Restore iPhone to Factory Settings: Step-by-Step Instructions

Clara Prescott Published on March 17, 2026Recover Data3-min reading

There are many reasons to restore an iPhone to factory settings. If your iPhone is slow, unresponsive, or has system issues, a factory restore can often fix the problem. In addition, if you plan to sell or give away your iPhone, a factory restore is necessary to completely erase all your personal data. So, how to restore an iPhone to factory settings? This guide covers multiple methods for different scenarios, so you can choose the most suitable solution.

Part 1: Things You Should Do Before Restoring

Check the Wi-Fi Connection

Make sure your devices are connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Keep the connection active until the restore is complete. A poor connection may cause the process to get stuck.

Update Your Devices

Update your iPhone and Mac/PC to the latest version to avoid the compatibility issues. If you plan to your iPhone using iTunes or Finder, make sure iTunes/Finder is updated as well.

Back Up Your iPhone

Restoring your iPhone to Factory Settings will erase all your data on the device. To avoid permanent data loss, make sure you back up your iPhone in advance. You can upload your data to iCloud and restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup after the reset.

Sign Out of Your iPhone

If you plan to sell, give away, or transfer your iPhone to someone else, sign out of your Apple ID and turn off Find My iPhone before resetting. This removes the iPhone from your Apple ID and helps prevent Activation Lock from blocking during setup. If your iPhone is already locked or you've forgotten the passcode, you can skip this step.

Part 2: How to Factory Restore an iPhone (When You Can Access It)

If you can unlock your iPhone or remember your Apple ID credentials, restoring your iPhone to factory settings is easy and straightforward. You can erase the device directly in the built-in Settings or restore it remotely using iCloud.

Use Settings - If You Remember the Passcode

This is the simplest and most effective way to restore an iPhone to factory settings when the device is available, the screen passcode is known, and the associated Apple ID credentials are accessible if required.

Use iCloud - Remote Restoring

If your iPhone is lost, stolen, or not with you, or if you've forgotten your iPhone password, you can use iCloud to restore it to factory settings. This method works as long as Find My iPhone is enabled, and you know the associated Apple ID credentials.

Part 3: How to Factory Restore a Locked iPhone

If you've forgotten your iPhone passcode or the device is disabled or unresponsive, restoring it to factory settings may seem impossible. Don't worry. The following shows you how to restore an iPhone to factory settings without a passcode in different scenarios.

Use iOS Unlocker Software - For All Scenarios

If you need to factory restore a locked iPhone, professional iOS unlocker software like imyPass iPassGo provides an easy way to remove the screen lock while restoring your device. Even if your iPhone is unresponsive, disabled, or you've forgotten the passcode, you can still follow the steps to restore it safely.

How to reset an iPhone without a passcode:

Use the Forgot Passcode Feature - For iOS 15.2 or Later

If your iPhone runs iOS 15.2 or later, Apple provides an official way to restore your locked iPhone to factory settings. You can use the built-in feature - Forgot Passcode to finish the reset easily without any extra software.

How to reset an iPhone with iOS 17 or later：

Use Finder/iTunes - If iPhone Is Disabled

If your iPhone is disabled after too many wrong passcode attempts, but can still turn on and be detected by a computer, Finder or iTunes lets you factory reset the disabled iPhone easily.

Use Recovery Mode - If Your iPhone Won't Turn On

If your iPhone won't turn on, gets stuck on the Apple logo, freezes during startup, or can't be detected by a computer, normal restore methods may not work. In these cases, putting your iPhone into Recovery Mode can help you reinstall iOS, restore your iPhone to factory settings, and fix these issues.

For iPhone 8 and Later Models Including iPhone SE (2nd Generation)

Press and release the Volume Up button quickly. Press and release the Volume Down button quickly. Press and hold the Power button until you see Recovery Mode appear.

For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

Keep pressing the Volume Down button and Side button together until Recovery Mode appears on the screen.

For iPhone 6S or Earlier, Including iPhone SE (1st Generation)

Press the Home and Side buttons together and hold them until Recovery Mode appears on your phone.

Part 4: How to Recover Your Data After a Factory Restore

A factory reset removes all your personal data, apps, and settings from your iPhone, which can make it feel like everything is permanently lost. However, there are still reliable tools that can recover data after a factory reset, even if you don't have a backup. imyPass iPhone Data Recovery is a powerful solution that helps you retrieve lost data safely and efficiently in a wide range of recovery scenarios.

Launch this program on your computer and connect your iPhone using a USB cable. When prompted, tap Trust This Computer and click the Next button. Select Recover from iOS device, then click Start Scan to begin scanning all data on your iPhone.

If you have an iTunes/iCloud backup, you can choose Recover from iTunes Backup File or Recover from iCloud Backup File. Select the backup you want to restore from and click Start to continue.

After the scan is complete, all recoverable data types will be displayed in the left sidebar. You can preview the files and choose Show All or Show Deleted Only to filter the results and quickly find what you need.

Choose the files you want to recover, then click the Recover button in the bottle right corner. Select a location to save the recovered data.

Conclusion

Factory restoring an iPhone is an effective way to fix system issues, remove a forgotten passcode, or prepare the device for a new owner. Always back up important data before resetting, so you can restore your iPhone safely and avoid unnecessary data loss. If no backup is available, data recovery software may still help you retrieve lost files!