How to restore factory settings on iPhone 7. Completely reset the contents on your mobile device. iTunes comes to the rescue

A “reset” on an iPhone 5s, iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPhone 6, iPhone 4s, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s and so on involves many varieties: a basic reset, a full reset, a hard reset that deletes all content, or restoring from a backup.

In this post we will look at all the meanings. Before you begin, make sure you know what type of reset you need.

A basic reset solves many problems, but not all. In some cases—for example, when the phone is completely frozen and unresponsive to pressing the Sleep/Wake button—you'll need to reboot, which is called a hard reset.

A hard reset reboots your phone and refreshes the memory in which apps are running (don't worry, it doesn't delete your data)—you'll have to start from scratch.

In most cases a hard reset will not be necessary, but when you do, follow these steps:

  1. With the phone screen facing you, simultaneously hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button in the bottom center.
  2. When the power off slider appears, do not release the buttons. Hold them both until you see the screen go dark.
  3. Wait for the Apple logo to appear.
  4. When this happens, you can let go and the iPhone will reset.

How to reset an iPhone correctly - hard and soft and for all versions of iOS

Even though it sounds scary, there may come a time when you need to reset your iPhone.

Just before we continue, it's important to know that you can perform two different types of reset operations:

A soft reset is a simple reboot. This is useful when some of the applications are not responding properly. This is also necessary if your phone cannot get important functions to work, such as turning off the phone by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button.

Hard Reset - Completely erases all information on the phone, restoring it back to its factory state. This is generally useful if you are planning to sell your phone or just want to start from scratch.

The steps listed below are based on iOS 7.1.1, but they apply to previous versions of iOS as well, with minor differences in the user interface. Performing a soft reset is quite simple.

  1. Simply press and hold both the Power and Home buttons simultaneously for at least 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo.
  2. You can release both buttons once the Apple logo appears.
  3. Your phone will go through the normal startup process.
  4. You will be returned to your home screen.

I mentioned this above, but it's worth mentioning again that a hard reset will completely erase all content from your iPhone.

So if you still have any contacts, photos or anything that you want to back up, do so before following the next steps.

Method one - hard reset directly from iPhone

  • Go to settings.
  • Click General.
  • Scroll to the very bottom and click Reset.
  • Click "Erase all content and settings."
  • Click "Remove" iPhone. iTunes (download it here) will begin restoring the phone to its original state.

Method 2 - Reset using iTunes

As mentioned in Method 1, I suggest you perform a hard reset directly on the iPhone itself, but if you're more comfortable using iTunes on your desktop/laptop, follow these steps.

Connect iPhone to your desktop/laptop.

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. Once your iPhone is detected, press the iPhone button.
  3. On the Overview tab, click the Restore iPhone button.
  4. You will be prompted to create a backup of your iPhone. If you want to back up all your data, go ahead. In this guide, we will erase everything without a backup.
  5. Click "Restore". iTunes will then begin restoring the phone to its original state.
  6. Once the process is complete, your iPhone will restart and you will be presented with a "Slide to Setup" welcome screen, like when you turned on your iPhone for the first time.

This quick guide explains the difference between a soft reset and a hard reset and shows how you can use each when needed.

If you have another method that you think is easier, drop us a message in the comments section and we'll be happy to look into it.


There are other problems associated with this, such as iOS not responding or not turning on.

If for some reason Apple changes the way you reset or turn on your phone before we can update this article, you can see the latest method on Apple's website.

How to Hard Reset iPhone 7 Series

The hard reset process is slightly different for the iPhone 7 series. This is because the Home button is no longer a real button on these models. This is now a 3D Touch panel. As a result, Apple has changed how these models can be reset.

On the iPhone 7 series, all the steps are the same as above, except you don't hold down the Home button.

Instead, you must hold down the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time.

The reboot and hard reset instructions in this article work with the following models:

  • Restore to factory settings: If you want to erase all data from your iPhone and start from scratch (this may solve some hard errors and is also good if you are going to sell your iPhone), try restoring it to factory settings.
  • Recovery mode. If your iPhone is stuck in a reboot loop or can't get past the Apple logo during startup, try iPhone Recovery Mode.
  • DFU Mode: When trying to downgrade your iOS or jailbreak your phone, you will need DFU (Disk Firmware Update) mode.

How to reset iPhone or iPad to factory settings

Resetting your iPhone or iPad to factory settings is a good way to fix problems and if you want to sell it or give it away.

In solving problems, a reset can be quite effective if your device is frozen or suffering from problems that you cannot identify.

Modern electronic devices are very complex and can glitch from time to time.

Resetting can fix random problems that cause the device to freeze on a loop, become sluggish, or otherwise degrade performance.

If you want to completely reset your device, then you need to take a few steps, but first of all make sure you have a backup.

If not, you can use iCloud or iTunes to create it. For iCloud, go to Settings > iCloud > Backup and make sure the feature is turned on.

To use iTunes, you need to connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer using a charging cable.

Once you're sure you've backed up your iPad or iPhone, you're ready to perform a factory reset.

To perform a reset, go to Settings > General > Reset, then select Erase Content and Settings. After entering your password, if you have set one, a warning window will appear.

You will need to enter your Apple ID password to confirm the action, after which you will return to the original settings that you saw when you first used the device.

Is it possible to save data after resetting an iPhone?

Almost certainly not. Data on an iOS device is automatically encrypted, and resetting the device destroys the encryption key, making it more or less impossible to get anything back once everything is completely wiped and reset without access to the backup.

In an emergency, you can try talking to Apple employees, but at least it's a long process.

Restoring iPhone or iPad

Once the factory reset is complete, you will need to start setting up your iPhone from the beginning; entering your details, WiFi password and a few other things until you get to a page that asks you how you want to set up your iPhone.

You have three options: Set Up as New iPhone, Restore from iCloud Backup, or Restore from iTunes Backup - select the iCloud option and you'll be prompted to enter your iCloud account details.


Once you do this and agree to the terms, your iPhone will begin to recover all your data.

Obviously this can take a while if you have large backups or a slow internet connection, so don't try this if you're in a hurry. Once the backup is complete, your iPhone will restart and then begin the big job of downloading all your apps.

Recover iPhone or iPad using iTunes Backup

Just like the iCloud instructions we've already outlined, follow the instructions on the Set Up iPhone screen and then choose Restore from iTunes.

You'll be prompted to connect to iTunes, so connect your iPhone and you'll see an iTunes screen that gives you the option to restore your backup.

Click Continue and your iPhone will be set up automatically, with apps restored from your iTunes backup.

When everything is ready, you will have a freshly prepared system. Hopefully, any problems you encountered before are a thing of the past. Good luck.


Hello everyone, dear readers, in today’s undoubtedly useful article, I will tell you how you can quickly and effortlessly reset your iPhone (4s – 5s) to factory settings, and delete all the information on it. You can do this, almost like any other operation in iOS, in just a few taps.

Possible reasons for resetting an iPhone (4s – 5s) to factory settings and erasing all files and data on this iPhone:

  1. Sale. The most obvious and understandable reason. If you are going to sell your iPhone (4s - 5s), then of course you need to delete all data on it so that third parties do not take possession of it;
  2. Poor speed. Also, one of the reasons for resetting an iPhone or iPad is its low performance and slow operating speed. In most cases, completely erasing the iPhone or iPad and collecting settings will solve this problem.
  3. Get rid of trash. This is such a strange reason. Sometimes, some owners just want to clean their mobile gadget iPhone (4s - 5s) from unnecessary files, in other words, from garbage.

So, for whatever reason you want to reset your iPhone or iPad and erase it, in any case, the method described below will come in handy.

Preparation

Before you clean your iPhone (4s – 5s), you need to back it up.

You never know what can go wrong, and having a backup copy on your computer, you can always return everything back:

  1. Launch iTunes and connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer using a USB cable;
  2. Go to the main iTunes window and select the “Browse” tab;
  3. Next, you need to find the “Backups” section and in this section click on the “Make a backup copy” button;
  4. Complete the backup process.

Restoring settings

If you just need to reset your iPhone or iPad to factory settings, without completely erasing all your data (that is, the data will be erased, but the files will remain), then you can use the instructions below:

If you need to completely clean an iPhone (4s – 5s) or iPad, then use the following instructions.

Complete wipe from device

In order to completely erase your iPhone (4s - 5s) or iPad gadget, you need to do several sequential steps. Don't be afraid, they are not complicated:


In principle, if you are not preparing your gadget for sale, you can stop at this stage.

If you are cleaning an iPhone or iPad for the purpose of selling, then you will need to perform one more operation - log out of your iCloud account.

This is done very simply:

  1. Take your gadget and go to the “Settings” section;
  2. Next, you need to go to the iCloud section;
  3. In the window that opens, go down to the very bottom and click the “Exit” button.

That's all, in principle, all the operations that needed to be performed to clean an iPhone (4s - 5s) or iPad.

Via iTunes

You can also restore your mobile gadget using iTunes:

  1. Launch iTunes and connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer using a USB cable;
  2. In the main window, in the “Overview” section, find the “Restore” button and click it;
  3. After a certain amount of time has passed (usually no more than five minutes), your gadget will be restored.

That’s all for me, if you have questions regarding the topic of today’s article, you can ask them in the comments to this entry. I will try to answer your question as accurately as possible. Also, I would be very grateful if you share this material on your social media accounts.

Owners of Apple smartphones have more than once encountered problems when the device began to slow down or software glitches appeared. The surest way to solve this problem is to reset your iPhone to factory settings. Apple developers have specifically implemented several methods for performing a hard reset to implement this function. All Hard Reset options will be described in detail below in the article.

You may need to reset your iPhone to factory settings for several reasons:

  • clear the device of accumulated data;
  • reset all settings to factory level;
  • remove damaged files or software.

This operation allows you to reboot the device and return it to all the factory settings that were present when it was released. The following versions of smartphones support system rollback:

  • 4-4s;
  • 5-5s;
  • 6-6s;
  • later models released after 2016.

iOS mobile OS allows you to reset settings to factory state not only on the iPhone, but also on the iPad. The developers have introduced several methods through which users can perform an operation to reset system parameters.

What happens if you reset your smartphone? When performing a factory reset procedure, all data from the phone is deleted. If you completely reset your iPhone and do not back up your files, then after rebooting the data will be destroyed. To select the appropriate option for deleting information, you must:

  1. Go to your smartphone settings.
  1. Select the “Basic” tab.
  1. Scroll through the menu to the “Reset” tab.

After selecting a section, a small menu will appear. The owner of the smartphone will be offered options to choose to reset previously made settings to the factory level.

The following types of factory reset are available:

  • reset keyboard dictionary;
  • reset network settings;
  • Resetting the Home setting.

Additionally, the owner of the gadget can reset the location settings to the factory level. You may receive geolocation warnings indicating that you need to turn off Find My iPhone.

You can reset the network settings if the gadget stops responding to available connections. Another reason for carrying out an operation through the settings may be a lack of connection or interruptions when working in Wi-Fi mode. Before carrying out a full system rollback to the factory level, you must reset the password.

Preparation

It is up to the user to decide whether a backup copy of the data is needed. It is recommended to use special means of storing information when performing a system rollback procedure to the factory level.

To do this, you can choose one of the following methods:

  1. Save to iCloud.
  2. Copy and restore via iTunes.

Actions are completed in a few clicks. Using these data saving methods, all information will be restored to the mobile device after a system rollback. At the same time, you do not need to upload files yourself and distribute them into sections.

iOS and services that work with this system allow you to carry out all actions automatically. A complete backup of information is made. When you reset the settings, all data is deleted and the operating system is reinstalled.

When recovery mode is activated, all programs and multimedia files are downloaded to the device again using a PC and a USB cable. Additionally, the iCloud cloud storage service can be used.

Save to iCloud

Via iCloud, saving occurs remotely. You can do everything through your smartphone. The application is a system one.

To activate it, you must:

  1. Go to settings.
  1. The menu that opens should be scrolled to the “iCloud” tab.
  1. To access the online storage, you must enter your Apple ID, password and click on the “Login” button.
  1. Immediately after logging in, a notification about merging contacts will appear. To save the information, click on the “Merge” item.

The save mode will begin. Depending on the data transfer speed and volume, you will need to wait from 1 to 5 minutes.

After this, a window will appear where the user can choose from all applications and sources of information, the data of which can be copied automatically.

Saving is activated by swiping to the right. Scrolling down the window, the “Storage and copies” tab will appear.

By clicking on this item, a new menu will open. It displays the total available and occupied volume of copied data.

To create a full backup of the device in cloud storage, you need to click on the “Create a copy” item.

To quickly copy all the information, it is better to use a stable Internet connection. Provides high speed data upload Wi-Fi network.

How to reconfigure to another user? To do this, simply sign out of your Apple ID and enter other login information. As a result, the gadget will have access to information and programs that the other person used.

Copy and restore via iTunes

What does it mean to restore iPhone in iTunes? This is a standard procedure for rolling back and updating the system, transferring all files from the device to a personal computer.

For this action you will need a PC, a USB cable for connection and iTunes software. After synchronizing the gadget with the software, controls are available that allow you to configure the device from your computer.

To activate the smartphone control system in the main program window you need to:

  1. Click on the mini image of the phone.
  1. To copy all available information on the gadget at the bottom of the screen, click on the “Create a copy now” button.

Restoring through iTunes occurs as follows. To do this, you need to have a copy saved through the program on your PC. Next, you need to click on the “Restore from copy” button. If you reset your iPhone to factory settings, all data on your iPhone may be deleted. Restoration will protect against information loss.

After this, iTunes will automatically download all saved data to the device. It is worth noting that the copy will replace the information previously posted on the smartphone.

Reset via iPhone

You can reset everything to factory settings on your iPhone through the system menu. How to completely clean the device? For this you will need:

  1. Go to the iPhone system menu.
  1. In a new window, open the “Basic” tab.
  1. In the iPhone menu that appears, click on the “Reset” item.

You can't completely reset your iPhone. There are several methods to choose from to reset the factory settings.

It is worth noting that to completely reset all settings and delete files on the iPhone, you will need to disable the password set in the system. Without this action, the system will not be able to perform a data reset operation.

You can reset your iPhone to factory settings using a key combination. This method is called Hard Reset. A hard reset deletes all data on the device. The operation will be useful if the gadget does not start or a system error appears.

To do this, you must completely turn off your phone. Next, on your iPhone, you need to press the Home and Power keys together and hold them for up to 15 seconds.

The iPhone logo will light up and a loading bar will appear below it. After releasing the buttons, you must wait until the files are uploaded. After this, the iPhone will start with factory settings. When performing such an operation, it is necessary that the battery charge is at least 50%, otherwise the recovery process may be interrupted.

You can reset your iPhone to factory settings through iTunes. To do this you will need:

  1. Go to the main section and select the tab at the top of the “Restore iPhone” window.
  1. The application will notify you that you need to disable the “find iPhone” function, which is located in the main menu. To do this, on your iPhone you need to click on the “Settings” icon.

  1. The system will ask you to confirm your choice of action. To do this, you need to enter the password for your Apple ID account and click on the “Turn off” button.
  1. You need to return to iTunes and click on the “Restore iPhone” button again. The system will automatically scan the iPhone and reset it to factory settings.

After this, the data from the iPhone will be backed up. There will be a complete rollback of the settings to the factory level and the removal of all system information. The system will download the updated OS version to the smartphone.

After this action, the installation of the downloaded system on the phone will begin. The smartphone will reboot several times. Do not disconnect the device from the USB cable during installation. This may damage the download and the procedure will have to start all over again.

After completing this action, the program will notify you that the download is complete. The phone will restart for the last time and the welcome screen will load, after which you need to configure the device from scratch.

To download previously copied files, without disconnecting your smartphone from the USB cable, click the “Restore from copy” button in the program.

iTunes will automatically download all files copied earlier and restart the iPhone. After this, the device will be completely updated.

Results and comments

Apple has provided many options for restoring the functionality of its devices. The procedure is not much different on different iPhone models. Resetting to factory settings will help both when selling your phone, in order to delete all confidential data, and simply to clean your smartphone of accumulated software garbage. If you have any problems when trying to perform a Hard Reset or have any questions, ask them in the comments, and our specialists will try to give them the most detailed answer.

Users can draw their own conclusions about which of the methods described above suits them best. Each of the options considered helps reset settings via iPhone. You can also perform this action through a personal computer.

Regardless of the method used to perform a factory reset, it is recommended that you back up your data. It will allow you to save information and quickly load it after resetting your iPhone. The listed methods are suitable for all gadgets running iOS mobile OS version 7 and higher.

Video instruction

You can watch detailed video instructions on how to reset your iPhone to factory settings. The created video will help users better understand the implementation of all the provided actions.

Not every iPhone owner is fluent in the art of “communicating” with his “smart” phone. It happens that you need to reset your iPhone, but you don’t know how to do it. We invite you to take a short excursion into the world of innovation and technology.

iTunes to help you

So, this method of restoring factory settings on an iPhone is based on using iTunes. By the way, you can reset your iPod touch and iPad to factory settings in the same way. During the procedure, all contents and data of the device, including contacts, photos, audio and video files, calendars, will be deleted.

2. Using the same program, make a backup copy of the device, then transfer the content to your PC and synchronize it.

3. Turn off Find My iPhone. To do this, go to Settings > iCloud and turn off Activation Lock.

Four steps to restoring your iPhone

So, the above points have been successfully completed. The moment of truth has come - you need to restore the device, and for this:

1. Connect it to your computer (use the cable included in the package).

2. When the device (i.e. iPhone) appears in iTunes, simply select it. Then go to the "Review" tab and click "Restore".

3. Now press this button again to confirm the request to restore the original settings and delete the contents of the iPhone. Now trust iTunes, which itself will download the iOS software file and restore the original settings.

4. Once the recovery procedure is complete, the iPhone will restart. Then the message “Configure” will appear on its screen. Follow the instructions; by the way, you can configure the gadget as new or by restoring it from reserve.

Hard reset for iPhone?

There is another way, in case you for some reason cannot turn on your iPhone (glitch, forgot your password, etc.). Be very careful, this method is tough, i.e. when using it, you will not be able to save data. Before using this method, in order to avoid misunderstandings, we also recommend updating your iTunes to the latest version.

1. Turn off the device completely. If that doesn't work, press and hold the Home and Sleep/Wake keys at the same time for a few seconds until the phone turns off completely.

2. Now connect the USB cable of your device to your computer (PC only).

3. Then press and hold the Home button while connecting the USB to your iPhone.

4. And finally, the last thing - as soon as the screen for connecting iTunes appears, immediately release the button discussed in the previous paragraph (the “Home” button). If the screen does not appear, repeat steps 1-3 again.

Many people use smartphones called iPhones. These Apple products have won the hearts of subscribers. The multifunctional smartphone pleases with its work and capabilities. Sometimes you have to think about how to reset all settings on an iPhone. What will it take? What features of the process should every user know about? Understanding the assigned tasks will not be difficult. All you have to do is follow some instructions. They are all extremely simple and understandable. Even a beginner can handle them.

Preparation

In fact, everything is simpler than it seems. The thing is that the settings must be reset according to certain algorithms. But before carrying out the process, it is recommended to backup your data. This will help, if necessary, to return user information, as well as all previously configured settings.

You can create a copy using iTunes or iCloud. In the first case, you will have to use a computer, which is not entirely convenient. In the second, you are asked to go to “Settings” - “iCloud” and select “Create a backup copy” there.

About removal methods

Which ones exactly? The capabilities of modern gadgets never cease to amaze. Therefore, most functions can be activated using more than one method. How to reset all settings on an iPhone?

Currently, the following methods are proposed to solve this problem:

  • working with the gadget (it is important to remember the iPhone password);
  • using iTunes;
  • implementation of Hard Reset.

But if you want to get rid of installed content, you will have to act a little differently. By the way, some settings must be deleted manually. For example, data in browsers. Every iPhone owner should remember this. Especially if the smartphone is planned to be sold.

Uninstall with password

Initially, it is important to understand which method most users use. How to reset all settings on an iPhone? The first and most common advice is to use the standard capabilities of the gadget. In order to use it, a person must remember or know the iPhone password. Or you will have to choose some other reset method.

Instructions for implementing the process are as follows:

  1. Turn on iPhone. Be sure to wait until your mobile device is fully loaded. If the phone does not turn on, you can forget about resetting the settings using this method.
  2. Go to the "Settings" - "General" menu.
  3. Click on the "Reset" item.
  4. Select "Reset settings and content" from the menu that appears. You can click on "Reset all settings". Then the saved data will remain intact.
  5. Click on "Reset all settings" again. To confirm the operation, you must enter your mobile device password.

From now on, it’s clear how you can reset the settings on an iPhone 4 or any other. But, as already mentioned, this method is only relevant if a person has the password to the device. If it is not there, it is proposed to act differently.

Via iTunes

For example, use a specialized application for a mobile device called iTunes. This program greatly facilitates working with an Apple smartphone. The main thing is to know how to act in a given case.

How to reset your iPhone if you forgot your password? To do this you need:

  1. Download and install the latest version of iTunes on your computer. It is important to ensure that it is compatible with the smartphone you are using.
  2. Turn on your iPhone and launch the corresponding application on your PC.
  3. Using a special cable, connect the gadget to the computer. Wait a while - the device will be detected in iTunes.
  4. Click on the "General" item in the program.
  5. Select the "Restore iPhone" function.
  6. Confirm actions using Apple ID.

Now all that remains is to wait. After approximately 15-20 minutes, you can use a completely clean device. From now on, it’s clear how you can reset your iPhone to factory settings without a password.

About Hard Reset

Any modern smartphone has the ability to force a reboot and reset settings to factory settings. This process is usually called Hard Reset. Some believe that this option is ideal for resetting the iPhone.

Unfortunately, it is not. The thing is that “Hard Reset” for such gadgets is just a way to reboot the phone. And nothing more. The method does not allow you to reset settings quickly and without problems. However, it is important to know how to get the device working again if necessary. For example, if a freeze occurs while using one of the previously listed reset methods.

Hard Reset on iPhone is carried out in the following way:

  1. Press and hold the Home and Sleep buttons at the same time.
  2. Release the specified combination after it appears
  3. Wait for the device to reboot.

As a rule, this option helps to restart the phone, but it does not reset the settings. For other smartphones, using Hard Reset it is suggested to “roll back” the operating system. Every user must remember this feature. Accordingly, “Hard Reset” will not help answer the question of how to reset all settings on an iPhone.

Safari browser

The following tip applies to browsers only. Most often, the corresponding program means Safari. The thing is that before selling the phone, it is recommended to get rid of the data and settings in the browser.

This can be done using the standard capabilities of a mobile device. How can I reset my iPhone without a browser password?

To do this, you must follow the instructions:

  1. Turn on and wait for the iPhone/iPad to fully boot.
  2. Go to the "Settings" - "Safari" section.
  3. Select the required functions there. For example, “Clear history” or “Add-ons” - “Site data” - “Delete all”.
  4. Wait for the operation to complete.

In fact, everything is not as difficult as it seems. It is recommended to act in the same way when working with any browser on a smartphone. Only when you reset Safari data will the main settings remain untouched.

Results and conclusions

What conclusions can be drawn based on the previously studied information? If a user is wondering how to reset all settings on an iPhone, he needs to:

  • know the iPhone password;
  • have access to iTunes;
  • forget about the process called Hard Reset;
  • Make a backup copy of your data just in case.

In reality, everything is simpler than it seems. To completely clean your smartphone, it is recommended to study all possible data resets. They are located in the "Settings" - "General" - "Reset" section. Here we suggest you do a complete cleaning of your phone. For example, reset the Home settings.