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How to Reset an iPhone to Its Factory Settings [2023]

If for some reason you want to reset iPhone to its default settings, then whether you have a passcode or not, this article will give you the answer so you can easily know how to factory reset your iPhone.

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Alice Estelle
Updated on Jan 3, 2023

You can reset your iPhone to the factory settings with or without the passcode.

There are a few scenarios where you'll need to reset an iPhone to default settings. When you have serious iPhone issues, such as the inability to connect to networks, apps not launching, or full iPhone memory, restoring it to factory settings may be necessary.

Factory resetting your iPhone should be all that is needed to resolve these issues and enable the iPhone to resume normal operation. When you perform a factory reset on an iPhone, all your data, including images, apps, and other information, will be deleted. But if you backed up your iPhone before factory resetting it, you can quickly restore any information that may have been deleted.

Besides, if you've ever struggled to unlock your passcode-protected iPhone, knowing how to perform a factory reset could be a lifesaver. You can use iPhone Unlocker, iTunes or Erase iPhone to reset iPhone to factory settings without password.

Table of Contents

How to reset iPhone to its factory settings

If you want to resell your iPhone, or you got a used iPhone, or the phone has some malfunction such as network problem or app problem, then it is necessary to know how to factory reset your iPhone to the default settings, which will delete all data and settings stored on iPhone, including messages, music, videos, apps and so on.

Therefore, you'd better make a backup of your important data before resetting iPhone, so that you can restore your deleted data from the backup after the resetting process is over.

The procedure is as follows:

1. Go to "General" in your "Settings" menu.

2. To access "Transfer or Reset iPhone," swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

3. Tap on "Erase All Content and Settings."

4. Select "Continue" to proceed.

5. Type in the passcode to unlock iPhone.

6. When an inquiry message appears at the bottom of the screen, tap "Erase iPhone" to confirm.

The factory reset of your iPhone will begin immediately. Upon completion, your iPhone will function just like it did when you first bought it.

Tip: When you finish the reset, your iPhone will reboot with a hello screen and then you can start following the onscreen instructions to set up iPhone and recover data on your computer or in iCloud.

One thing to note is that the password is required to reset an iPhone to factory settings from "Settings." But what happens when you forget your password? You'll need to reset an iPhone to default settings without the passcode to regain access to it. Here are some methods on how to factory reset iPhone without a passcode.

Prefer video content to text? Watch the video below.

How to reset an iPhone to its factory settings via iPhone Unlocker

It's essential to call attention to iPhone Unlocker because it's a fantastic app with numerous advantages. You'll have no trouble resolving issues related to your Apple ID and password, Screen Time passcode, or home screen passcode. In addition to being user-friendly, it is also compatible with every version of the iPhone and iPad.

As a result, you may find this tool to be extremely helpful in factory resetting an iPhone in the absence of the passcode. You're free to use it in whatever you like, and there are no technical prerequisites or constraints.

Free Download Free Download

Steps to use iPhone Unlocker to factory reset your iPhone:

1. Launch iPhone Unlocker on the computer and select the "Wipe Passcode" option. Then click on the "Start" button.

2. If your iPhone is not recognized by the application when it is hooked into your computer, please refer to "Device connected but not recognized?" for assistance.

3. Verify the hardware details, then click the "Start" button.

The steps to download the appropriate firmware package for your device start automatically. Wait for it to complete.

4. If prompted, type "0000" into the blank and hit "Unlock."

5. The iPhone will begin the reset process automatically.

When you're through, your iPhone will restart as if it were brand new, and you'll have the option of starting fresh or restoring a previous backup during setup.

Tip: If you created a backup before you forgot your password, you can choose to restore your lost data from iCloud or PC/Mac when you follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone at the Apps & Data step.

Factory reset an iPhone via Recovery Mode

To reset iPhone to the factory settings, one of the official techniques Apple has introduced is to enter Recovery Mode. Accessing the Recovery Mode using iTunes or Finder varies slightly depending on the iPhone model.

Note: Launch Finder if you're on macOS Catalina or later. If you're using macOS Mojave or older or Windows, open the latest iTunes version.

Step 1. Turn off the iPhone

Turn off your iPhone and don't plug it into your computer at this step.

  • iPhone 8 and later: Long-press both the Side button and the Volume down button at the same time until the Power Off slider appears, then move the Power Off slider to the right.
  • iPhone 7 series and iPhone 6 series: Press the Side button until the Power Off slider appears, then move the Power Off slider to the right.
  • iPhone SE (1st generation) and earlier: Hold the Top button until the power off slider appears, then move the Power Off slider to the right.

Step 2. Enter Recovery Mode

You have to put the iPhone into Recovery Mode using the right combination of buttons and connect the iPhone to a computer.

  • For iPhone 8 and later: Keep holding the Side button until the Recovery Mode shows on iPhone screen.
  • For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Hold the Volume down button until the Recovery Mode screen appears, then release it.
  • For iPhone 6s and earlier: To enter Recovery Mode, hold the Home button until the Recovery Mode screen shows.

Step 3. Restore iPhone

Once iTunes or Finder detects your iPhone, a window will pop up, giving you the option to update or restore. Your iPhone can be reset to factory settings by selecting the "Restore" option.

When prompted, select "Restore and Update" to start the reset. An update for your iPhone will be downloaded automatically via iTunes or Finder, and the device will be factory reset.

Factory reset iPhone via Erase iPhone

If you have forgotten the passcode on iPhone, one of the quickest ways to get around this is to use the new "Erase iPhone" feature. When using iOS version 15.2 or later, you no longer need your password or a computer to reset an iPhone to its factory settings.

If you enter the incorrect passwords several times in a row, a message saying "iPhone Unavailable" or "Security Lockout" will appear on your iPhone screen along with an "Erase iPhone" option in the bottom right corner.

There are a few things to consider before using this method to reset your iPhone, such as:

  • The device is running iOS 15.2 or later.
  • The locked iPhone has a stable network.
  • Your Apple ID and password are required.

Take a look at the steps below:

1. If the iPhone's passcode keeps getting entered incorrectly, an "Erase iPhone" option will display in the upper right corner when the "iPhone Unavailable" or "Security Lockout" message appears. Tap on it.

2. Then you will see a warning message. Once more, tap the "Erase iPhone" option to confirm.

3. Sign out of your Apple ID by entering its password to trigger the process of resetting your iPhone to default settings.

Please wait for your iPhone to finish resetting. When done, you'll be greeted by the hello screen and given the option to set up the device from scratch and create a new passcode.

Bonus:The difference between factory reset iPhone, restart iPhone and force restart

It's imperative to distinguish between factory reset iPhone, restart iPhone, and force restart iPhone. While these three approaches can assist people in fixing various iPhone issues, they are fundamentally different. If you haven't backed up your iPhone, factory resetting it is your final resort because all your data will be lost forever.

When your iPhone is running slowly but still responds to taps, you can restart it by powering it down and turning it back on. If your iPhone's display becomes unresponsive, you can force it to shut down by pressing and holding the correct button. Nothing on your iPhone will be removed if you choose either of these two alternatives.

How to restart iPhone

When your iPhone is running slow or apps are stuck, you can try restarting your iPhone.

  • For iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, or later: Press and hold the Volume up or down button and the Side button until the shutdown slider appears, then drag the slider to turn off iPhone.
  • For iPhone 6, 7, 8, or SE (2nd or 3rd generation): Press the Side button until the shutdown slider appears, then drag the slider to turn off iPhone.
  • For iPhone SE (1st generation), 5, or earlier: keep pressing the Top button until the shutdown slider appears, then drag the slider to turn off iPhone.

Then to reboot your device, keep holding the Side/Top button until the Apple logo appears on the iPhone screen.

Tip: If iPhone is frozen or unresponsive, move to the next section to try to force restart your device.

How to force restart iPhone

If your iPhone is unresponsive and won't turn off, you can try a force restart before resorting to a complete reset. Since nothing on your iPhone will be lost, it may appear less drastic than a factory reset. Restarting an iPhone requires different actions depending on the model.

  • For iPhone 8 and later model: Quickly press the Volume up button and the Volume down button in sequence, then press and hold the Side button. Release the buttons when the Apple logo appears.
  • For iPhone 7: Press and hold the Volume down button and the Side button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.
  • For iPhone 6s or iPhone SE (1st generation): Press and hold the Side/Top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

FAQs

How to change my iPhone passcode?
First, go to "Settings" and choose "Face ID & Passcode" option. Then enter your current passcode and scroll down the page to select the "Change Passcode" option. Enter your current passcode again to verify yourself, then you can create a new passcode. You can also tap on "Passcode Options" to choose the form of passcode you want. Last, verify your new passcode.
How to use iCloud to back up your data?
First, go to "Settings" and tap [your name]. Then choose "iCloud" and select the "iCloud Backup" option. Next, turn on the "Back Up This iPhone" option, so that when your iPhone is connected to the Internet, iCloud will automatically back up your data every day. If you need to back up manually, choose the "Back Up Now" option.
How to use "Restore iPhone" in iTunes to factory reset iPhone?
If your iPhone turns off Find My, you can use the "Restore iPhone" feature of iTunes to reset iPhone. Run iTunes and connect iPhone to the computer, then follow the prompts to enter your passcode in iPhone and choose to trust the computer. Then click "Summary" in the left list of iTunes and select the option of "Restore iPhone."
About Alice Estelle
Alice Estelle has been a newspaper editor and a book editor with extensive writing experience. She also has deep research in the field of mobile software and is keen on exploring and solving various problems of iOS and Android systems.
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