A reset wipes your iPhone clean and starts it over from scratch

When you reset your iPhone, the device erases all your personal data — photos, messages, contacts, apps, passwords, everything — and returns to the factory settings it had when it left Apple's factory. The iPhone itself stays the same; the software goes back to a blank slate. After the reset finishes, you'll see the setup screen you saw the first time you turned on the phone, and you'll need to sign in with your Apple ID to restore your data or set up as a new device.

There are two types of reset you can do from your phone's settings, and one more drastic option if your phone won't turn on or respond. Which one you need depends on what problem you're trying to solve and whether you want to keep your data or start completely fresh.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset erases everything on your iPhone and returns it to the state it came in, but you can restore your photos and data afterward if you have a backup.
  • You can reset your iPhone from Settings without a computer, but the process takes 15 to 30 minutes and requires your Apple ID password.
  • If your iPhone is frozen or won't respond, a force restart (holding buttons until the Apple logo appears) often fixes the problem without erasing anything.
  • Before you reset, back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer so you don't lose photos, messages, and other data permanently.
  • After a reset, you'll need to sign in with your Apple ID and choose whether to restore from a backup or set up as a new device.

The difference between a restart, a force restart, and a factory reset

A restart is the gentlest option — you turn the phone off and back on. This closes all running apps and clears temporary files from memory, which fixes most freezing and crashing problems. Your data stays completely intact. To restart, go to Settings > General > Shut Down, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

A force restart is what you do when the phone won't respond to normal commands — the screen is frozen, buttons don't work, or it's stuck on one app. You force the phone to shut down by pressing and holding specific buttons depending on your model. For iPhone 8 and newer, press and hold the volume up button, then the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo (about 10 seconds). This also erases nothing — it just forces a shutdown and restart.

A factory reset (also called an Erase All Content and Settings) wipes the entire phone. Use this when you're selling the phone, giving it away, or trying to fix a software problem that a restart didn't solve. This is the only reset that actually erases your data.

How to do a factory reset from your iPhone's settings

Before you start, make sure your iPhone is plugged in or has at least 50% battery. The reset can take 15 to 30 minutes, and if the battery dies during the process, you may end up with a phone that won't turn on.

Open Settings and go to General > Transfer or Reset. Tap Erase All Content and Settings. The phone will ask for your Apple ID password — this is a security feature to prevent someone else from erasing your phone without permission. Enter your password. You'll see a warning that everything will be deleted; tap Erase to confirm. The phone will restart and begin the process. You'll see a progress bar, and the phone may restart several times. When it's done, you'll see the Hello screen (the setup screen for a new iPhone).

If you have a passcode set, you may need to enter that as well. If you've turned on Find My iPhone, you'll also need your Apple ID password to proceed — Apple requires this so a thief can't erase a stolen phone and sell it.

Restoring your data after a factory reset

After the reset finishes and you see the Hello screen, you have two paths. You can sign in with your Apple ID and restore from a backup (if you have one), or you can set up as a new device and manually add your apps and data back.

To restore from a backup, sign in with your Apple ID when prompted. The phone will show you a list of available backups — these are stored in iCloud if you've been backing up automatically, or on a computer if you backed up to iTunes or Finder. Select the backup you want and tap Restore. The phone will download your photos, messages, contacts, app data, and settings from that backup. This can take an hour or more depending on how much data you have and your internet speed.

If you don't have a backup, or you want to start fresh without your old data, choose Set Up as New iPhone instead. You'll sign in with your Apple ID, and the phone will download your apps from the App Store automatically, but your photos, messages, and other personal files won't come back. You can still download some of this data manually — for example, you can sign into Gmail to restore your email, or download photos from Google Photos or iCloud.com.

When a factory reset won't fix your problem

If your iPhone still won't work after a factory reset, the problem is usually hardware-related rather than software-related. A cracked screen, a failing battery, water damage, or a broken logic board won't be fixed by erasing the phone.

If the phone won't turn on at all, won't complete the reset, or gets stuck on the Apple logo even after a reset, you may need to use Recovery Mode. This is a more advanced process where you connect the phone to a computer and use Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows) to restore the phone's software. If Recovery Mode doesn't work either, the phone likely has a hardware failure and will need service from Apple or an authorized repair shop.

Backing up before you reset

The safest approach is to back up your iPhone before you reset it. This way, if you change your mind or realize you need something you erased, you can restore from the backup.

To back up to iCloud, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn it on. Make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in. The backup will run automatically, usually overnight. You can also tap Back Up Now to start immediately. iCloud stores 5 GB free; if you have more data than that, you'll need to pay for more storage or delete old backups.

To back up to a computer, connect your iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC with Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) installed. Click your phone's name in the sidebar, then click Back Up Now. The backup saves to your computer's hard drive and includes everything on your phone. This backup is not stored in iCloud, so if your computer fails, the backup is gone too.

What you lose and what you keep after a reset

A factory reset erases your photos, videos, messages, contacts, calendar events, notes, app data, passwords, and any files stored on the phone. It also removes all your apps except the ones that come built-in with iOS (like Mail, Calendar, and Maps). Your Apple ID and iCloud account information is also cleared, though you can sign back in immediately after the reset.

What you don't lose is your Apple ID account itself, your iCloud data (photos, notes, contacts stored in iCloud), or any subscriptions tied to your Apple ID. If you back up to iCloud before the reset, your backup stays in iCloud even after the phone is erased. You can restore it to this phone or to a different iPhone later.

If you have two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID (which you should), you'll need access to a trusted device or phone number to sign back in after the reset. If you don't have access to either, you may be locked out of your Apple ID and unable to complete the setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a reset fix my iPhone if it's running slowly?

Sometimes. If the slowness is caused by too many apps running or corrupted software, a reset can help. But if your iPhone is old, has a full storage drive, or has a failing battery, a reset won't make it faster. Try a restart first — it's much faster and solves most slowness problems without erasing anything.

Can I undo a factory reset?

Only if you have a backup. If you reset without backing up first, your data is gone permanently. If you do have a backup in iCloud or on a computer, you can restore it during the setup process after the reset, or later by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings and choosing to restore from backup.

Do I need my Apple ID password to reset my iPhone?

Yes. Apple requires your Apple ID password to erase the phone as a security measure — this prevents someone from stealing your phone and wiping it to sell it. If you don't remember your password, you can reset it at iforgot.apple.com before you reset the phone.

How long does a factory reset take?

The reset itself usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. Restoring from a backup afterward can take an hour or more depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. During this time, keep your phone plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi.

What's the difference between resetting my iPhone and signing out of my Apple ID?

Signing out of your Apple ID removes your account from the phone but keeps all your data. A factory reset erases everything. If you're selling your phone, you should do both — sign out of your Apple ID first, then do a factory reset to make sure no personal data is left behind.