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Erase iPhone

When you delete data, it no longer appears in apps on iPhone, but it isn’t erased from iPhone storage. To permanently remove all of your content and settings from your iPhone, erase (wipe) your iPhone. For example, erase iPhone before you sell it, trade it in, or give it away.

There are two ways to erase iPhone: using Settings on your iPhone, or connecting iPhone to a computer with a USB cable and using the Finder or iTunes. The Settings method is the easiest. If you’re unable to open Settings, you need to connect iPhone to a computer and use the Finder or iTunes.

Before you begin

Use Settings to erase iPhone

  1. Go to Settings  > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Prepare your content and settings to transfer to a new iPhone: Tap Get Started, then follow the onscreen instructions. When you finish, return to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.

    • Erase all of your data from iPhone: Tap Erase All Content and Settings.

Use a computer to erase iPhone

You can use a Mac or Windows PC to erase all data and settings from your iPhone, restore iPhone to factory settings, and install the latest version of iOS.

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB or USB-C cable. You may also need an adapter. See Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable.

  2. Turn on your iPhone.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • On a Mac (macOS 10.15 or later): Click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a Finder window, click the iPhone button in the Finder sidebar (below Locations), click General at the top of the window, then click Restore iPhone.

    • On a Mac (macOS 10.14 or earlier) or a Windows PC: Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes (see the Apple Support article Update to the latest version of iTunes). Open iTunes, click the iPhone button near the top left of the iTunes window, click Summary, then click Restore iPhone.

For troubleshooting steps, see the Apple Support article If you can’t update or restore your iPhone.

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