How To Return Your Iphone To Factory Settings

119-iphone-12-purple-2021 — Getting rid of your old iPhone? Make sure you reset it properly.
Sarah Tew/CNET

Buying a new phone tin be exciting, especially if you got the iPhone 13, iPhone 12 or one of the great Android phones available right now. But before you can celebrate, you'll have to have intendance of that old iPhone starting time. If it'southward nonetheless in working order, in that location are several options to consider. Yous can merchandise information technology in to relieve some greenbacks, sell it to a random stranger, or repurpose it. Yet, there's still some piece of work that needs to exist done earlier y'all sell or trade in your old iPhone.

Read more:Here's how to go the new iPhone 13 for a fraction of the cost

Before you lot can even begin to think virtually giving your phone to someone else, you need to accept some time to wipe and reset it to factory settings. Doing and then will ensure that nobody has access to the treasure trove of personal data we all keep on our phones. Below, I'll walk you through steps you need to take before resetting your phone, and I'll prove you the reset process.

Terminate! Y'all need to back up your iPhone earlier doing anything else

Before y'all reset your iPhone, create a backup that you tin use to set up your new iPhone, and which you can render to if you're missing contacts or photos on your new telephone. You tin support your iPhone by connecting information technology to your Mac and following these steps, or employ iTunes on a PC to back it up.

Alternatively, you can use iCloud to back upward your phone by going to Settings > tap on your name at the top of the page > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back upwardly at present. This fill-in method can have a while, depending on how long information technology's been since you've backed up your phone, but it's dead simple.

Merely make sure to go along your phone continued to a Wi-Fi network and on a charger to prevent the backup from draining the bombardment.

001-iphone-12-purple — Dorsum up your iPhone before doing anything else.
Patrick Holland/CNET

After the backup is complete, hither are a few more things you should do:

Sign out of all apps and services. It's time-consuming but worth the endeavour to get through each app and service you're signed into and log out.

Remove any electronic mail, contacts or calendar accounts from your device in Settings > Mail/Contacts/Calendar > Accounts.

If you haven't already, remove your SIM bill of fare. If your new phone came with a new SIM card, destroy your quondam one and throw it abroad. If you've been using an eSIM, make sure you remove or conciliate it.

factory-reset-iphone — Resetting your iPhone only takes a few taps.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

All right, now you lot tin can reset your iPhone

With your phone backed up and all of your accounts removed, factory reset it by opening theSettingsapp. And then tapGeneral >Reset >Erase All Content and Settings and confirm your decision. You'll be asked to enter your phone's Pivot code, followed by your Apple ID password to turn off Apple'south Find My service.

After entering your countersign, the screen will go dark and the Apple logo forth with a progress bar will bear witness up. A few minutes later, you'll be greeted with a screen with "Hello" in dissimilar languages flashing on it, indicating the reset was a success.

With your telephone now wiped and ready for a new owner, yous tin transport it on its way with peace of mind that your data is no longer on your phone.

As for your new phone,here are xv settings you lot should change correct away, along withsome hidden features in iOS 14 that are worth checking out. You can also bank check out Apple's new operating arrangement,iOS 15. Still trying to effigy out what to do with your old phone?Give these ideas some thought.