How to Erase iPhone with or Without Password: 4 Proven Ways

Clara Prescott publicado em agosto 11, 2026Dicas para iOSLeitura de 3 minutos

"Hello! I just got a new iPhone and I need to trade in the old one, and I want to make sure it's properly wiped. I signed out of iCloud on it, and I'll wipe it from settings as soon as I know I'm good... Is there anything left I forgot to do, or should I be good to go?"

Wiping an iPhone before selling is a smart move. Data security is gold; you can never be too careful about it. But simply deleting files doesn't remove them permanently. How to completely wipe an iPhone? In this guide, we will offer 4 ways to wipe an iPhone to factory settings, leaving no remains.

Part 1. When to Wipe an iPhone: Common Scenarios

• 1.Before selling or donating your old iPhone to another person, you must wipe your data completely. It's no joke when you involuntarily give your personal information to a stranger.
• 2.After 10 incorrect passcode entries, an iPhone locks itself to avoid potential theft. It's very thoughtful, but not so pleasant when it's you who entered the wrong passcodes. To use the disabled iPhone again, you have to reset it before restoring the disabled iPhone from a backup.
• 3.Factory reset is often a last resort for fixing system issues: freezing, black screen, iOS glitches, post-update breakdown, etc. Usually you try other fixes first, like force restart or deleting problematic files. When none of them work, a reset is the ultimate fallback.
• 4.You would desperately want to erase data if your iPhone got lost or stolen and you couldn't retrieve it. And yes, it's feasible to erase your iPhone even when it is not handy. You can protect your privacy from afar.

Part 2. Before Wiping: Create a Backup

If your iPhone can still be accessed normally, make a backup before you wipe it. In this way, you keep your personal data secure and complete, and you can restore it effortlessly to a new iPhone.

There are two ways to back up your data: on iCloud (online) or on a PC/Mac (local).

How to Back up iPhone on iCloud

How to Back up iPhone on a PC/Mac

If you're working on a Mac: Click your phone name, head to the Em geral aba e localize o Cópias de segurança seção.

Part 3. How to Wipe an iPhone When You Know the Passcode

How to wipe an iPhone for trade-in? When you have it with you and can open it, a quick on-device reset will be enough.

Part 4. iPhone Factory Reset Without Passcode

How to wipe an iPhone without a passcode? You'll need a computer to do this.

How to Factory Reset an iPhone via Finder or iTunes

• For iPhone 8 and later: Press and release Aumentar o volume, então Volume baixo. Press and hold the Lado botão.
• For iPhone 7 / 7 Plus: pressione e segure Volume baixo e a Lado botão juntos.
• Para iPhone 6s ou anterior: Pressione e segure o Lar botão e Poder botão juntos.

Hold the buttons until you see the Recovery Screen, which displays a laptop and a cable.

How to Wipe an Old iPhone Using imyPass iPassGo

imyPass iPassGo is a professional tool for resetting an iPhone. It doesn't require a screen passcode or Apple ID login, which is why it's a top choice for an old iPhone whose passwords have gone lost in time. The software is available on both Windows and Mac.

Part 5. How to Remotely Wipe a Lost or Stolen iPhone

Imagine an iPhone is lost or stolen. It's wandering somewhere else you don't know with all your personal data on it. Luckily, you can remote wipe an iPhone via iCloud Find My on a browser. This method lets you factory reset an iPhone without a password or a computer.

Conclusão

Erasing an iPhone helps protect your personal information in various situations. How can you wipe an iPhone completely? Based on your access to iPhone passwords, you can either erase the iPhone on-device or do it on a computer / a browser. Even without an Apple ID, you can still reset the iPhone using imyPass iPassGo. Act before your data is passed on to someone else.