What a manual reset does and when you need one
A manual reset — also called a factory reset or hard reset — erases everything on your iPhone and returns it to the state it was in when it left the factory. This means all your photos, messages, apps, settings, and saved passwords are deleted. The iPhone itself is not damaged; it straightforward starts over with no personal data on it.
You might do this before selling or giving away your phone, if the device is frozen and won't respond to normal shutdown, or if you want to clear out years of accumulated data and start fresh. If you're locked out of your own phone — forgot your passcode, for example — a reset is one way to regain access, though it will erase everything on the device.
Before you reset, understand that this action cannot be undone. If you have photos or messages you want to keep, back them up first through iCloud or by connecting to a computer with Finder or iTunes.
Key Takeaways
- A factory reset erases all data on your iPhone and cannot be reversed, so back up anything you want to keep before you start.
- You can reset through Settings if your phone is working normally, or through Recovery Mode if your phone is frozen or won't turn on.
- After a reset, your iPhone will ask you to sign in with an Apple ID — use the same one you used before, or you may not be able to use the phone.
- The reset process takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on your iPhone model and whether you're using a computer or doing it on the device itself.
Resetting through Settings when your phone works normally
If your iPhone turns on, responds to touches, and lets you open apps, use the Settings method. Open Settings, then tap General. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset. On older iPhones (iOS 16 and earlier), this option is called Reset instead.
Tap Erase All Content and Settings. Your iPhone will ask you to enter your passcode and your Apple ID password. This is a safety step — Apple requires this to prevent someone else from erasing your phone without permission. Enter both, then tap Erase or Continue depending on what your screen shows.
Your iPhone will show a progress bar and may restart several times. Do not unplug it, force it off, or interrupt the process. The whole operation usually takes 10 to 20 minutes. When it finishes, you'll see the setup screen — the same one you saw when the phone was brand new.
Resetting through Recovery Mode when your phone is frozen or won't start
If your iPhone won't turn on, won't respond to touches, or is stuck on a loading screen, you need Recovery Mode. This method requires a computer with a USB cable. Connect your iPhone to the computer using the cable that came with it or a compatible USB-C or Lightning cable.
On the computer, open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows). Your iPhone should appear in the sidebar or window. If it does not appear, try a different USB port or cable — a loose connection is the most common reason this step fails.
Click your iPhone's name, then look for a button that says Restore or Restore iPhone. Click it. Your computer will read the current iPhone software and install it, which erases the phone in the process. This can take 20 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed and computer. Do not unplug the iPhone or close Finder or iTunes until the progress bar reaches 100 percent.
Forcing your iPhone into Recovery Mode if it won't connect
Sometimes an iPhone is so frozen that it won't even show up in Finder or iTunes. In this case, you need to force it into Recovery Mode first. The steps depend on which iPhone model you have.
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 (the power button) until you see "slide to power off" appear, then keep holding it. After a few more seconds, the screen will go black and you'll see a cable and computer icon. This is Recovery Mode. Now connect to your computer and follow the Restore steps above.
For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Side button together until you see the recovery screen with the cable and computer icon.
For iPhone 6s and earlier: Press and hold the Top (or Side) button and the Home button together until the recovery screen appears.
What happens after the reset is complete
When your iPhone finishes resetting, it will show the setup screen. You'll be asked to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and set up Face ID or Touch ID. Then comes the Apple ID screen — this is important.
Enter the Apple ID and password you used on this iPhone before. If you use a different Apple ID, or if you skip this step, your iPhone will be locked to the new Apple ID and you won't be able to use it without that password. If you don't remember your Apple ID password, you can reset it at iforgot.apple.com before you set up the phone.
After you sign in with your Apple ID, you can restore your photos, messages, and apps from a backup if you made one before the reset. If you did not back up, those files are gone permanently.
Backing up before you reset
If you have time before the reset, back up your data. The easiest way is through iCloud. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Tap iCloud Backup and turn it on if it is not already on. Then tap Back Up Now. Your iPhone will upload your photos, messages, contacts, and app data to iCloud. This usually takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much data you have and your internet speed.
If you prefer to back up to a computer instead, connect your iPhone to a Mac with Finder or to a Windows computer with iTunes. Click your iPhone's name, then click Back Up Now. The backup saves to your computer's hard drive instead of the cloud.
After the reset is complete and you sign in with your Apple ID, you can restore from the backup you just made. Your iPhone will read your photos, messages, and apps back onto the device.
Troubleshooting a reset that gets stuck
If your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo, a loading screen, or the setup screen for more than 30 minutes, the reset may have failed. First, try waiting another 10 minutes — very large backups or slow internet can make the process take longer than expected.
If nothing changes, force your iPhone off by using the button combination for your model (see the Recovery Mode section above), then try the reset again. If you were using Recovery Mode on a computer, disconnect the iPhone, wait 30 seconds, reconnect it, and click Restore again.
If the reset keeps failing and you cannot get past the setup screen, your iPhone may have a hardware problem. At this point, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store. Bring your Apple ID password with you so they can verify you own the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a reset remove my Apple ID lock?
No. After the reset, your iPhone will ask for the Apple ID password that was used on the device before. If you don't have that password, you cannot use the phone. You can reset your Apple ID password at iforgot.apple.com, but you'll need access to the email address or phone number linked to that account.
Can I reset my iPhone if I forgot my passcode?
Yes. Use Recovery Mode on a computer to reset the iPhone, which will erase the passcode along with everything else. You'll need your Apple ID password to set up the phone again after the reset.
How long does a reset take?
A reset through Settings usually takes 10 to 20 minutes. A reset through Recovery Mode on a computer can take 20 to 30 minutes because the computer has to read and install the iPhone software. Very large iPhones or slow internet connections may take longer.
What if I reset my iPhone by mistake?
If you have an iCloud backup, you can restore your data after the reset is complete. If you don't have a backup, the data is permanently deleted. This is why backing up before a reset is important.
Do I need Wi-Fi to reset my iPhone?
You need Wi-Fi to read the software during a Recovery Mode reset on a computer, and to restore from an iCloud backup after the reset. A reset through Settings can work without Wi-Fi, but you'll need it to set up the phone afterward.