Wiping your iPhone is a crucial step in keeping your data safe. It’s also necessary before selling or giving away your phone as it’s likely that a third party will find out all of your personal information and contacts.
It’s important to get into the habit of wiping your iPhone periodically. This is because an un-wiped phone will collect more junk and store more information over time. This will ultimately slow your phone down and could even lead to privacy issues.
There are a few ways to wipe an iPhone. You can either use the built-in erase function, or you can restore your phone to its factory settings. The erase function is found in the Settings menu while restoring your phone to its factory settings is done through iTunes. We’ll go over both methods so that you can choose the one that’s best for you.
How to factory reset your iPhone:
Back-Up your iPhone
Your iPhone is full of precious memories and important information–make sure you back it up before wiping it clean!
Backing up your iPhone is a very important step to take before doing anything else with your device. Whether you are planning on selling your old phone or just want to make sure your data is safe in case something happens to your phone, taking the time to back it up is well worth it.
There are two main ways to back up an iPhone: iCloud and iTunes. iCloud is a cloud-based backup solution that automatically backs up your device whenever it is connected to a Wi-Fi network. iTunes is a software program that you can use to back up your device manually or automatically.
If you are using iCloud to back up your iPhone, make sure you are connected to a Wi-Fi network and have enough storage space in your iCloud account. To back up your device using iCloud, open the Settings app and tap on [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Tap the button at the top of the screen to start backing up your device.
If you are using iTunes to back up your iPhone, connect your device to your computer and open iTunes. Click on the device icon in the upper-left corner of the iTunes window and select Back Up from the Summary panel. Click the button at the top of the screen to start backing up your device.
Transfer 2FA Accounts
Transferring your 2FA accounts is a process that allows you to move all of your 2FA accounts from one device to another. This can be useful if you are changing phones, or if you want to move your 2FA accounts to a new device for added security. The process is simple and only takes a few minutes to complete. Follow these steps to transfer your 2FA accounts:
- On the device from which you will be transferring your 2FA accounts, open the Authy app and select “Settings.”
- Tap on “Transfer Accounts.”
- Select the devices you would like to transfer your account(s) to, and then tap on “Next.”
- Enter the 6-digit code that appears on the screen of the destination device, and then tap on “Transfer.”
Once you have followed these steps, your accounts will be successfully transferred to the destination device. You can now use Authy to generate codes on your new device and keep your account(s) safe and secure.
Unpair your apple watch
If you have an Apple Watch, you will need to unpair it from your iPhone before you can begin using it with a new device. To do this, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and go to the My Watch tab. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and tap on Unpair Apple Watch.
This will erase all data from your Apple Watch and remove it from your iPhone’s list of paired devices. You can then follow the instructions in our article on how to set up a new Apple Watch to get started with your new device.
How to wipe an iPhone using iTunes?
Wiping an iPhone is a necessary step for many reasons. Maybe you are selling your old phone and want to make sure all of your data is deleted. Or maybe you are upgrading to a new phone and want to start fresh. No matter the reason, wiping your iPhone is a simple process that takes just a few minutes.
- Turn off Find My iPhone if you have it enabled
- Boot into recovery mode by hitting the home button with volume up and power button simultaneously.
- If successful, the recovery mode screen will appear on your iOS device. Tap “Trust This Computer” ->”Turn Off Find My Phone” -> “Erase All Content And Settings.” Don’t press the Erase Now yet! Just wait until the next enable step.
Now that you have successfully booted into recovery mode, it is time to erase your device.
There are two ways you can do this: through iCloud or iTunes. If you choose to do it through iCloud, simply sign in with your Apple ID on the website and select “Erase iPhone.” However, if you decide to use iTunes, you will need to connect your device to your computer and open iTunes. Once your iPhone appears in the iTunes window, select it and click the “Summary” tab. Under “Restore iPhone,” click “Erase.”
How to wipe an iPhone without passcode via iCloud?
It’s easy to wipe your old phone with one that you’re migrating, but what if you want to switch providers? Follow these steps to wipe the old phone without a passcode via iCloud and your data will be securely erased forever.
- To begin the wiping process, go into Settings -> General -> Reset on your iPhone or iPad (not newer than iOS 10). Click Erase All Content and Settings from inside there. Doing so ensures that any information about your previous device stays completely secret.
- Again, disable Find My iPhone via iCloud which is located in Settings on most devices -> iCloud -> Sign Out -> Enter your Apple ID password -> Find My iPhone -> Toggle it off. This step is crucial as you will not be able to wipe your device if Find My iPhone is turned on.
Now that you’ve completed these two steps, you’re ready to erase your device!
If you’re using iCloud:
Open icloud.com on a web browser and sign in with the same Apple ID as was used on the iPhone or iPad you are wiping. Click Find My iPhone from the menu bar at the top of the screen, and then select All Devices from the drop-down menu. Select the device you want to erase, and then click Erase [device]. A pop-up window will appear, asking you to confirm your decision. Click Erase again, and then enter your iPhone password when prompted.
Your device will now be erased remotely!
If you’re using a computer:
Launch iTunes and connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer. Click on the device in the sidebar, and then click the Summary tab. Under Options, select Erase Data (if you’re using an older version, this is called “Wipe Contents and Settings”). Click Apply, and then enter your iPhone passcode. Once your device has been wiped, it’s ready to be set up with a new Apple ID and password.
How do you factory reset a locked iPhone?
Hard resetting the phone wipes its memory, showing all data on-screen. You can also restore it to factory settings
1) Connect your iPhone to your PC with iTunes running
2) Open the device and observer that only one button is displayed; you are about to lose everything so be sure to stop.
3) Choose “Restore”
4) Accept Terms of Agreement
5) Select an Apple Logo
6). Enter the passcode
7) Read on your new home screen that it has been restored to factory settings
How to factory reset iPhone without passcode and computer?
Desktops and laptops can be wiped easily – just follow the same steps you would use to uninstall any other software. iPhones are a different story, but there are ways to do it that don’t involve a computer. The first step is deciding whether you want your iPhone to stay unlocked (for example, in case you know someone who could hack into it) or locked so that nobody has access but you. Whether you’re deleting twice or not at all, these methods will delete all data from an iPhone. That includes anything stored on the phone and synced with iCloud such as pictures, videos and messages.
Start from the Settings app and scroll down to “General.” From there, tap “Reset” at the bottom of the screen. You should see a pop-up that asks if you’re sure you want to erase all content and settings – hit “Erase iPhone.” If you have a passcode or biometric lock (like Face ID) set up on your phone, you’ll be prompted to enter it. If not, the process will begin and your iPhone will restart once it’s done.
If you want to keep your iPhone unlocked after resetting, go back into Settings > General > Reset and choose “Reset All Settings.” This won’t delete any of your data but just resets all your settings to their defaults. If you want to keep your data and start from scratch, choose “Erase All Content and Settings.” This will delete everything on your iPhone, including any photos, videos or messages stored on the phone or in iCloud. It will also reset all your settings to their defaults. You can always restore a backup if you need your old data back.
Closing Thoughts
There are a few things to keep in mind when resetting your iPhone. First, if you have any important data stored on the phone that you don’t want to lose, make sure to back it up before resetting.
Moreover, if you have an Apple Watch paired with your iPhone, unpair it before resetting. If you don’t, the reset process will also erase all data from your Apple Watch. Finally, if you’re using a cellular plan with your iPhone, make sure to cancel it before resetting or you’ll be charged for the next month’s service.
