How to Reset iPhone and What Happens When You Reset iPhone

Quick Tips

•  To reset your iPhone, go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → select Reset or Erase All Content and Settings.
• The Reset section offers multiple options, you can choose a preferred one, as per your requirements.
• Erase All Content and Settings deletes all data on the device and reverts it to its original factory settings.

How to Reset iPhone to Factory Settings

Before we move on to erasing data or settings on the iPhone, check out the section below to ensure your data or important passwords aren’t gone for a toss.

What to Do Before Factory Resetting Your iPhone

• Back up your iPhone – Even if you back up iPhone data regularly, it is wiser to check and ensure that it’s up-to-date, so you don’t accidentally erase any important data.

• Record settings and configurations – If you have specific settings, configurations, or application licenses you’d like to retain, make a note of them so you can set them up again after the reset.

Now, that’s pretty much it if you’re resetting your iPhone for troubleshooting or casual maintenance. However, if you’re passing or selling off your iPhone, also check the following settings and conditions,

• Sign Out of Accounts.
• Disable Find My iPhone.
• Disconnect Devices like Mac, Apple Watch, or iPad.
• Deauthorize your iPhone from the App Store.

How to Reset your iPhone

Step 1: Open Settings. Go to General.

Step 2: Scroll to the bottom and select ‘Transfer or Reset iPhone’.

Step 3: To factory reset all data, select ‘Erase all Content and Settings’ → Continue. Enter your device passcode when prompted.

Step 4: To reset particular settings, select Reset → select the reset option → enter your device passcode.

What Happens When You Factory Reset Your iPhone

Apple offers two major options, ‘Erase All Content and Settings’ and ‘Reset’. Notably, reset is further segregated into settings-wise reset, so you don’t have to reset the whole device because of a small issue.

Reset vs. Erase All Content and Settings

As obvious from the term, Erase All Content and Settings wipes off your iPhone, i.e., erases all the current data and returns the phone to its original settings. On the other hand, Reset simply resets the settings on your iPhone, without hampering any data, media, or apps stored on the device.

Will Resetting your iPhone Make It Faster or Improve Battery Life

Since it clears the cache and wipes out other unnecessary data and settings, generally resetting iPhone settings or factory resets will improve both the performance and battery life.

However, unless you’re facing major performance or battery issues the difference will be negligible. So, we advise that you don’t reset iPhone settings casually and reserve it for some major troubleshooting emergencies such as 5G not working or the phone keeps losing network connection.

Explaining Various Reset Options Available on iPhone

As shown and explained above, several different settings are available for a reset under the reset option. Here is a brief about each offering,

• Reset All Settings – While no data or media, this will reset all settings including,
  • Network settings.
  • Device settings like dark mode, brightness, EQ, etc.
  • Privacy settings.
  • Keyboard dictionary.
  • Location Settings.
  • Apple Pay cards.

• Reset Network Settings – This will erase all network-related settings such as,
  • Stored Wi-Fi names and passwords.
  • Saved Bluetooth devices and settings.
  • Hotspot settings.
  • Cellular data roaming may be disabled.
  • VPN settings not installed via a configuration profile.
  • MDM (mobile device management) data, if not installed via a configuration profile.
  • All manually trusted certificates for websites or apps.
  • The device name is reverted back to the iPhone.

• Reset Keyboard Dictionary
  • Custom words added to the dictionary.
  • Auto-correct and related settings.
  • Name, address, or email prompts recorded by the keyboard.

• Reset Home Screen Layout – It wipes off all changes you’ve made to the Home Screen and returns to the built-in, original layout.

• Reset Location & Privacy – You will lose all location and privacy-based settings here, i.e., the location, camera, microphone, or other permissions given to apps will be revoked. To check out the list in detail go to Settings → Privacy & Security.

Notably, as and when you reset certain settings, you’ll be prompted to re-enter the passwords, permissions, and custom settings that were reset. So, remember to jot down important passwords or data before resetting.

FAQs About Restoring iPhone to Factory Settings