iPhones rarely get viruses, but they can get malware—and the fix is simpler than you think
An iPhone virus or malware infection is uncommon because Apple's closed system makes it harder for malicious code to spread. But it can happen, especially if you've jailbroken your phone, installed apps from outside the App Store, or clicked a suspicious link. The good news: you don't need special removal software. Restarting your phone, deleting suspicious apps, and changing your passwords will handle most infections. If something feels wrong—unexpected crashes, apps you didn't install, sudden battery drain, or data charges you don't recognize—these steps will help you clean it up.
Key Takeaways
- Force restart your iPhone first; this stops most malware from running and is the fastest step to try.
- Delete any apps you don't recognize or don't remember installing, especially ones from outside the App Store.
- Change your passwords for email, banking, and other sensitive accounts from a different device while your iPhone is being cleaned.
- Restore your iPhone from a backup made before the problem started, or set it up as new if you can't identify when the infection began.
- Turn on automatic updates in Settings > General > Software Update to prevent the same vulnerability from being exploited again.
Force restart your iPhone to stop malware from running
A force restart stops any malicious code that is currently active on your phone without erasing anything. This is the first step and often solves the problem on its own.
The steps differ by iPhone model. On iPhone 8 and newer: press and release the volume up button, press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until the power-off slider appears. Keep holding until the screen goes black and the Apple logo shows (usually 10 to 15 seconds). On iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: press and hold the volume down button and the side button together until the power-off slider appears, then hold until the Apple logo shows. On iPhone 6s and earlier: press and hold the top (or side) button and the home button together until the power-off slider appears, then hold until the Apple logo shows.
After the restart, check whether the problem stops. If your phone no longer crashes unexpectedly, drains battery fast, or shows unfamiliar apps, the malware may have been cleared. If the problem continues, move to the next step.
Delete apps you don't recognize or didn't install yourself
Malware often arrives as a fake app or hides inside a legitimate-looking one. Look through your home screen and app library for anything unfamiliar. Pay special attention to apps with generic names (like "System Update" or "Security Scan") or ones that ask for unusual permissions when you first open them.
To delete an app: press and hold the app icon, tap "Remove App," then tap "Delete App" and confirm. If you see an app you're certain you didn't install, delete it when ready. If you're unsure whether an app is legitimate, search its name online along with the word "malware" or "scam"—user forums and tech sites will usually flag known malicious apps quickly.
After deleting suspicious apps, restart your phone again and monitor it for a few hours. If the strange behavior stops, the malware is likely gone.
Change passwords for email, banking, and other sensitive accounts
If malware was on your phone, it may have captured your passwords or login information. Change your passwords when ready—but do it from a different device (a computer or a different phone) while your iPhone is being cleaned. This prevents the malware from capturing your new passwords.
Start with your email account, since email is the key to resetting passwords for everything else. Then change passwords for your bank, credit card company, PayPal, Apple ID, and any other account with financial or personal information. Use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password to create strong, unique passwords for each account. If you use two-factor authentication (a code sent to your phone or email when you log in), make sure it's still set up correctly after you change your password.
Check your email and bank statements for unauthorized activity. If you see charges you didn't make or logins from unfamiliar locations, contact your bank or email provider when ready.
Restore your iPhone from a backup made before the infection
If the malware persists after restarting and deleting suspicious apps, restore your phone from a backup. This erases everything on your phone and replaces it with a copy from an earlier date—before the malware arrived.
Connect your iPhone to a computer with a USB cable and open Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows). Select your phone, click "Restore," and choose a backup from before you noticed the problem. The restore process takes 15 to 30 minutes. Your phone will restart several times; let it finish without interrupting.
If you don't have a backup from before the infection, or if you're not sure when the problem started, set up your iPhone as new instead. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This completely wipes your phone. After it restarts, you can sign in with your Apple ID and read your apps fresh from the App Store. Your photos, contacts, and messages can be restored from iCloud if you backed them up there.
Turn on automatic updates to prevent the same vulnerability
Malware often exploits security holes in older versions of iOS. Once your phone is clean, make sure it stays protected by turning on automatic updates. Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates and turn on "read iOS Updates" and "Install iOS Updates."
With automatic updates on, your phone will read and install security patches as soon as Apple releases them, without you having to remember to do it manually. This closes the door that malware used to get in.
Watch for signs of malware returning
After you've cleaned your phone, monitor it for the next week or two. Malware sometimes leaves behind traces or reinstalls itself if the original vulnerability hasn't been patched. Watch for unexpected app crashes, rapid battery drain, data charges you don't recognize, or apps appearing that you didn't install.
If the same problems come back, the malware may not have been fully removed. In that case, restore your phone from an older backup or set it up as new. If you don't have an older backup, you may need to contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for help.
Also check your iCloud account for suspicious activity. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > App & Website Passwords and review which apps have access to your account. Delete any you don't recognize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need antivirus software for my iPhone?
No. Apple's App Store review process and iOS security make traditional antivirus unnecessary. Apps claiming to remove viruses from iPhones don't actually work—they're often scams themselves. Stick to the steps above instead.
Can I get a virus from visiting a website on Safari?
Unlikely. Safari and iOS are designed to prevent malware from running just because you visited a page. However, if a website asks you to install a profile or read something, be cautious—that's how some malware enters. Don't install profiles from websites you don't trust.
What if I jailbroke my iPhone?
Jailbreaking removes Apple's security protections and makes your phone much more vulnerable to malware. If your jailbroken iPhone has malware, restore it from backup or set it up as new, then avoid jailbreaking again. The security risk isn't worth the extra features.
Will restoring from backup reinfect my phone with the same malware?
Only if the backup was made after the malware arrived. Choose a backup from at least a week before you first noticed the problem. If you're unsure, set up your iPhone as new instead—it's the safest option.
How do I know if my iPhone actually has malware?
Real signs include apps crashing repeatedly, unexpected data charges, rapid battery drain even when you're not using the phone, or apps appearing that you didn't install. Pop-up warnings claiming your phone has a virus are usually scams—ignore them and don't tap anything in the pop-up.