Erase iPhone (2024)

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iPhone User Guide

Welcome
- Setup basics
- Make your iPhone your own
- Take great photos and videos
- Keep in touch with friends and family
- Share features with your family
- Use iPhone for your daily routines
- Expert advice from Apple Support
What’s new in iOS 17
- Turn on and set up iPhone
- Wake, unlock, and lock
- Set up cellular service
- Use Dual SIM
- Connect to the internet
- Find settings
- Set up mail, contacts, and calendar accounts
- Learn the meaning of the status icons
- Read and bookmark the user guide
- - Learn basic gestures
  - Learn gestures for iPhone models with Face ID
- Adjust the volume
- Silence iPhone
- Multitask with Picture in Picture
- Access features from the Lock Screen
- Use the Dynamic Island
- Perform quick actions
- Search on iPhone
- Get information about your iPhone
- View or change cellular data settings
- Travel with iPhone
- Change sounds and vibrations
- Use the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Create a custom Lock Screen
- Change the wallpaper
- Adjust the screen brightness and color balance
- Keep the iPhone display on longer
- Use StandBy
- Customize the text size and zoom setting
- Change the name of your iPhone
- Change the date and time
- Change the language and region
- Use and customize Control Center
- Change or lock the screen orientation
- Customize sharing options
- Add or change keyboards
- Add emoji and stickers
- Take a screenshot
- Take a screen recording
- - Draw in documents
  - Add text, shapes, signatures, and more
- Fill out forms and sign documents
- Use Live Text to interact with content in a photo or video
- Use Visual Look Up to identify objects in your photos and videos
- Lift a subject from the photo background
- - Get apps
  - Use App Clips
  - Update apps
  - View or cancel subscriptions
  - Manage purchases, settings, and restrictions
  - Install and manage fonts
- - Buy books and audiobooks
  - Read books
  - Annotate books
  - Access books on other Apple devices
  - Listen to audiobooks
  - Set reading goals
  - Organize books
  - Read PDFs
- Calculator
- - Create and edit events in Calendar
  - Send invitations
  - Reply to invitations
  - Change how you view events
  - Search for events
  - Change calendar and event settings
  - Schedule or display events in a different time zone
  - Keep track of events
  - Use multiple calendars
  - Use the Holidays calendar
  - Share iCloud calendars
- - Adjust the shutter volume
  - Adjust HDR camera settings
  - Record videos
  - Record spatial videos for Apple Vision Pro
  - Record ProRes videos
  - Record videos in Cinematic mode
  - Change video recording settings
  - Save camera settings
  - Customize the Main camera lens
  - Change advanced camera settings
  - View, share, and print photos
  - Use Live Text
  - Scan a QR code
- - See the world clock
  - Set an alarm
  - Change the next wake up alarm
  - Use the stopwatch
  - Use multiple timers
- Compass
- - Add and use contact information
  - Edit contacts
  - Add your contact info
  - Use NameDrop on iPhone to share your contact info
  - Use other contact accounts
  - Use Contacts from the Phone app
  - Merge or hide duplicate contacts
  - Export contacts
- - Get started with FaceTime
  - - Make FaceTime calls
    - Receive FaceTime calls
  - Create a FaceTime link
  - Take a Live Photo
  - Turn on Live Captions in a FaceTime call
  - Use other apps during a call
  - Make a Group FaceTime call
  - View participants in a grid
  - Use SharePlay to watch, listen, and play together
  - Share your screen in a FaceTime call
  - Collaborate on a document in FaceTime
  - Use video conferencing features
  - Hand off a FaceTime call to another Apple device
  - Change the FaceTime video settings
  - Change the FaceTime audio settings
  - Change your appearance
  - Leave a call or switch to Messages
  - Block unwanted callers
  - Report a call as spam
- - Connect external devices or servers
  - Modify files, folders, and downloads
  - Search for files and folders
  - Organize files and folders
  - Send files
  - Set up iCloud Drive
  - Share files and folders in iCloud Drive
  - Use an external storage device, a file server, or a cloud storage service
- - Adjust map settings
- - Get started with Fitness
  - Track daily activity and change your move goal
  - See your activity summary
  - Sync a third-party workout app
  - Change fitness notifications
  - Share your activity
- - Get started with Freeform
  - Create a Freeform board
  - Draw or handwrite
  - Add text
  - Add shapes
  - Add files
  - Apply consistent styles
  - Position items on a board
  - Search Freeform boards
  - Share and collaborate
  - Delete and recover boards
- - Get started with Health
  - Fill out your Health Details
  - - Download health records
    - View health records
  - Monitor your walking steadiness
  - - Log menstrual cycle information
    - View menstrual cycle predictions and history
  - - Track your medications
    - Learn more about your medications
  - - Log your state of mind
    - Take a mental health assessment
  - - Check your headphone levels
    - Use audiogram data
  - Register as an organ donor
  - Back up your Health data
- - Intro to Home
  - Upgrade to the new Home architecture
  - Set up accessories
  - Control accessories
  - Control your home using Siri
  - Use Grid Forecast to plan your energy usage
  - Set up HomePod
  - Control your home remotely
  - Create and use scenes
  - Use automations
  - Set up security cameras
  - Use Face Recognition
  - Unlock your door with a home key
  - Configure a router
  - Invite others to control accessories
  - Add more homes
- - Get music, movies, and TV shows
  - Get ringtones
  - Manage purchases and settings
- - Get started with Journal
  - Write in your journal
  - Review your past journal entries
  - Change Journal settings
- - Magnify nearby objects
  - Change settings
- - - Add and remove email accounts
    - Set up a custom email domain
  - Check your email
  - Set email notifications
  - Search for email
  - Organize email in mailboxes
  - - Flag or block emails
    - Filter emails
  - - Use Hide My Email
    - Use Mail Privacy Protection
  - Change email settings
  - Delete and recover emails
  - Add a Mail widget to your Home Screen
  - Print emails
- - View maps
  - Get traffic and weather info
  - Get rides
  - Estimate travel time and ETA
  - Download offline maps
  - Look around places
  - Take Flyover tours
  - Find your Maps settings
- - Measure dimensions
  - View and save measurements
  - Measure a person’s height
  - Use the level
- - Set up Messages
  - About iMessage
  - Send and reply to messages
  - Unsend and edit messages
  - Keep track of messages
  - Search
  - Forward and share messages
  - Group conversations
  - Watch, listen, or play together using SharePlay
  - Collaborate on projects
  - Use iMessage apps
  - Take and edit photos or videos
  - Share photos, links, and more
  - Send stickers
  - Request, send, and receive payments
  - Send and receive audio messages
  - Share your location
  - Animate messages
  - Send and save GIFs
  - Turn read receipts on or off
  - Change notifications
  - Block, filter, and report messages
  - Delete messages and attachments
  - Recover deleted messages
- - Get music
  - View albums, playlists, and more
  - Play music
  - Show song credits and lyrics
  - Queue up your music
  - Listen to broadcast radio
  - Change the way music sounds
- - Get started with News
  - Use News widgets
  - See news stories chosen just for you
  - Read stories
  - Follow your favorite teams with My Sports
  - Listen to Apple News Today
  - Search for news stories
  - Save stories in News for later
  - Subscribe to individual news channels
- - Get started with Notes
  - Add or remove accounts
  - Create and format notes
  - Draw or write
  - Add photos, videos, and more
  - Scan text and documents
  - Work with PDFs
  - Add links
  - Create Quick Notes
  - Search notes
  - Organize in folders
  - Organize with tags
  - Use Smart Folders
  - Share and collaborate
  - Export or print notes
  - Lock notes
  - Change Notes settings
- - Make a call
  - View and delete the call history
  - Answer or decline incoming calls
  - While on a call
  - Have a conference or three-way call on iPhone
  - Set up voicemail
  - Check voicemail
  - Change voicemail greeting and settings
  - Select ringtones and vibrations
  - Make calls using Wi-Fi
  - Set up call forwarding
  - Set up call waiting
  - Block or avoid unwanted calls
- - View photos and videos
  - Play videos and slideshows
  - Delete or hide photos and videos
  - Edit photos and videos
  - Trim video length and adjust slow motion
  - Edit Cinematic mode videos
  - Edit Live Photos
  - Edit portraits
  - Use photo albums
  - Edit, share, and organize albums
  - Filter and sort photos and videos in albums
  - Make stickers from your photos
  - Duplicate and copy photos and videos
  - Merge duplicate photos and videos
  - Search for photos
  - Identify people and pets
  - Browse photos by location
  - Share photos and videos
  - Share long videos
  - View photos and videos shared with you
  - Watch memories
  - Personalize your memories
  - Manage memories and featured photos
  - - Use iCloud Photos
    - Create shared albums
    - Add and remove people in a shared album
    - Add and delete photos and videos in a shared album
    - Set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library
    - Add content to an iCloud Shared Photo Library
    - Use iCloud Shared Photo Library
  - Import and export photos and videos
  - Print photos
- - Find podcasts
  - Listen to podcasts
  - Follow your favorite podcasts
  - Use the Podcasts widget
  - Organize your podcast library
  - Download, save, or share podcasts
  - Subscribe to podcasts
  - Listen to subscriber-only content
  - Change download settings
- - Add or remove accounts
  - Make a grocery list
  - Add items to a list
  - Edit and manage a list
  - Search and organize lists
  - Work with templates
  - Organize with tags
  - Use Smart Lists
  - Share and collaborate
  - Print reminders
  - Use the Reminders widget
  - Change Reminders settings
- - Browse the web
  - Search for websites
  - Customize your Safari settings
  - Change the layout
  - Use Safari profiles
  - Use Siri to listen to a webpage
  - Bookmark favorite webpages
  - Save pages to a Reading List
  - Find links shared with you
  - Annotate and save a webpage as a PDF
  - Automatically fill in forms
  - Get extensions
  - Hide ads and distractions
  - Clear your cache and cookies
- Shortcuts
- - Check stocks
  - Manage multiple watchlists
  - Read business news
  - Add earnings reports to your calendar
  - Use a Stocks widget
- Tips
- - Translate text, voice, and conversations
  - Translate text in apps
  - Translate with the camera view
- - Subscribe to Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass, or an Apple TV channel
  - Add your TV provider
  - Get shows, movies, and more
  - Control playback
  - Manage your library
  - Change the settings
- - Make a recording
  - Play it back
  - Edit or delete a recording
  - Keep recordings up to date
  - Organize recordings
  - Search for or rename a recording
  - Share a recording
  - Duplicate a recording
- - Keep cards and passes in Wallet
  - Set up Apple Pay
  - Use Apple Pay for contactless payments
  - Use Apple Pay in apps and on the web
  - Track your orders
  - Use Apple Cash
  - Use Apple Card
  - Use Savings
  - Pay for transit
  - Access your home, hotel room, and vehicle
  - Add identity cards
  - Use passes
  - Use COVID-19 vaccination cards
  - Check your Apple Account balance
  - Use Express Mode
  - Organize your Wallet
  - Remove cards or passes
- - Check the weather
  - Check the weather in other locations
  - View weather maps
  - Manage weather notifications
  - Use Weather widgets
  - Learn the weather icons
- Use Siri
- Find out what Siri can do
- Tell Siri about yourself
- Have Siri announce calls and notifications
- Add Siri Shortcuts
- About Siri Suggestions
- Use Siri in your car
- Change Siri settings
- Contact emergency services
- Use Emergency SOS via satellite
- Request Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Set up and view your Medical ID
- Use Check In
- Manage Crash Detection
- Reset privacy and security settings in an emergency
- Set up Family Sharing
- Add Family Sharing members
- Remove Family Sharing members
- Share subscriptions
- Share purchases
- Share locations with family and locate lost devices
- Set up Apple Cash Family and Apple Card Family
- Set up parental controls
- Set up a child’s device
- Get started with Screen Time
- Protect your vision health with Screen Distance
- Set up Screen Time
- Set communication and safety limits and block inappropriate content
- Set up Screen Time for a family member
- Charging cable
- Power adapters
- MagSafe chargers and battery packs
- MagSafe cases and sleeves
- Qi-certified wireless chargers
- - Use AirPods
  - Use EarPods
- Apple Watch
- - Wirelessly stream videos and photos to Apple TV or a smart TV
  - Connect to a display with a cable
- HomePod and other wireless speakers
- External storage devices
- Bluetooth accessories
- Printers
- Share your internet connection
- Allow phone calls on your iPad and Mac
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Cut, copy, and paste between iPhone and other devices
- Stream video or mirror the screen of your iPhone
- Start SharePlay instantly
- Use AirDrop to send items
- Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable
- Intro to CarPlay
- Connect to CarPlay
- Use Siri
- Use your vehicle’s built-in controls
- Get turn-by-turn directions
- Report traffic incidents
- Change the map view
- Make phone calls
- Play music
- View your calendar
- Send and receive text messages
- Announce incoming text messages
- Play podcasts
- Play audiobooks
- Listen to news stories
- Control your home
- Use other apps with CarPlay
- Rearrange icons on CarPlay Home
- Change settings in CarPlay
- Get started with accessibility features
- Turn on accessibility features for setup
- Change Siri accessibility settings
- Open features with Accessibility Shortcut
- - Overview
  - Lock iPhone to one app with Guided Access
- Use built-in privacy and security protections
- Keep your Apple ID secure
- Create and manage Hide My Email addresses
- Protect your web browsing with iCloud Private Relay
- Use a private network address
- Use Advanced Data Protection
- Use Lockdown Mode
- Use Stolen Device Protection
- Receive warnings about sensitive content
- Use Contact Key Verification
- Turn iPhone on or off
- Force restart iPhone
- Update iOS
- Back up iPhone
- Reset iPhone settings
- Restore all content from a backup
- Restore purchased and deleted items
- Sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone
- Erase iPhone
- Install or remove configuration profiles
- Important safety information
- Important handling information
- Find more resources for software and service
- FCC compliance statement
- ISED Canada compliance statement
- Ultra Wideband information
- Class 1 Laser information
- Apple and the environment
- Disposal and recycling information
- Unauthorized modification of iOS
Copyright

When you delete data, it no longer appears in apps on iPhone, but it isn’t erased from iPhone storage. To permanently remove all of your content and settings from your iPhone, erase (wipe) your iPhone. For example, erase iPhone before you sell it, trade it in, or give it away.

Before you begin

If you intend to sell your iPhone, trade it in, or give it away, see the Apple Support article What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone, iPad, or iPodtouch for steps to take before erasing iPhone.
To save your content and settings, back up your iPhone shortly before erasing it or when you’re given the option during the erase process. You can use the backup to later restore your data on a new iPhone or iPad.
Have your iPhone passcode ready. If you don’t remember it, see the Apple Support article If you forgot the passcode on your iPhone, or your iPhone is disabled.
Have your AppleID password ready. If you don’t remember it, see the Recover your AppleID website.
If you received your iPhone from someone else and it’s still associated with their AppleID, return it to them and ask them to follow the instructions in the Apple Support article What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone, iPad, or iPodtouch. Otherwise, you won’t be able to erase it.

Use Settings to erase iPhone

Go to Settings > General> Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Do one of the following:
- Prepare your content and settings to transfer to a new iPhone: Tap Get Started, then follow the onscreen instructions. When you finish, return to Settings> General> Transfer or Reset iPhone, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Erase all of your data from iPhone: Tap Erase All Content and Settings.

Use a computer to erase iPhone

You can use a Mac or WindowsPC to erase all data and settings from your iPhone, restore iPhone to factory settings, and install the latest version of iOS.

Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB or USB-C cable. You may also need an adapter. See Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable.
Turn on your iPhone.
Do one of the following:
- On a Mac (macOS10.15 or later): Click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a Finder window, click the iPhone button in the Finder sidebar (below Locations), click General at the top of the window, then click Restore iPhone.
- On a Mac (macOS 10.14 or earlier) or a Windows PC: Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes (see the Apple Support article Update to the latest version of iTunes). Open iTunes, click the iPhone button near the top left of the iTunes window, click Summary, then click Restore iPhone.

For troubleshooting steps, see the Apple Support article If you can’t update or restore your iPhone.

Helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

FAQs

Erase iPhone? ›

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. Do one of the following: Prepare your content and settings to transfer to a new iPhone: Tap Get Started, then follow the onscreen instructions. When you finish, return to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.

Does erase iPhone delete everything? ›

When you tap Erase All Content and Settings, it completely erases your device, including any credit or debit cards you added for Apple Pay and any photos, contacts, music, or apps. It will also turn off iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and other services.

How do I wipe my iPhone to sell it? ›

Go back to Settings and tap General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Erase All Content and Settings. If you turned on Find My [device], you may need to enter your Apple ID and password. If your device uses eSIM, choose the option to erase your device and the eSIM profile when asked.

Discover More Details ›

How to prepare an iPhone for a new owner? ›

Go to Settings > [ your name], scroll down, tap Sign Out, enter your Apple ID password, then tap Turn Off. Erase all content and settings that contain personal information. If you previously turned on Find My for your iPhone, Activation Lock is removed when you erase iPhone, making it ready for a new owner.

Find Out More ›

Can iPhone be recovered after erase? ›

You can restore content, settings, and apps from a backup to a new or newly erased iPhone. Important: To restore your iPhone, you must have a backup to restore from. See Back up iPhone.

Learn More Now ›

Is an erased iPhone usable? ›

What Happens When a Lost iPhone is Wiped? Lost Mode locks down the ‌iPhone‌ and prevents it from being accessed in iTunes when plugged into a computer, but it can't stop someone from wiping an ‌iPhone‌ via iTunes using recovery mode or DFU mode. Even if your ‌iPhone‌ is fully erased, the person who has it can't use it.

Keep Reading ›

What do I lose when I erase my iPhone? ›

WARNING: If you choose the Erase All Content and Settings option, all of your content is removed. See Erase iPhone. Choose an option: Reset All Settings: All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults.

Tell Me More ›

Is it safe to erase iPhone and sell it? ›

When you delete data, it no longer appears in apps on iPhone, but it isn't erased from iPhone storage. To permanently remove all of your content and settings from your iPhone, erase (wipe) your iPhone. For example, erase iPhone before you sell it, trade it in, or give it away.

How do I wipe my iPhone instantly? ›

Go to Settings > General > Reset, then tap Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode or Apple ID password.

Tell Me More ›

Is factory reset enough before selling a phone? ›

Basic file deletion and factory reset are not enough

A lot of people perform a factory reset to wipe everything off their Android device, before disposing or reselling it. But the problem is that a factory reset doesn't really delete everything.

How do I erase all data from my iPhone? ›

Erase your iPhone or iPad and restore it to factory settings

Go to Settings > General > Reset, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Enter your passcode or Apple ID password.
Wait for all content to be safely removed from your device.

Oct 24, 2022