Before You Factory Reset

  • Back up first — Settings → your name → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now. Or plug into a computer and back up via Finder/iTunes.
  • Sign out of iCloud — if keeping the phone yourself, back up then reset. If giving or selling, the reset process signs you out automatically, but make sure Find My iPhone is turned off before handing over.
  • Note your Apple ID password — you need it to complete the reset.

How to Factory Reset

  1. 1

    Settings → General

    Open the Settings app and scroll down to General.

  2. 2

    Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone

    At the bottom of General, tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.

  3. 3

    Tap Erase All Content and Settings

    Tap Erase All Content and Settings. If you have not backed up recently, iOS will prompt you to do so now — strongly recommended.

  4. 4

    Enter your passcode and Apple ID password

    Enter your iPhone passcode when prompted, then your Apple ID password to disable Find My iPhone. This is required and prevents the Activation Lock issue when selling.

  5. 5

    Wait for the erase to complete

    The iPhone shows an Apple logo and progress bar. Takes 5–15 minutes depending on how much data is on the phone. Do not interrupt the process.

  6. 6

    Set up or hand over

    The phone restarts to the Hello setup screen. Set it up as new, restore from backup, or hand it over to the new owner.

Activation LockIf you are selling or giving away the phone, make sure Find My iPhone is disabled before handing it over. If the new owner gets an Activation Lock screen asking for your Apple ID, they cannot use the phone. Fix this by signing in remotely at icloud.com → Find My → select the device → Erase → Remove from Account.
If you cannot access SettingsIf your iPhone is unresponsive or locked, use recovery mode: connect to a computer, open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows), force restart the phone while connected, and choose Restore when prompted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Reset options (Reset All Settings, Reset Network Settings etc.) restore specific settings to defaults without deleting your data. Erase All Content and Settings is the full factory reset — it deletes everything: photos, apps, accounts, messages and all data. Choose based on what problem you are trying to solve.
Yes — the reset process signs you out of iCloud and removes your Apple ID from the device, provided you enter your Apple ID password during the reset. If the password is not entered, Activation Lock remains active and the phone is tied to your account.