How to Clear Everything on iPhone: A Complete Guide to Factory Resets and Data Removal
Clearing everything on an iPhone — truly everything — means returning it to the state it was in when it left the factory. Whether you're selling your device, troubleshooting a persistent software issue, or starting fresh, understanding what "clearing everything" actually involves is important before you tap that final button.
What Does "Clear Everything" Actually Mean?
When people search for how to clear everything on an iPhone, they typically mean one of two things:
- A full factory reset — erasing all content, settings, accounts, and data, leaving the phone as if it were brand new
- Selective clearing — removing specific data like photos, apps, messages, or cached files without wiping the whole device
This guide focuses primarily on the full wipe, since that's what most people need when they ask this question. Selective clearing is covered separately below.
Before You Wipe: What Gets Erased
A factory reset removes everything stored locally on the device:
- All apps and their data
- Photos and videos
- Messages (iMessage, SMS, MMS)
- Contacts, calendars, and notes (local copies)
- Saved passwords and Apple Pay cards
- Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairings
- All settings, including accessibility, display, and notification preferences
- Health and fitness data stored only on the device
What it does not touch: Data already backed up to iCloud or synced to your Apple ID — that lives in the cloud and is unaffected by the wipe itself.
Step 1: Back Up First (If You Want Your Data Back)
If you plan to keep using an iPhone after the reset — or transfer data to a new device — back up before wiping.
iCloud Backup: Go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now. Your iPhone needs to be connected to Wi-Fi and have enough iCloud storage available.
Mac or PC Backup: Connect via USB, open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows), select your device, and choose Back Up Now. This stores a full encrypted or unencrypted backup locally.
💡 An encrypted backup preserves passwords, Health data, and Wi-Fi credentials. A standard backup does not.
Step 2: Sign Out of Apple ID and iCloud
This is the step most people skip — and it causes problems. If you're giving the phone to someone else or selling it, you must sign out of your Apple ID first, or Activation Lock will prevent the new user from setting it up.
Go to Settings → [Your Name] → Sign Out. You'll be asked for your Apple ID password to disable Find My. This also removes Apple Pay cards and deregisters the device from your account.
Skip this step and the phone becomes a very expensive paperweight for whoever receives it next.
Step 3: Perform the Factory Reset
Once your backup is complete and you're signed out of your Apple ID:
Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings
On newer iPhones running iOS 15 and later, you may see a Preparation screen where the system checks iCloud sync status before proceeding. On older iOS versions, the process begins more immediately.
You'll be asked to enter your passcode and then confirm. The wipe begins, the Apple logo appears, and after a few minutes the device boots to the initial setup screen — as if it just came out of the box.
What Affects How This Process Works
Not every wipe experience is identical. Several variables determine exactly what you'll see and how long it takes:
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| iOS version | Newer versions add pre-erase sync checks and prep steps |
| Device storage size | More data means a longer erase process |
| iCloud sync status | Pending uploads can delay or affect the wipe prompt |
| Activation Lock status | Must be resolved before the device can be set up by anyone else |
| MDM enrollment | Work or school-managed devices may restrict or complicate resets |
If your iPhone is enrolled in Mobile Device Management (MDM) — common with corporate or school-issued devices — a standard factory reset may not fully remove the MDM profile. The organization may be able to re-enroll the device remotely after a wipe.
Selective Clearing: When You Don't Need a Full Reset
If a full wipe is overkill, there are targeted options:
- Clear all photos: Settings → General → iPhone Storage → select individual apps, or delete photos manually from the Photos app
- Remove all apps: Long-press app icons and delete individually, or use Settings → General → iPhone Storage for bulk management
- Clear Safari data: Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data
- Reset only settings (no data): Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings — this restores default settings without touching your photos, apps, or files
- Clear cached app data: Many apps have their own in-app cache clearing options; iOS doesn't offer a system-wide cache wipe separate from a full reset
🗂️ The distinction between "Reset All Settings" and "Erase All Content and Settings" trips up a lot of people. The first keeps your data. The second removes everything.
After the Wipe: Setup Options
Once the device is erased, you have three paths:
- Set up as new — starts completely fresh with no data restored
- Restore from iCloud backup — downloads your apps, settings, and data over Wi-Fi
- Restore from a local backup — transfers from a Mac or PC via USB, typically faster for large data sets
The right path depends entirely on why you wiped the phone and what you plan to do with it next. Selling or giving it away means leaving it at the setup screen. Keeping it for yourself means choosing a restore method that fits your situation and storage setup.
What makes sense for one person — a clean slate with no restore — is exactly wrong for another who needs every contact and photo back. Your specific reason for wiping the device, and what you intend afterward, is what determines which of these paths actually fits.