How To Factory Reset iPhone? Step By Step Guide For Beginners

A factory reset erases all data and settings from your iPhone. It returns the device to its original, “out of the box” state.

Why Factory Reset an iPhone?

  • Selling or Donating: Removes personal data so the new owner cannot access it.
  • Troubleshooting: Fixes severe software glitches, constant freezing, or boot loops.
  • Buying Used: Clears the previous owner’s data to let you start fresh.
  • Performance Boost: Cleans out cached files and system junk slowing down the phone.

Phase 1: Essential Pre Reset Checklist

Do not skip these steps. Failing to do so can result in permanent data loss or an unusable phone.

  • Back up data: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now.
  • Charge battery: Ensure your phone has at least 50% battery or plug it into a charger.
  • Connect to Wi-Fi: A stable internet connection is required to deactivate Apple services.
  • Know your passwords: You will need your Apple ID password and device passcode.
  • Unpair Apple Watch: Open the Watch app, tap My Watch > All Watches > Information (i) > Unpair Apple Watch.

You can learn how to turn off tracking on iPhone using step by step guide.

Phase 2: How to Factory Reset (Directly on iPhone)

This is the easiest method for beginners. It does not require a computer.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap General.
  3. Scroll to the very bottom and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
  5. Review the data summary screen and tap Continue.
  6. Enter your iPhone passcode.
  7. Enter your Apple ID password to turn off Find My and Activation Lock.
  8. Tap Erase iPhone to confirm.

The screen will turn black and display the Apple logo with a progress bar. The process takes 5 to 15 minutes.

Phase 3: How to Factory Reset (Using a Computer)

Use this method if your iPhone screen is frozen, unresponsive, or won’t turn on.

For Mac Users (macOS Catalina or later)

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
  2. Open Finder.
  3. Click your iPhone name in the left sidebar.
  4. Go to the General tab.
  5. Click Restore iPhone.
  6. Click Restore again to confirm and download the latest software.

For Windows Users (or older Macs)

  1. Download and open Apple Devices (or iTunes on older Windows versions).
  2. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.
  3. Click the iPhone icon in the top left corner.
  4. Go to the Summary tab.
  5. Click Restore iPhone.
  6. Click Restore to confirm.

Phase 4: What to Do After the Reset?

Once the reset finishes, the phone will display the “Hello” screen in multiple languages.

  • If keeping the phone: Follow the on-screen prompts to connect to Wi-Fi and choose Restore from iCloud Backup to restore your data.
  • If selling or giving away: Press and hold the power button, then slide to power off. Leave it exactly like this for the new owner.

You can learn how to clean an iPhone safely using beginner’s guide.

What If You Don’t Have Enough iCloud Space For Backup?

If you do not have enough iCloud space, Apple provides a free, temporary iCloud storage upgrade specifically to help you back up your phone before a reset or upgrade.

Here are the three best solutions to handle this situation.

Solution 1: Use Apple’s Temporary Unlimited iCloud Storage

Apple gives you temporary unlimited iCloud space for up to 21 days to move your data to a new device or reset your current one.

  1. Go to Settings > General.
  2. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  3. Under “Prepare for New iPhone,” tap Get Started.
  4. If you see a message about low iCloud storage, tap Turn on Backup to Transfer.
  5. Wait for the backup to complete before resetting your device.

Note: This temporary backup expires and will be deleted after 21 days if you do not restore it.

Solution 2: Back Up to a Computer (Completely Free)

You can bypass iCloud completely by saving a full backup directly onto your computer’s hard drive.

On a Mac (macOS Catalina or newer):

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
  2. Open Finder and click your iPhone name in the sidebar.
  3. In the General tab, find the Backups section.
  4. Select “Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.”
  5. Click Back Up Now.

On a Windows PC:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your PC using a USB cable.
  2. Open the Apple Devices app (or iTunes).
  3. Click your iPhone icon in the menu.
  4. In the Summary or General tab, select “This Computer.”
  5. Click Back Up Now.

Solution 3: Reduce Your Backup Size

If you want to stick to the standard free 5GB iCloud plan, you can turn off or delete heavy apps to make your backup file smaller.

  1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
  2. Tap Manage Account Storage > Backups.
  3. Tap your current iPhone from the list.
  4. Under Choose Data to Back Up, turn off heavy apps (like Photos, YouTube, or Netflix).
  5. Go back to iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now.
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