What happens when you erase your iPhone

Erasing your iPhone removes all photos, messages, contacts, apps, and settings from the device itself. The phone returns to the state it was in when it left the factory. This is different from backing up — erasing deletes the data from the phone, while a backup keeps a copy somewhere else (on iCloud, a computer, or both).

If you have backed up your iPhone to iCloud or a Mac, that backup stays intact even after you erase the phone. You can restore from that backup later if you need the data back. If you have not backed up, the data is gone once you erase.

People erase their iPhones for three main reasons: selling or giving away the phone, starting fresh after a problem, or preparing to trade it in. In each case, erasing protects your privacy by removing your personal information before someone else uses the device.

Key Takeaways

  • Back up your iPhone to iCloud or a Mac before erasing if you want to keep your data.
  • Erasing removes everything from the phone itself but does not affect a backup you have already created.
  • You can erase through Settings on the phone, or through a Mac or Windows computer if the phone is locked or broken.
  • After erasing, the phone will ask you to sign in with your Apple ID before you can use it again.
  • If you are selling or giving away the phone, sign out of your Apple ID before erasing so the new owner can set it up.

Back up before you erase

Before you erase, decide whether you want to keep your data. If you do, create a backup first. The easiest way is through iCloud, which backs up automatically if you have iCloud turned on — but you can also create a backup right now by going to Settings, tapping your name at the top, then iCloud, then Photos or Backup to see what is already backed up.

To create a full iCloud backup right now, go to Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, then iCloud Backup. Tap Back Up Now. The backup will take a few minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. You will see a progress bar and a timestamp showing when the last backup finished.

If you use a Mac, you can also plug in your iPhone and back up through Finder (on newer Macs) or iTunes (on older ones). This creates a local backup on your computer that you can restore from later. A Mac backup is useful if you have a lot of data or want a backup that does not depend on internet speed.

Erase your iPhone through Settings

Open Settings and scroll down to General. Tap General, then scroll to the very bottom and tap Transfer or Reset. Tap Erase All Content and Settings. The phone will ask you to confirm — tap Erase again. If you have a passcode, you will need to enter it. If you have an Apple ID, you will need to enter that password too.

The erasing process takes 5 to 15 minutes. Your phone will restart several times and show a progress bar. Do not turn off the phone or unplug it during this time. When it finishes, you will see the setup screen — the same screen you saw when the phone was brand new.

If you want to use the phone again yourself, you can sign in with your Apple ID and restore from your backup. If you are giving the phone to someone else, leave it on the setup screen so they can set it up with their own Apple ID.

Erase a locked or broken iPhone from another device

If your iPhone is locked, broken, or you have forgotten the passcode, you can erase it from a Mac or Windows computer using Find My iPhone. Go to iCloud.com on a computer, sign in with your Apple ID, and click Find My. Click Find My iPhone, then select your iPhone from the list. Click Erase iPhone, then confirm.

This erases the phone remotely, even if it is off or far away. The phone will be erased the next time it connects to the internet. This method requires that you know your Apple ID password and that Find My iPhone was turned on before the phone was lost or locked.

If you do not have access to iCloud.com or Find My, you can take the phone to an Apple Store. Bring proof of purchase or your ID. Apple can erase the phone for you, though they may charge a fee if the phone is not under warranty.

Sign out of your Apple ID before giving away the phone

If you are selling or giving away your iPhone, sign out of your Apple ID before you erase. This prevents the new owner from being locked out by set up Lock, a security feature that requires the original Apple ID password to set up the phone.

To sign out, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, scroll down, and tap Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password. Choose whether to keep or remove a copy of your data on the phone — if you are giving it away, choose Remove. Then tap Sign Out again to confirm.

After you sign out, you can erase the phone. The new owner will be able to set it up with their own Apple ID without needing your password. If you forget to sign out before erasing, the phone will still ask for your Apple ID during setup, and the new owner will need to contact you to remove it.

What to do after erasing

After the phone finishes erasing and restarts, you will see the setup screen. If you are keeping the phone, sign in with your Apple ID. You will be asked whether to restore from a backup — choose the backup you created before erasing. The phone will read your photos, messages, contacts, and apps from that backup. This can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have.

If you are giving the phone to someone else, do not sign in. Leave it on the setup screen. The new owner can then set it up with their own Apple ID and their own data.

If you erased the phone and now realize you needed something from it, you can restore from your backup as long as you created one before erasing. Go through the setup screen, sign in with your Apple ID, and choose to restore from the backup you want. You cannot recover data if you did not back up first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo an erase after I have started it?

No. Once you tap Erase All Content and Settings and confirm, the process cannot be stopped. The phone will erase all data. If you have a backup, you can restore from it after the erase finishes, but you cannot undo the erase itself.

Will erasing my iPhone remove it from my Apple ID account?

Erasing the phone removes the data from the device, but the phone stays linked to your Apple ID until you sign out. If you want to give the phone to someone else, sign out of your Apple ID before erasing so they can set it up with their own account.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password and cannot erase?

Go to iCloud.com on a computer and click Forgot Apple ID or password. Follow the steps to reset your password. Once you reset it, you can sign in on your iPhone and erase it normally. If you cannot access iCloud.com, take the phone to an Apple Store with proof of purchase.

Does erasing remove viruses or malware from my iPhone?

Yes. Erasing removes everything from the phone, including any malware. After you erase and restore from a backup, the malware is gone. If you want to be extra safe, do not restore from a backup — set up the phone fresh instead.

How long does it take to erase an iPhone?

The erase process itself takes 5 to 15 minutes. If you then restore from a backup, that can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. Restoring from a Mac backup is usually faster than restoring from iCloud.