How to Factory Reset iPhone (Before You Sell It)

A factory reset wipes everything from an iPhone and puts it back to how it came out of the box. You do it before you sell or trade in a phone, when you're passing it to a family member, or as a last resort for a phone that's behaving badly. The erase itself is a few taps. What trips people up is everything around it: the eSIM choice, Stolen Device Protection and Activation Lock. Here's how to get all of it right.

Before you reset: three checks

1. Back up. Use iCloud (Settings, your name, iCloud, iCloud Backup, Back Up Now) or a computer. The erase is permanent.
2. Unpair your Apple Watch if you have one, using the Watch app. Apple says unpairing is how you securely erase the watch.
3. Know your passwords. You'll need the iPhone passcode and your Apple Account password during the reset.

Factory reset your iPhone step by step

1. Open Settings and tap General.
2. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap Erase All Content and Settings, then Continue.
4. Choose whether to keep or delete your eSIM.
5. Enter your passcode. If a backup is running, wait for it to finish.
6. Enter your Apple Account password. This signs out of iCloud and turns off Activation Lock.
7. Wait. When the phone shows the Hello screen, it's done.

The eSIM choice

Most recent iPhones use an eSIM rather than a plastic SIM, so the reset asks what to do with it. Apple's warning is worth reading twice: if you erase the eSIM, you need to contact your carrier to reactivate your plan. If you're moving to a new iPhone, transfer the eSIM to the new phone first, then delete it on the old one. If you're resetting to fix a problem and keeping the phone, keep the eSIM.

Selling? Turn off Stolen Device Protection first

This is the step many guides miss. Stolen Device Protection, available from iOS 17.3, adds extra checks when your iPhone is away from familiar places like home or work. Apple says to turn it off before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone. If you try to do it while you're out, a security delay starts and you'll have to wait before you can switch it off. So do it at home: Settings, Face ID & Passcode, Stolen Device Protection.

Reset choices that don't erase everything

Option (Transfer or Reset, Reset)	What it does
Reset All Settings	Puts settings back to default, keeps your data
Reset Network Settings	Clears Wi-Fi networks and passwords, fixes many connection problems
Reset Keyboard Dictionary	Clears learned words
Reset Home Screen Layout	Puts app icons back in the default order
Erase All Content and Settings	The full factory reset

If the phone is misbehaving rather than being sold, try Reset All Settings or Reset Network Settings first. They often fix the problem without the work of restoring everything afterwards.

Already sold it without resetting?

You can still protect yourself. Sign in at iCloud.com/find, choose the phone and select Remove This Device. Apple explains this removes Activation Lock from a phone you've forgotten to clear, so the new owner can use it. Change your Apple Account password too if you're worried about what was on it.

If you've forgotten your passcode

You can't use the Settings route without the passcode. Apple offers a separate process to erase a locked iPhone, either from the lock screen on recent iOS versions or with a computer in recovery mode. You'll still need your Apple Account password afterwards to get past Activation Lock.

After the reset

If you're keeping the phone, follow the setup screens and choose Restore from iCloud Backup or from your computer. Your apps download again, and your photos come back if you use iCloud Photos. Messaging apps such as WhatsApp keep their own backups, so check yours in the app's settings before you erase. If you edit videos on the phone, export finished projects first; my guide to editing a video on iPhone shows where they're saved. If you rely on a password manager, make sure it's synced first; my look at whether LastPass is safe covers what to check.

Moving to a new iPhone instead?

If the reset is because you've bought a new iPhone, set the new one up first. Quick Start lets you hold the two phones together and transfer apps, settings and data directly, which is faster than restoring from iCloud. Check that everything has arrived on the new phone, including your messages and photos, then come back and erase the old one. Doing it in that order means you always have one working copy of everything.

How long does it take?

The erase itself is quick, often a few minutes, though the backup step before it can take much longer if you haven't backed up recently. Keep the iPhone plugged in and on Wi-Fi so it doesn't stop halfway. Restoring afterwards depends on how much you have; photos and apps keep downloading in the background for a while after the Home Screen appears.

My verdict

Back up, unpair your watch, turn off Stolen Device Protection at home, then Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Erase All Content and Settings. Keep the eSIM unless you're done with the phone, and if it's already gone, remove it at iCloud.com/find.

Frequently asked questions

How do I factory reset my iPhone?

Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, then Erase All Content and Settings.

Does a factory reset remove my Apple Account?

Yes. You enter your password and it signs out and turns off Activation Lock.

Should I delete my eSIM when I reset?

Only if you're done with the phone. Deleting it means calling your carrier to reactivate.

Why can't I turn off Stolen Device Protection?

You're away from a familiar location, so a security delay applies. Try again at home or wait.

Can I reset an iPhone I've already sold?

Remove it at iCloud.com/find to clear Activation Lock for the new owner.