Steve's Guides

How to Easily Reset Your iPhone

Don't worry about your iPhone reset process, follow these simple steps to easily reset your device. Learn how to quickly and safely restore settings in our step-by-step guide.

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Published Dec 29, 2022

Difficulty: Easy

Duration: 5 minutes

What you'll need: iPhone

  • How to reset an iPhone: Hold down the power button and home button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
  • Learning how to reset an iPhone can be useful in times of trouble, when the device needs to be restored or factory reset.
  • "In this article, you'll learn how to quickly and easily restore your iPhone to its original settings."

If you're like the many users who have owned an iPhone, chances are that you've at least had to reset your device once or twice. Resetting an iPhone can be done for a variety of reasons including restoring its factory settings if it's running slowly, fixing any errors on its operating system, or just plain wiping it clean and starting over. Whatever the reason may be, resetting your iPhone is relatively easy as long as you know how to do it properly. This guide will provide step-by-step instructions on how to reset an iPhone in no time.

how to reset iphone

Resetting an iPhone is a simple process that will erase all stored data on the device and restore it to its factory settings. To reset an iPhone, users must go to "Settings" > "General" > "Reset," then choose either "Erase All Content and Settings" or "Reset All Settings."

  1. Back up your iPhone onto iCloud or iTunes.
  2. Turn off Find My iPhone, by going to Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone and turning off the feature.
  3. Reset All Settings on your phone, by tapping on Settings, then General, then Reset All Settings.
  4. Erase all content and settings, by tapping on General > Reset > Erase All Content & Settings.
  • (Note: This will also erase any saved passwords.)
  • Restore Your iPhone from iTunes or iCloud backup (optional). If you have a backup of your data, restore it to your phone after the reset is complete.
  • Our takeaway

    The world of iPhones can be complex and intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. With the right steps, you can easily reset your iPhone in no time. Whether that's because you're giving away your old device or if data needs to be wiped for whatever reason, following these instructions is a tried and true method for success. Plus, now that you know how to do it, there's no need to break any sweat the next time you need to go through the process. So go ahead and get ready for your fresh start with a brand new iOS device; all it takes is a simple reset! Now that we’ve given you all the tools needed for an easy iPhone reset, this seems like great opportunity for some fun: why not challenge yourself or someone else and try to see who can reset their device the fastest? Even if their answer is “blank stare” we hope our article has made them at least a little bit more tech savvy - so give it a shot!

    FAQs

    What is the easiest way to reset an iPhone password?

    The best and fastest way to reset your iPhone's password is by using recovery mode. To do this, turn off your phone and connect it to your computer with a Lightning or USB-C cable. Launch iTunes or Finder (on macOS Catalina), then press and hold both the "Home" button (or volume down button) while plugging in the other side of the cable. Keep pressing until you see a message telling you to pick a language, then click "Restore". At this point, you can reset your device.

    How can I recover a lost or forgotten iPhone password?

    If you have set up an Apple ID account and enabled Find My iPhone, then you can reset the password using either another device with which you are signed in to iCloud (such as an iPad) or through a browser using your Apple ID. If neither of these is an option, then you will need to contact Apple Support for assistance.

    Will resetting my iPhone's password delete my data?

    No, resetting your iPhone's password will not delete any of your data or settings. However, if you are restoring from an iCloud or iTunes backup, some of your data may be overwritten.

    Can I use Face ID or Touch ID to reset my iPhone's password?

    No, you cannot use Face ID or Touch ID to reset an iPhone’s password. To reset a forgotten iPhone passcode, you will need to erase the device and then set it up again as new.

    What if I don't remember the answers to security questions when trying to reset my iPhone's password?

    If you have forgotten the answers to your security questions and cannot reset your password using those, you may be able to reset it with the help of Apple Support.

    This article was originally published on 29 Dec 2022 but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.
    Kyle Crisp
    Kyle has been using Apple products for over 25 years. He loves helping people learn how to use their Apple devices.
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