What happens when you erase an iPhone
When you wipe an iPhone, you remove every photo, message, app, and setting from the device. The phone returns to the state it was in when it left the factory — blank, with only the operating system installed. This is different from signing out of your Apple account or deleting individual apps. A complete wipe erases everything at once.
There are two ways to do this: through the iPhone's Settings app, or by connecting to a computer and using Apple's recovery tools. The Settings method is faster and works if your phone turns on and responds normally. The computer method is necessary if your phone is frozen, won't start, or you've forgotten your passcode.
Before you wipe, understand that this action cannot be undone. Once the process finishes, the data is gone. You should back up anything you want to keep — photos, contacts, messages, app data — before you start. If you've already backed up to iCloud or a computer, you can restore from that backup after the wipe is complete.
Key Takeaways
- A complete iPhone wipe removes all data and settings, returning the phone to factory condition, and cannot be reversed.
- Back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer before wiping if you want to keep any photos, messages, contacts, or app data.
- If your iPhone turns on normally, use Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings to wipe it in minutes.
- If your iPhone is frozen or won't start, connect it to a Mac or Windows computer and use Recovery Mode to erase it.
- After wiping, you can set up the iPhone as new or restore from your backup — the choice depends on whether you want a fresh start or your old data back.
Back up your data before you wipe
The fastest backup method is iCloud. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, select iCloud, then tap iCloud Backup. Turn on iCloud Backup if it is not already on, then tap Back Up Now. The backup runs in the background while your phone is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi. Depending on how much data you have, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour.
If you do not want to use iCloud, you can back up to a computer instead. On a Mac, plug in your iPhone, open Finder, click your phone in the sidebar, and click Back Up Now. On Windows, plug in your iPhone, open iTunes or the Apple Devices app, select your phone, and click Back Up. This backup stays on your computer's hard drive rather than in the cloud.
Check that your backup actually finished before you proceed. On iCloud, go back to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and look for the date and time of the last backup. It should show today's date and a recent time. If it shows an old date, tap Back Up Now again and wait for it to complete.
Wipe your iPhone using Settings if it turns on normally
Open the Settings app and tap your name at the very top of the screen. Scroll down and tap General. Scroll to the bottom and tap Transfer or Reset. On newer iPhones, you will see Erase All Content and Settings — tap that. On older iPhones, you may see Reset instead; tap that and then Erase All Content and Settings.
The phone will ask you to confirm your Apple ID password. Type it in. It will then ask whether you want to keep or remove your Apple ID account from the phone — choose Remove if you are giving the phone away or selling it, or if you straightforward want a completely fresh start. If you are keeping the phone and plan to restore from backup later, you can choose to keep the account, but removing it is simpler.
The phone will warn you one more time that this will erase everything. Tap Erase to confirm. The iPhone will restart, show an Apple logo, and begin the wipe. This takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much data is on the phone. Do not unplug it or turn it off during this time. When it finishes, you will see the setup screen — the same screen you saw when the phone was brand new.
Wipe your iPhone using a computer if it will not start or respond
If your iPhone is frozen, stuck on the Apple logo, or will not turn on, you need to use Recovery Mode. This erases the phone and reinstalls the operating system from scratch. Plug your iPhone into a Mac or Windows computer using the USB cable that came with the phone.
On a Mac, open Finder and click your iPhone in the sidebar. Click Restore to read the latest operating system and erase the phone. On Windows, open iTunes or the Apple Devices app, click your phone when it appears, and click Restore. The computer will read the operating system — this can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed — and then erase and reinstall it on the phone.
If your computer does not recognize the phone at all, you may need to force it into Recovery Mode first. The steps vary by iPhone model. For iPhone 8 and newer, quickly press and release the Volume Up button, quickly press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery screen. For iPhone 7, hold the Volume Down button and the Top (or Side) button together. For iPhone 6s and earlier, hold the Home button and the Top button together. Once you see the recovery screen, your computer should recognize the phone and you can proceed with the restore.
Set up your iPhone after the wipe
After the wipe completes, your iPhone shows the setup screen. You will be asked to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in with your Apple ID. At this point, you have two choices: set up as a new phone, or restore from your backup.
If you want a completely fresh start with no old data, choose Set Up as New iPhone. You will then install apps from the App Store one by one as you need them. This takes longer but gives you a clean slate.
If you backed up before wiping and want your old data back, choose Restore from iCloud Backup or Restore from Mac/Windows Backup depending on where you backed up. Sign in with your Apple ID, choose which backup to restore from, and the phone will read your photos, messages, contacts, and app data. This takes 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have and how fast your internet is. The phone will restart several times during this process — this is normal.
What to do if you forgot your passcode
If you cannot remember your iPhone passcode, you cannot wipe it through Settings because the phone will ask for the passcode before allowing you to erase. You must use Recovery Mode instead. Plug the phone into a computer, force it into Recovery Mode using the button combination for your iPhone model, and use Finder or iTunes to restore it. Recovery Mode erases the phone without asking for the passcode.
After the wipe, set up the phone as new or from backup. You will not need the old passcode — you can create a new one during setup.
What to do if you are giving away or selling the phone
Before you hand over the phone, make sure you have removed your Apple ID account. During the wipe process, when the phone asks whether to keep or remove your Apple ID, choose Remove. This signs you out of iCloud, the App Store, and iMessage on that phone. The new owner can then set up the phone with their own Apple ID without any interference from your account.
After the wipe and before you give the phone away, power it on and go through the initial setup screens to make sure everything is clean. You should see only the setup wizard, not any of your apps, photos, or settings. If you see your data still there, the wipe did not complete — try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a wipe after it is finished?
No. Once the wipe completes, the data is gone permanently. This is why backing up before you wipe is essential. If you have a backup from before the wipe, you can restore from it after the wipe is done, but you cannot recover data that was never backed up.
Will wiping my iPhone remove my Apple ID?
The wipe process asks whether you want to keep or remove your Apple ID from the phone. If you choose Remove, your account is signed out and the phone is no longer linked to you. If you choose Keep, your Apple ID remains on the phone but all your data is erased. For most situations, choosing Remove is cleaner.
How long does a complete wipe take?
Using Settings on a phone that turns on normally takes 5 to 15 minutes. Using Recovery Mode on a computer takes longer because the computer must read the operating system first — usually 20 to 45 minutes total depending on your internet speed and how much data is on the phone.
What if my iPhone is in Lost Mode?
If you turned on Lost Mode through Find My iPhone, you must turn it off before you can wipe the phone. Go to iCloud.com, click Find My, select your iPhone, and click Remove This Device. After you remove it, you can proceed with the wipe through Settings or Recovery Mode.
Do I need to remove my SIM card before wiping?
No. Wiping the iPhone does not affect the SIM card. Your phone number and carrier information stay on the SIM. You can leave the SIM in the phone during the wipe, or remove it — either way works. If you are giving the phone to someone else, you should remove your SIM card before handing it over.