iPhone viruses are rare, but you can still check for signs of infection
iPhones get viruses far less often than Android phones or computers because Apple controls what software can run on the device. Every app goes through Apple's review before it reaches the App Store, and the operating system isolates each app so one cannot access another's data. That said, malware can still slip through — usually disguised as a legitimate app, or installed if you jailbreak your phone and sideload apps from outside the App Store.
If your iPhone is running slowly, draining battery faster than usual, overheating, or showing apps you did not install, those are signs something may be wrong. The steps below will help you investigate and remove the problem.
Key Takeaways
- Check your installed apps by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and look for unfamiliar programs you do not remember downloading.
- If you find a suspicious app, tap it and select Delete App, then confirm by tapping Remove.
- Restart your iPhone by holding the power button and sliding to power off, then turning it back on after 10 seconds.
- If problems persist after removing suspicious apps and restarting, back up your data and restore the iPhone through a computer using Finder or iTunes.
- Jailbroken iPhones are far more vulnerable to malware — if yours is jailbroken, restoring it to factory settings is the safest option.
Look for apps you do not recognize in your iPhone Storage list
The fastest way to spot malware is to see what is actually installed on your phone. Open Settings, then tap General. Scroll down and tap iPhone Storage. You will see a list of every app on your device, sorted by size, with the largest taking up the most space at the top.
Scroll through the entire list and look for apps you do not remember downloading. Pay special attention to apps with generic names like "System Update", "Security", "Cleaner", or "Optimizer" — these are common disguises for malware. Also look for duplicate apps: if you see two Mail icons or two Safari icons, one of them is likely fake. If you find something suspicious, note the name and move to the next section.
If the list is very long and you are not sure what is normal, focus on the apps at the top. Legitimate apps like Messages, Photos, and Mail will always be there. Anything else that takes up significant space and you did not intentionally install is worth investigating.
Delete suspicious apps one at a time
Once you have identified an app that looks wrong, tap on it in the iPhone Storage list. A screen will appear showing the app name, how much space it uses, and an option that says Delete App. Tap Delete App, then tap Remove when the confirmation appears. The app will be uninstalled when ready.
After removing each suspicious app, check whether your phone's behavior improves. If battery drain stops, the phone stops overheating, or performance picks up, that app was likely the problem. If you remove several apps and the issues continue, move on to restarting your phone.
Do not worry about accidentally deleting a legitimate app — you can always reinstall it from the App Store for free. The goal right now is to remove anything that should not be there.
Restart your iPhone to clear temporary malware
Some malware only runs while your phone is on. Restarting can stop it from executing and may prevent it from reinstalling itself. Hold down the power button (on the side of the phone) until the slider appears on screen that says "slide to power off". Slide it to the right. Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn the phone back on.
Once your iPhone restarts, check whether the problems have stopped. If your phone is no longer slow, the battery is holding charge longer, or the overheating has stopped, the restart worked. If the same issues return within a few hours, malware may still be present and you will need to take the next step.
Restore your iPhone if malware persists after restart
If restarting did not solve the problem, the most reliable way to remove malware is to restore your iPhone to factory settings. This erases everything on the device and reinstalls the operating system fresh. Before you do this, back up your data so you do not lose photos, contacts, or messages.
To back up, connect your iPhone to a computer with a USB cable. On Mac, open Finder and click your iPhone in the sidebar, then click Back Up Now. On Windows, open iTunes, click your iPhone at the top, and click Back Up. Wait for the backup to finish — it may take several minutes.
Once the backup is complete, you can restore the phone. In Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows), click your iPhone, then look for a Restore button. Click it and follow the prompts. Your iPhone will restart and reinstall the operating system. When it finishes, you can restore your data from the backup, and your phone should be clean.
Check whether your iPhone is jailbroken
A jailbroken iPhone has had its security restrictions removed, allowing you to install apps from anywhere instead of just the App Store. Jailbroken phones are far more vulnerable to malware because Apple's security checks no longer explore. If your iPhone is jailbroken, restoring it to factory settings is the safest way to remove the jailbreak and any malware that came with it.
To check if your iPhone is jailbroken, look for an app called Cydia on your home screen. Cydia is the app store for jailbroken devices. If you see it, your phone is jailbroken. You can also check Settings > General > Profiles — if you see a profile you did not install, that is another sign of a jailbreak. If you find either, follow the restore steps in the previous section to return your phone to normal.
Prevent future infections by staying in the App Store
The single best protection against iPhone malware is to only read apps from the official App Store. Do not jailbreak your phone, do not sideload apps from websites, and do not click links in emails or texts that claim to install apps or security updates. Apple's review process catches most malware before it reaches users, and the operating system's isolation prevents infected apps from spreading to other parts of your phone.
Keep your iPhone updated by going to Settings > General > Software Update and installing updates as soon as they become available. Updates patch security holes that malware could otherwise exploit. Also be cautious about what permissions you grant to apps — when an app asks for access to your camera, location, or contacts, think about whether it actually needs that access. You can review and change app permissions in Settings > Privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need antivirus software on my iPhone?
No. Antivirus apps on the App Store cannot actually scan your iPhone's system the way antivirus works on a computer, because Apple does not allow that level of access. They are largely ineffective. Your best protection is the App Store's built-in review process and keeping your phone updated.
Can I get a virus from visiting a website on Safari?
It is extremely unlikely. Safari runs in an isolated environment, so a malicious website cannot directly install malware on your phone. However, a website could trick you into downloading a fake app or clicking a link that leads to a jailbreak tool, so avoid clicking suspicious links in emails or texts.
What if I see a pop-up saying my iPhone has a virus?
That pop-up is almost certainly a scam. Apple does not send virus warnings through Safari or apps. Close the pop-up by tapping the X or swiping back, and do not tap any buttons in the warning. Do not call any number shown in the pop-up.
Will restoring my iPhone delete my photos and messages?
Yes, restoring erases everything. That is why you must back up first using Finder or iTunes. After the restore finishes, you can restore your backup and get all your data back.
Can malware survive after I restore my iPhone?
No. Restoring completely erases the device and reinstalls the operating system, removing all malware. However, if you restore from a backup that was infected, you could reintroduce the malware. If you are concerned, restore without using a backup, then manually read your most important apps again from the App Store.