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How to factory reset and restore an iPhone
In This Article
Here is the easy way to factory restore and reset your iPhone without losing any of your previous data.
Whether you’re moving onto a new iPhone or just want a clean slate, restoring a phone can be a stressful and tricky endeavour, and you’ll want to make sure that you have everything in order before all your precious memories get deleted.
That’s why we’re going to tell you the easiest way you can go about resetting and restoring your iPhone in just a couple of simple steps.
What we used
The Short Version
Step1
Go into Settings
To start the process, go into your Settings app.
Step2
Tap on your Apple ID
Your Apple ID will show your photo and will sit at the top of the screen in Settings.
Step3
Click on iCloud Backup, make sure its turned on
Make sure your iCloud Backup is turned on so you can backup your iPhone to the iCloud.
Step4
Press Back Up Now
You can back up your iPhone using iCloud but you can also back up your iPhone to your Mac or PC if you want. Either method is fine, as long as you back up your device, otherwise you won’t be able to restore it.
Step5
Go back into Settings
Once your back up has been completed, either using iCloud or on your Mac or PC, you need to go back into your Settings to reset your iPhone.
Step6
Tap General
Click on General within Settings.
Step7
Click Transfer or Reset iPhone
You will need to scroll to the bottom of the General page to find the Restart button.
Step8
Click Erase All Content and Settings
Choosing this option will sign you out of your Apple ID and remove all of the current data from your iPhone. The backup step from before is important, as after this step you won’t be able to access your current data on the model you’re reseting.
Step9
Press Continue
Click on the Continue button to confirm your choice. Make sure that you are happy with your backup beforehand.
Step10
Start setting up your iPhone
After your iPhone is reset and all the data has been wiped, your iPhone appear with the initial title screen. Here, you must go through the initial steps of choosing a language, connecting to WiFi and setting up your Touch/Face ID as well as your Apple ID.
Step11
When Apps & Data comes up, click Restore from iCloud Backup
Once your Apps & Data screen comes up on your device, you will need to lick Restore from iCloud Backup. If you have backed up your device using your Mac or PC, please choose that option instead, just make sure that you don’t click the Don’t Transfer from Apps or Data choice, as that will start the regular set up process.
Step12
Sign into your Apple ID
Sign into your Apple ID again, this will trigger the backup instantly. Wait for the process to finish, then all of your previous data should be back on your iPhone.
Troubleshooting
Yes, you can either back up your iPhone using a computer or using iCloud. Just make sure that during Step 11 you choose the right option between iCloud and Mac/PC.
Yes, this method will work on any iPhone available.
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Gemma joined Trusted Reviews as a staff writer after graduating from Leeds Beckett University with a Journalism degree. She’s worked with national outlets, covering breaking news stories to reviews fo…
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Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
