you'll want to factory reset iPhone to completely wipe all data from device's memory.
Apple has brought two ways of using Settings or a computer to erase an iPhone for a reset. If you don't have a computer nearby, you can, of course, factory reset the iPhone from Settings and restore it to out-of-the-box settings. This post shows you how to factory reset iPhone without computer. As a bonus, you'll also learn how to reset a locked iPhone to factory settings without a computer in a few ways.
Tip: If your iPhone appears to be locked on the "iPhone Unavailable" screen, you could tap on "Erase iPhone" option to instantly erase and restore the device to factory settings with no computer required. Assuming "Erase iPhone" option is not available, turn to your computer to reset iPhone by means of iPhone Unlocker or Finder (or iTunes.)
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iPhone provides three ways for resetting if it doesn't run correctly. Here's a brief explanation of each level of reset:
Before you do anything you should backup your iPhone. This is because factory resetting an iPhone gets rid of all information stored on the device.
You can take good advantage of either iCloud and iTunes to backup iPhone data, keeping both cloud backup and local backup at the same time. After the reset is done, you can restore the backup to get back anything that's been completely wiped.
This may not work as expected, but it's worth a try before performing a factory reset on iPhone to wipe the device totally clean. No computer is needed to reset iPhone.
Hard resetting iPhone SE 2nd generation and newer models that support iOS 16:
Quickly press and release volume up button, and do the same for volume down button. Then press and hold the side button until Apple logo appears on the phone screen.
Hard resetting iPhone 7 or 7 Plus:
Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and volume down button at the same time. When you see the Apple logo showing up, release the buttons.
Hard resetting iPhone 6s and earlier models:
Press and hold the Home button and Sleep/Wake button simultaneously. Don't release the buttons until the Apple logo appears.
The easiest way to reset iPhone without computer is to use Settings app. To do a factory reset on iPhone, tap Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. Then select Erase All Content and Settings that is located at the bottom of your screen. Finally, enter your passcode used to unlock your iPhone to confirm that you're sure to erase the iPhone.
Resetting iPhone this way will remove the apps and personal data, break the link to your own Apple ID and as well as turn off Find My activation lock.
1. In Settings on your iPhone, tap General.
2. Scroll down all along to the bottom of the screen, and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Select Erase All Content and Settings option at the bottom of Transfer or Reset iPhone screen.
4. Erase This iPhone screen then appears indicating that erasing iPhone will delete all of your data and Apple ID credentials. If you want to proceed with the factory reset, tap Continue. Make sure that you've made at least one iPhone backup, if not, tap Cancel and go back to perform a backup.
5. Enter your iPhone lock screen passcode. Once you do this, an alert pops up telling you that anything including media, data, and settings will be wiped off during resetting your iPhone. Tap on Erase iPhone to move on.
Your iPhone will start erasing the content and settings completely. Just wait a few minutes for your iPhone to restore itself to its original factory settings.
Once the iPhone factory reset is done correctly, your phone will restart and give you an iOS Setup Assistance, where you can restore from a backup or start it as a brand new device.
What if you forgot passcode for accessibility or your iPhone was locked out with "iPhone Unavailable", or "Security Lockout"? Is there way to factory reset an iPhone without a computer?
Don't panic. Start with iOS 15.2 or later, Apple has added a new "Erase iPhone" option that you can use to restore iPhone without computer. That means if you're locked with forgotten passcode and with to access to iPhone again, you can now do the reset right on the passcode lock screen, which erases all data including the passcode.
As long as you have a Wi-Fi or cellular network and your Apple ID password ready, follow these steps to reset iPhone to factory settings without connecting to a computer.
1. Make sure to get "Erase iPhone" option on the "iPhone Unavailable" or "Security Lockout" screen. If not, try entering the wrong passcodes. Skip to the method if the option keeps invisible.
2. Tap on the Erase iPhone option at the bottom right corner.
2. On the Erase All Content & Settings screen, tap on Erase iPhone again to confirm the factory reset process.
3. Enter your Apple ID password to sign out of your Apple account.
4. Tap Erase again to let the reset on iPhone begin. Your device should permanently erase everything and return to the way it was when you first got it.
When iPhone finishes resetting, it restarts. You need to set it up and restore your data and settings from the most recent backup.
The built-in Erase All Content and Settings feature within Settings app does a great job at completely factory resetting iPhone to start anew without computer. However, using computer to reset the iPhone might be your next option. Here are 3 routes of how to factory reset iPhone on computer, even if it's locked.
Once you connect your iPhone to your computer and run Finder or iTunes, you will find restoring iPhone to factory settings and wiping all data and settings an easier task.
First, open your iPhone and trust your computer for a valid connection. Then:
To restore iPhone and clear all your data and passcode you forgot, try iPhone Unlocker. As its name implies, the software allows you to unlock iPhone without passcode by restoring and erasing your device to factory settings.
1. Download and install iPhone Unlocker on your computer, then launch it.
2. Click the blue Wipe Passcode option in the interface.
3. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to the computer and put it into recovery mode.
4. Verify your device information, and then click Start button to download the firmware for your iPhone.
5. When the download is done, enter 0000 and click Unlock button to wiping passcode and resetting your iPhone.
6. After completing the factory reset, you'll get a fresh setup. If you have a backup, you can restore it during the set-up process.
Video Guide - How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer or iTunes
Another way to factory reset a locked iPhone involves entering recovery mode and restoring the device to factory conditions. This erases the iPhone storage, permanently deletes data, settings, apps, lock screen passcode and anything else, and gets you to access your iPhone again.
After you plug your iPhone to Mac or PC and place it into recovery mode, run Finder or iTunes. You'll get a dialog box stating that "There's a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored." Click Restore option followed by Restore and Update to do a full restore instantly and wipe your iPhone completely.
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