How to reset an iPhone to factory settings: effective methods

Not so often, but still there is a need to reset the iPhone to factory settings: forgot the password, quickly erasing accumulated content, returning the Home screen to its original form, etc. To perform this procedure, it is not at all necessary to contact a specialized service center or call an all-knowing person friend.

Let's try to figure out in detail how to reset an iPhone to factory settings using buttons, without a password, in what cases this should be done, options for resetting the gadget and other important points.

When does an iPhone need to be reset?

Let's consider cases when this procedure cannot be avoided. There are not so many of them, but all the points listed below and the subsequent reset will help you avoid going to the service center, as well as spending considerable sums.

Cases when this procedure is necessary:

  • selling a gadget or transferring an iPhone to another person free of charge (you should not transfer your confidential data along with the phone);
  • erasing all accumulated content (photos and videos, music and contacts, as well as other data);
  • problems with Wi-Fi protocol or cellular networks;
  • VPN connection reconfiguration;
  • clearing the keyboard dictionary;
  • return to the original state of icons and the location of the main controls;
  • Resetting geolocation settings.

That is, if you are selling or even giving away your gadget, experiencing problems with wireless protocols, or undertaking a major cosmetic repair of the device, then you cannot do without a total reset. Keep this in mind before you reset your iPhone to factory settings.

Device reset options

The “Reset” section in the gadget menu consists of several items where you can more specifically select, so to speak, the quality of zeroing and get the desired output result.

Resetting your iPhone to factory settings (without a password) is possible using the following options:

  • absolutely all settings at once;
  • resetting content data;
  • resetting network settings and wireless protocols;
  • clearing the keyboard dictionary;
  • returning the Home screen to its original form;
  • reset geolocations.

There are plenty of options, so you can choose exactly your specific problem. Let's look at how to reset an iPhone to factory settings in each individual case.

Resetting all settings

This option allows you to immediately clear all the gadget settings to factory settings in just three steps. That is, this is the network (wireless protocols, VPN and cellular), dictionary, home screen, geolocation, alarm clock, calendar and lock password.

It is also worth noting that contacts, applications/games from the Apple store, videos, music and data from iCloud will remain unharmed. The same can be said about jailbreaking a gadget: after resetting the iPhone to factory settings, Cydia and related tweaks will not disappear anywhere. That is, access to the system partitions of the device is still possible through any file managers.

Reset procedure:

  1. Click on the “Reset all settings” item.
  2. Then confirm your intentions in the pop-up windows.
  3. Afterwards, the company logo and a window with the current state of the gadget will appear (no need to touch anything).
  4. After a few seconds, the phone will reboot and the Boot-loader will start working.

This procedure takes about two minutes, and the time spent depends only on the model of your phone. Keep this in mind before you reset your iPhone 5 to factory settings.

Removing content

This reset option, unlike the one described above, affects almost the entire memory of the device. Specifically, you will lose all existing video and audio content, as well as third-party applications and games.

It is also worth noting that if the “Find iPhone” beacon was turned on in the gadget settings, then before resetting all data you must disable this function. To do this, you will need access to your Apple account. If you don't do this, you won't be able to delete all the content. In addition, it would be a good idea to make a backup copy of all your data using any service. Also keep this in mind before you reset your iPhone 5S to factory settings.

Network reset

This option will solve many problems and eliminate almost any internal problems related to connecting the gadget to networks using wireless protocols.

If your device does not see the cellular network or refuses to connect to Wi-Fi protocols, as well as to the mobile Internet, then the only option is to reset the network settings, in which a significant part of the problems will simply disappear.

Network reset procedure:

  1. "Settings" - "General" - "Reset".
  2. Click on “Reset Network Settings”.
  3. Confirm your intentions in the pop-up window.

You can also perform this procedure through the “Cellular” menu item, where, by selecting “Data transfer”, just click on the “Reset settings” line.

In the case of network reset, the information in the gadget’s memory is not affected, this also applies to jailbreaking. All data about wireless protocols is simply “forgotten”, and the settings of the cellular operator are reset, that is, you will need to update all information about MMS and the mobile Internet. Keep this in mind before you reset your iPhone to factory settings.

Resetting the keyboard dictionary

If the typing assistant contains a lot of incorrect words (a common occurrence, because the system is automatic/self-learning), then auto-correction, instead of helping, turns into a real headache, replacing correct words with erroneous spellings.

In this case, it is very difficult to do without resetting the dictionary. This item deletes all innovations in the keyboard database and returns to the original state.

The reset process is as simple as in other cases: “Settings” - “General” - “Reset”, “Reset dictionary” and confirm your actions in the pop-up window. The procedure is instant and does not require rebooting the gadget, which is very convenient.

Resetting the Home Screen

If you are completely confused about your shortcuts, icons and desktops, then you can return everything to normal by performing simple manipulations. In order to reset the desktop settings to factory settings, just go to the “Reset” menu item, then click on the line “Reset Home settings” and the next time you reboot the gadget you will see a pristine screen with the original icons. That is, all elements will be arranged in the order intended by the manufacturer. The same applies to the appearance of icons and other labels.

It is also worth noting that third-party icons that were downloaded through the Apple store will be moved to a separate desktop (second, third, etc.). In addition, all folders will be deleted and the shortcuts in them will be sorted.

Resetting geoposition

Many programs require the user to determine geolocation coordinates such as maps, cameras, and others. If there are too many of these applications and they somehow annoy you with their reminders, or you decide to simply change your location manually, then you can easily do this.

Go to “Settings” - “General” - “Reset” and click on the “Reset warning” item. geopositions." After completing the procedure, you need to re-decide whether to allow third-party applications to use this service or not.